BRIDGE

WHAT would you open on this hand?

THE popular choice for rubber bride players will be 1NT. It’s a bit strong for the Weak No Trump and a bit weak for the stronger version, but it gets the message across simply.

For duplicate players, who mostly use a 12-14 No Trump, the correct Acol advice will be 1♥– the higher of two adjacent and biddable suits. You have absolutely no problem with a sensible rebid except that, if partner responds 1♠, you have to judge whether it is wiser to show your 15-count with 1NT or to raise partner to 2♠, because of your weakness in clubs.

Admittedly, you have only a three-card suit, but it is a good one.

A matter of much greater concern is that a large number of players would open 1♦ here, not 1♥.

Those who play the Standard American (Goren) System need to open 1♦ because they use five-card majors. But those who do it when using a four-card major system are wasting the advantage of using such a method. It is an alien concept for Acol players.