Source: ACBL
Dear Jerry, Playing in a club game, I held 
Q10543 
KJ 
A6 
AK102. Despite holding a five-card major, I elected to open 1NT to describe my values and shape. This did not work out too well. Any thoughts? Barb from Tennessee
Dear Barb, Please … I am rarely at a loss for thoughts. For starters, I think it is often best to open 1NT when holding a five card major. I also think that holding two doubletons should not necessarily deter you from opening 1NT. Despite these thoughts, the real issue is identified by the following Jerryism:
[box type=”tick” style=”rounded”]Always plan a second bid before you make your first.[/box]
Playing either Standard American or 2/1, opening 1 is preferable to 1NT with the hand in question if you think ahead. Any spade raise is easy to handle: you can bid game, cuebid or use Blackwood depend-ing on the type of raise. If partner makes a two-level new suit response you are well placed to bid 3, which in any system shows extra values. If instead you hear a 1NT response, whether natural or forcing, bid 2. Although non-forcing, this new suit rebid includes a wide range of values — dead minimum up to just under enough to make a game-forcing jump shift. Standard Ameri-can players encounter a stumbling block, however, if partner responds 2. As a 2/1 advocate, I must point out that a game-forcing 3 raise, if an option, would certainly simplify this problem.
I have both empathy and admiration for your willingness to deviate from “rules” which prohibit opening 1NT with either a five-card major or two doubletons. As a bridge teacher, I advocate the use of words like probably, usually, generally, etc., as better choices than always, never or their equivalent. I strongly believe that having rigid requirements governing any bridge decisions is a major mistake. To be effective at the table, you have to have a little rock ‘n’ roll in your soul.
As dealer, on each of the following hands, loosen up a little bit and plan ahead:
J6 985 AQJ83 AKJ
Q7 KQJ54 A76 KJ3
AQ AQ Q542 Q7542
KQJ KJ 875432 AQ
In my opinionated opinion, each of these hands should be opened 1NT.
On the first, a major suit response leaves you poorly placed to make any rebid that reflects medium values.
On the second, a prob-able 1 response leaves you, once again, high and dry. What would you do? Underbid with 1NT? Over-bid with 2NT?
On the next hand, despite appropriate values, the very thought of reversing by opening 1 then bidding 2 is repulsive with 75% of your values in suits yet to be mentioned.
On the final hand, you have a six-card suit and two doubletons. So? If you open 1 and partner replies in either major, you face an uncomfortable choice. Rebidding any number of diamonds would be either an underbid or a gross overstatement of suit quality. I prefer to take my chances by open-ing 1NT to show medium strength with at least two cards in every suit.
Another Jerryism:
[box type=”tick”]A good bid (or good series of bids) is one that most closely resembles the cards you hold.[/box]
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