[foobar]

IMPs, Vulnerable vs. not, you deal and hold:

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What's your strategy for bidding this hand? How would you bid it if your methods allowed you to show a 6-5 shape over a 2♥ opening?

Edit: Added 1H and 4H by popular choice.

[FelicityR]

I'd open 2♥ here even at this vulnerability, to warn partner immediately what sort of hand I have. With anything distributional I'd rather get the 'first shot' in, and you're not overstating your values here. If the ♦Q were the ♣Q I'll rather open 1♥.

The only problem that will probably arise is how to respond to a 2NT Ogust enquiry. But that may never happen.

[gwnn]

4H. I like 2H with 6-3 or 6-4, 3H with 6-5, and 4H with 6-6 (obviously not every single hand qualifies). gwnn's rule of -8 (gwnn invented it on a misty January morning in 2020): Add your lengths and subtract 8.

[nekthen]

A 6-6 hand has 18 distribution points plus 7 4321 points excluding q♦ and 2 control points. A total of 27. I would open 1♥ partner will get the message by the time I bid 4♣

[Tramticket]

For us, 2H is a Lucas 2 showing a two-suiter. I would then bid clubs showing extreme shape (if the bidding is not prohibitatively high).

If non-vulnerable, I might prefer to open 4H or 1H.

[Cyberyeti]

To me this is not 4♥ due to the lack of heart intermediates, make it AQ109xx and it's 4♥.

This is rule of 19 without the stiff Q, so I open 1♥. Our weak 2s can be VERY weak and short, this is way too good.

[maartenxq]

I open 4 !h and wait for further developments. I f p can make some noise wit or without intervention I will reflect on what to do then. V vs. not I am not saving at the 5 level.

Maarten Baltussen

[nudnikbp]

Open 1H, then bid and rebid clubs. You may have to pull partner's double of a spade contract at some point.

[msjennifer]

PASS. This hand is short of a 1H opening and a lot troublesome to open 2H and then handle in VUL vs NV position in the FIRST seat.And I do not like to give 4Hx going for 1100 by opening 4H. (2) In this position the question is ""Just who are you trying to Preempt ? "

[AL78]

I play Tartan twos with two partners, so could open 2♥ to show either an Acol 2 in hearts, 19-20 HCP balanced, or 5-5 in hearts and a minor, 5-9 HCP.

Without that convention, I would probably pass and hope to be able to come in next time with a two suited overcall.

[s_justesen]

4♥

[beowulf]

nekthen, on 2020-January-18, 03:00, said:

A 6-6 hand has 18 distribution points plus 7 4321 points excluding q♦ and 2 control points. A total of 27. I would open 1♥ partner will get the message by the time I bid 4♣

Yes, it's a strange poll that doesn't even include 1♥ as an option!

[pescetom]

beowulf, on 2020-January-18, 16:39, said:

Yes, it's a strange poll that doesn't even include 1♥ as an option!

When 'other' exceeds 30% it's always a sign that the poll was ill conceived.
IIRC, the poll can now be modified within 24H, unfortunately not many people take advantage of this.

I would bid 1♥ if my RA and partner allowed, otherwise pass.

[xxxwjs2014]

Not good to open weak 5/5 or 6/6 hands at this vulnerability and with partner unpassed. Plenty of time later to judge whether you are in the driving seat or not.

[Cyberyeti]

xxxwjs2014, on 2020-January-19, 08:01, said:

Not good to open weak 5/5 or 6/6 hands at this vulnerability and with partner unpassed. Plenty of time later to judge whether you are in the driving seat or not.

Yes, because you can judge so well when the auction goes (1♠)-X/2♦-(4♠)-?

It's a bit different when you have the spades.

[helene_t]

Too strong for 2♥ but all the other options I find reasonable. Pass is not my style but it may well be right.