Re: Should all 14 HCP hands be opened?

On Jun 29, 11:04 am, Stig Holmquist <stigfjor...@xxxxxxxxxxx> wrote:
The recent post by David Morgan on 6/29 about the hand KQJ-KJx-QJx-QJx
has motivated me to question the common dictum that all 14 HCP counts
should or must be opened. Ch.Goren certainly did not think so.

... [snip]

A similar comparison can be made after reducing the HCP from 14 to 13
by various means, such as eliminating one J or changing one K to a Q.

So why should all 14 HCP hands be opened?

Should hand B be opened disregarding weak NT?

Please don't chime in with "judgment', that novices lack.

Stig Holmquist

NOTE: THE FOLLOWING DOCUMENT WAS SENT TO ME BY AN ANONYMOUS SOURCE! I
AM MERELY REPRODUCING IT HERE FOR PEOPLE'S EDIFICATION.

Steve Sun

THE STIG HOLMQUIST SCHOOL OF BRIDGE

FIRST YEAR OF STUDY: WHEN AND WHEN NOT TO OPEN THE BIDDING IN 1ST SEAT

Welcome to the Stig Holmquist School of Bridge! This 52-week,
intensive
course is designed to help you master the most critical aspect of the
game
-- when to open the bidding in first seat. The Stig Holmquist School
of Bridge will teach you to become a great first seat opening bidder,
unlike those terrible Audrey Grant courses, which don't teach you
anything about the game of bridge other than bidding, declarer play,
and defense.

Please carefully review our curriculum for the year. As you know, our
classes will be held 3 nights a week, and ATTENDANCE AT ALL CLASSES IS
MANDANTORY -- INCLUDING WEEK #42!! As these classes will teach you,
deciding whether to open the bidding in 1st seat is a very complicated
task, made all the more difficult by the many guidelines and methods
that have been suggested for hand evaluation over the years. Many so-
called bridge teachers, such as Audrey Grant, completely gloss over
this subject, but you who have enrolled in the Stig Holmquist School
of Bridge will have the opportunity to learn how to decide whether to
open the bidding, with all the depth, complexity, and nuance that a
subject such as this deserves. In short, once you complete this first
year of study in the Stig Holmquist School of Bridge, you will know
more about opening the bidding than you would if you had attended any
other bridge school in the world!

The following is the complete First Year Of Study for the Stig
Holmquist School Of Bridge:

