2025 World Bridge Teams. Quiz 3 What criteria for constructive openings?

Should you open with East’s hand?

Of course, yes!  There are two reasons for opening a hand: either there are favorable odds for your side to make a plus score, or it looks like that the deal belongs to the opponents AND you have preemptive power.

Here, clearly East is in the first case: he has 2 ½ quick tricks out of 8 or fewer as a total, West is likely to bring along at least a hand of average strength, AND you have the spades.  The only issue is a matter of style, i.e. what is your threshold for opening?  As of 10 points it would be acceptable.  Commonly people set the threshold at 12 points, actually a translation of 4 tricks, which is the smallest integer above the average of 3 ¼ tricks.  My estimate in terms of points for this hand is 10 HCP (forget the ♥J) averaged with 12 ½ points for Quick Tricks (2 ½ * 5 points/QT), +1 for the 5^th ♠ i.e. over 12 points.  You can read the other adjustment factors in my books.  Forget about the rules of 18, 20, and the like!  scrutinize the proposed rules, weigh them and take your decision whether to adopt them or not.  The immense majority of players just swallows instead of evaluating when they shop around.

Now, what do we see in the World Teams Championship?

Madala’s team passed with such hand, … and ended up in 4♥, missing the slam.

The book does not tell how many teams had East make such a pass, but this is just another instance that really raises questions about the quality of the bidding at nowadays’ top competition level.