THOSE PESKY MINORS

What do you open with this hand?

S) A Q 6 5
H) A 9 4 2
D) K 3
C) 6 4 2

With 13 HCP and almost flat distribution, you might feel like passing, and I sympathize.  This is not a appealing hand to open.  At any rate, if you decide to open, and you should, you will open 1 club because there is no other choice except to pretend you have a five-card major.

What if everyone passes and you have to play the contract?  This fear was expressed to me the other day, along with the notion that maybe partner should be compelled to response at least once.  But suppose partner holds:

S) J 8 4
H) 9 6 4 3 2
D) 8 7 6 5
C) 7

Finally, when you open a short minor with minimal strength and partner is unable to respond, some 99 times of a hundred the opponents will bid something, thus taking you off the hook.  One club contracts are extremely rare.

WINDY

Three old pilots are walking on the ramp. 

First one says: “Windy isn’t it?”
 

Second pilot says: “No, its Thursday!”
 

Third one says: “So am I.  Let’s go get a beer.”