WEEK # 1: The Milton Work point count, as popularlized by the Master
of Bridge himself, Charles H. Goren ["Oh Great One, we are not worthy
to speak your name, forgive us our weaknesses"]
WEEK # 2: Weaknesses of the Milton Work point count
WEEK # 3: Alternate point count systems
WEEK # 4: Alternate point count systems, continued
WEEK # 5: Alternate point count systems, continued
WEEK # 6: Alternate point count systems, continued
WEEK # 7: Alternate point count systems, continued
WEEK # 8: Various methods for counting distributional points
WEEK # 9: Various methods for counting distributional points,
continued
WEEK #10: Various methods for counting distributional points,
continued
WEEK #11: Various methods for counting distributional points,
continued
WEEK #12: Who is Audrey Grant, and who certified her as a bridge
teacher?
WEEK #13: What is the ACBL, and why do they promote Audrey Grant's
teaching
materials instead of mine?
WEEK #14: Should I open all 14-point hands?
WEEK #15: Should I open all 14-point hands with no aces?
WEEK #16: Should I open all 14-point hands with no aces, but at least
one 10?
WEEK #17: Should I open all 14-point hands with no aces or tens, but
at least four nines and eights?
WEEK #18: Should I open a 13-point hand?
WEEK #19: Should I open a 13-point hand with no aces?
WEEK #20: Should I open a 13-point hand with no aces, but at least one
ten?
WEEK #21: Should I open a 13-point hand with no aces and only one
king?
WEEK #22: Should I open a 13-point hand with no aces and only one
king, but at least two tens and one nine?
WEEK #23: Should I open a 13-point hand with no aces and only one
king, but at least one 6-card suit?
WEEK #24: Should I open a 13-point hand with no aces and only one
king, but at least 10 cards in two of my suits?
WEEK #25: Should I open a 13-point hand with one or more doubleton QJ
suits?
WEEK #26: Should I open a 13-point hand with one or more doubleton QJ
suits,
but at least a 6-card long suit in addition?
WEEK #27: Who is in charge of the Internet, and why does he or she
single out my bridge posts for deletion in contravention of my
constitutionally-protected right of free speech?
WEEK #28: The various conspiracies to discredit me, Stig Holmquist, on
the Internet
WEEK #29: How I, Stig Holmquist, a retired chemist, proved that the
earth is flat.
WEEK #30: What 12-point hands can I open?
WEEK #31: Can I open a 12-point hand with no aces?
WEEK #32: Can I open a 12-point hand with one ace, but no kings?
WEEK #33: Can I open a 12-point hand with a QJ doubleton in at least
one suit?
WEEK #34: Can I open a 12-point hand with no aces, or with one ace but
no kings, but with at least two tens?
WEEK #35: Can I open a 12-point hand with no aces, or with one ace but
no kings, and with no tens, but at least four nines and eights?
WEEK #36: Can I open a 12-point hand with no aces, or with one ace but
no kings, if I have at least ten cards in two suits?
WEEK #37: Can I open a 12-point hand with no aces, or with one ace but
no kings, if I have at least ten cards in two suits, but 2 or more of
my honor cards are in my short suits?
WEEK #38: Can I open a 12-point hand with no aces, or with one ace but
no kings, if I have at least ten cards in two suits, but 2 or more of
my honor cards are in my short suits, if I have at least two tens in
my long suits?
WEEK #39: Can I open a 12-point hand with four QJ combinations in it,
if two of the QJ combinations are QJ doubletons?
WEEK #40: Can I open a 12-point hand with four QJ combinations in it,
if two of the QJ combinations are QJ doubletons, but I have at least
one ten, or two nines, in my two long suits?
WEEK #41: The evil Sun brothers, and why something must be done about
them!!
WEEK #42: BREAK IN TEACHING WEEK - Students will write letters to the
ACBL
protesting the use of Audrey Grant's teaching materials. AS NOTED
ABOVE, STUDENTS' ATTENDANCE AT ALL CLASSES THIS WEEK IS MANDANTORY!!
WEEK #43: Can I open an 11-point hand with two aces and one king?
WEEK #44: Can I open an 11-point hand with one ace and two kings?
WEEK #45: Can I open an 11-point hand with one ace and one king, if I
have a 6-card or longer major suit?
WEEK #46: Can I open an 11-point hand with one ace and one king, if I
have a 6-card or longer major suit, but at least six of my points are
in my short suits?
WEEK #47: When can I open hands with 10 or fewer Work points in them?
WEEK #48: Can I open a hand that has all 13 cards in 1 suit, but only
10 points?
WEEK #49: Special considerations: 9-point hands with two voids
WEEK #50: Special considerations: 9-point hands with a 10-card or
longer suit
WEEK #51: Additional considerations in deciding whether to open the
bidding -- the effects of 6s, 7s, and 8s in your hand
WEEK #52: REVIEW of major concepts learned over the past year

Please organize the hand-outs for this course in the folder provided,
with all tabs clearly marked. Students will be expected to complete
all required homework assignments, and be prepared to discuss the
material that is being covered each week. Once again, congratulations
on your enrollment in the first-year study at the Stig Holmquist
School of Bridge. We are confident that once you complete this first
year of study, you will be very well prepared to enroll in our second
year course of study: "Responding To An Opening Bid."
.

Relevant Pages

  • Re: Should all 14 HCP hands be opened?
    ... Welcome to the Stig Holmquist School of Bridge! ... Should I open all 14-point hands with no aces? ... king, but at least two tens and one nine? ... but at least 10 cards in two of my suits? ...
    (rec.games.bridge)
  • Re: Should all 14 HCP hands be opened?
    ... Welcome to the Stig Holmquist School of Bridge! ... Should I open all 14-point hands with no aces? ... king, but at least two tens and one nine? ... but at least 10 cards in two of my suits? ...
    (rec.games.bridge)
  • Re: Should all 14 HCP hands be opened?
    ... Welcome to the Stig Holmquist School of Bridge! ... Should I open all 14-point hands with no aces? ... king, but at least two tens and one nine? ... but at least 10 cards in two of my suits? ...
    (rec.games.bridge)
  • Re: Should all 14 HCP hands be opened?
    ... Welcome to the Stig Holmquist School of Bridge! ... Should I open all 14-point hands with no aces? ... king, but at least two tens and one nine? ... but at least 10 cards in two of my suits? ...
    (rec.games.bridge)
  • Re: Should all 14 HCP hands be opened?
    ... of Bridge will teach you to become a great first seat opening bidder, ... Should I open all 14-point hands with no aces? ... king, but at least two tens and one nine? ... but at least 10 cards in two of my suits? ...
    (rec.games.bridge)
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