Special Major Suit Opening Bids
(2) Exactly 5 Hearts and 4 Spades. With this distribution, we open 2 Hearts -- using the Flannery Convention. HCP values are 11-15. As this is a limited bid -- always best when possible --, responder can pass, prefer to Spades, raise Hearts or proceed directly to game.Two kinds of hands with five card majors require special treatment -- those with 15+ HCP, balanced, and those with exactly 5 Hearts and 4 Spades.
(1) Balanced 15+ Point Hands With 5ª or 5 ©. We open 15-17 HCP hands with One NT only if the major suit includes less than 5 HCP and the hand has Notrump distribution.
ª Kxxxx
© Qxx
¨ Ax
§ AKJWe don't like this situation, but by being consistent with the 'less than 5 HCP' rule, it's an acceptable compromise.
Example Flannery Openerª KQxx
© AJxxx
¨ Ax
§ xx
We use Flannery because the hand can't be bid accurately any other way. To open 1
© and then bid 2ª is a reverse -- too strong for an 11 to 15 HCP hand. To open anything else would deny the five card major. So, 2©'s is the best choice. Be sure to alert -- many will consider this opening as a Weak Two Opener, which it isn't. Notice -- 2© Flannery -- Not 2¨ Flannery. The standard (original) Flannery Opening is 2¨'s, not 2©'s. We use 2©'s because we have another convention for 2¨'s ; Mini-Roman, a hand with three suits. (See Minor Suit Openings for details).Be sure to ask about all bids when they are alerted, as there are many variations such as this one and you can't be too sure.
(c) Robert D. McConnell, 1998 All Rights Reserved