![Paul Lavings](http://csbnews.org/new/wp-content/uploads/2014/10/picasion.com_5590b13e1a049ea3b683b319f7881ffa.gif)
Source: Australian Bridge Federation Newsletters
Whether to play 1=2+ OR 1
=3+ (better minor)
1 showing 2+ clubs has always had a good following, but it fails to stand up under close analysis.
Consider this hand, and focus on the shape 4-4-3-2: A864,
A765,
J54,
K6
This exact shape, four spades, four hearts, three diamonds and two clubs is the only hand where you open 1 with three diamonds, playing better minor. Now look at these sequences when you open 1
in better minor:
1![]() ![]() |
1![]() ![]() |
1![]() ![]() |
1NT | 1![]() |
1NT |
When you open 1 you will have only three diamonds if you are 4-4 in the majors (exactly 4-4-3-2). In these sequences you cannot be 4-4 in the majors or you would raise partner’s major to 2
or 2
at once. Thus the partnership knows after opener’s rebid how many diamonds opener holds, whether it be 3 or 4+. And it can only be three exactly if the bidding proceeds
1![]() ![]() |
1![]() ![]() |
2![]() |
2![]() |
In which case it doesn’t really matter, since you’ve found your major suit fit. So opening 1 with 3+ is not so damaging. It is nice to know opener has 4+ diamonds at the point when they open 1
, but you can still make a preemptive raise (1
– 3
) or raise diamonds in competition with five-card support.
Strangely this exact shape, four spades, four hearts, three diamonds and two clubs is also the only hand where you open 1 with two, playing 1
= 2+. However, if you open 1
with 2+, you create all sorts of problems for yourself around the club suit. In many cases, you tie your own hands behind your back; for instance it becomes a risk to raise preemptively to 3
with only five-card support and to bid 3
in this sequence with only five card support may find you in a seven-card fit:
K2,
86,
8764,
AQ874
1: (2
); 3
![Ron Klinger](http://csbnews.org/new/wp-content/uploads/2012/10/ron-klinger.jpg)
It could also be wrong to respond 2 over a 1
overcall!
1 is a much more frequent opening bid then 1
, and you will have many problems in competitive auctions if you open the bidding in your shortest suit. Often you need to fi nd your minor suit fi t quickly in order to compete at the three-level and push opponents one level higher.
I asked Ron Klinger why he preferred better minor and he kindly replied:
[box type=”alert”]“The incidence of 1 as exactly three is so small (below 2%) that one need not worry about it when supporting diamonds. I am not in favour of using 1
as 2+ just to preserve transfers after 1
. Those who open 1
with 4-3-4-2, 3-4-4-2, 3-3-4-3, 3-3-5-2 patterns, etc. lose the diamond suit too often in competition, and for the opening lead when the opponents buy the contract.”[/box]
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