Hi Bobby,

In my feckless youth, I used to play a 10-12 1NT at pairs throughout (plus pass leading to compulsory redouble when it got doubled, either escaping or for blood) and the South hand today fits the bill. It really is foul to open an 11-14 NT though – 4333, no intermediates, unsupported honours. If you turned the DJ into the DQ I’d pass despite playing a weak NT. At a pinch, if the clubs were KQ10x or similar I’d open 1C in 3rd NV but really that bid deserved to walk into a 17 count on its left and flat weakness opposite. I know it’s a bidders game, but this does seem a step too far. NV at pairs, perhaps losing 100 instead of 110 / 140 might have an appeal, I suppose.

Regards,

Iain

Hi Iain,

Your analysis, being right on with evaluation with the true overrated nature of the South hand, yes the required 11 hcps, but also 4-3-3-3 (subtraction), no aces (subtraction) and only one suit with a together KQ or any two together honors (still another subtraction).

Also, if East would have seen fit to play the king of spades at trick one (very difficult to analyze, although the nine could have been from 987xx, the lay of the specific cards probably would likely have kept declarer from testing clubs before tackling hearts, leading to a likely set.

And would not North have bid the same, without the jack of hearts, but just a small one? All the above facts lead to your conclusion about the lesser worth of that grungy opening weak NT.

However, sometimes, perhaps more than we know and assuming playing against conservative opponents, by opening even a weak NT, might dissuade their opponents to miss a game, sometimes even 3NT. But how to figure that windfall is anyone’s guess and no doubt living on the edge of often trying to intimidate one’s opponents.

Anyway, thank you Iain for good advice with evaluation. No doubt, at least to me, that you are correct, but bridge, sometimes being the mystery that it is, often finds a way to bite the on target strategist where the sun doesn’t shine.