BRIDGE MASTERCLASS
At GAME All, your RHO opens 1 ♠ . What action would you take, and would it be different if you were non-vulnerable?
Bidding nowadays seems to be much more aggressive than it was 20, or even ten, years ago.
This is probably due to the evolution of Pairs play, where penalties are not as costly as they would be at rubber bridge.
Many tournament players would open 1 ♣ on this minimum hand, on the grounds that it has a rebid, and it qualifies technically under the ‘Rule of 19’ (adding HCPs to number of cards in the longest two suits).
The basic principle that, first or second in hand, opener should have a sound bid, is often disregarded. The same situation applies to overcalls, where i’ll warrant that most tournament players will intervene here with at least 2 ♣ .
The only purpose of intervention on such a straggly suit will be to obstruct the opponents in finding an easy major suit fit.
Against that, there is the distinct possibility that 2 ♣ could get doubled and concede a hefty penalty. At favourable vulnerability, by all means bid 2 ♣ , but at equal or adverse status, i’d recommend a pass.