<p>Don't be afraid to downgrade the strength of a hand by 1 HCP when it is flawed for the call being made. Here, treat a (exactly) 20 HCP hand as just 19 and open 1D. </p>

<p>Remember that it is very rare for a distributional opening 1 bid to get passed out. Partner needs to have a hand with no excuse to respond; RHO needs a hand with no excuse to reopen; and LHO needs a hand with no decent 5-card suit. Just because you have a strong hand doesn't force you to open above the 1-level. With any doubt at all, just open 1D in tempo - Hands opening with a NT bid should be good examples of the type, not bad ones. </p>

<p>As I commented to <strong>steenbergh</strong>'s answer:</p>

<blockquote>
  <p>Modern treatment (and rules!) now allows the 2NT opening with a singleton K as well [as with a singleton A]. This is an expert call, however, so should only be engaged in if partner is not going to react inappropriately when revealed.</p>
</blockquote>

CC BY-SA 4.0
2018-07-12T22:40:38.187Z
2018-07-13T05:39:48.547Z
2018-07-13T05:39:48.547Z
Forget I was ever here
<p>If the singleton is an Ace (and an Ace only!) a lot of players will open this hand in 2NT. If it isn't an Ace, or if you very explicitly agree with your partner that 20-22 4-4-4-A is not 2NT, then just open in the lowest available 4-card and, if partner answers, jump to indicate points. If opponents start bidding, double*.</p>

<p>'Worst case' scenario is that everybody passes and you're playing a 1-level contract, but oftentimes partner's hand is very limited in these cases and a game-score is very improbable. You'd rather play a 1+2 then a 4-1, right?</p>

<p>(*) Note that opening and then doubling the opponents while Partner passed indicates a pretty strong hand on your side, and since you still have two unbid suits (or at least one if opponets are bidding one of your 4-cards) there is a good chance you will still find a fit with partner. Making this double a penalty is still an option for your partner, if he has length in opponents suit (probably your singleton).</p>

CC BY-SA 4.0
2018-07-12T12:41:45.673Z
Nice answer, but careful with the doubles. If opponents are bidding your singleton's suit, it can get expensive; if not, you may drive them towards it.
Tim Lymington
CC BY-SA 4.0
2018-07-12T12:49:38.260Z
@TimLymington regardless, I alone hold the majority of the points. Partner might still have one or two points too, and may have some trumps when I don't, creating a threat on both sides of the declarer. And, if your opponents never make a doubled contract against you, you don't double enough.
steenbergh
CC BY-SA 4.0
2018-07-12T22:34:19.340Z
Modern treatment (and ***rules***!) now allows the 2NT call with a singleton K as well. This is an expert call, however, so should only be engaged in if partner is not going to react inappropriately when revealed.
Forget I was ever here
CC BY-SA 4.0
2018-07-12T11:50:55.057Z
2018-07-13T14:07:44.253Z
2018-07-13T14:07:44.253Z
steenbergh
<p>Let's say I have a 4-4-4-1 distribution. I have somewhere between 20 to 22 points. </p>

<p>What do I bid in this case? 2NT is not possible because of the singleton. 2C is not possible because what would be the rebid after the partner responds - any response promises a 5-carder.</p>

<p>What would be the right bid in this case?</p>

<p>I play Standard American 5 Card Major or 2/1. </p>

CC BY-SA 4.0
2018-07-12T04:51:05.740Z
You're going to have to give us at least some information about what system you're playing.
Philip Kendall
CC BY-SA 4.0
2018-07-12T07:56:04.610Z
@PhilipKendall - added the info.
user93353
<bridge><bidding>
When none of the opening bids are suitable - what do you bid?
user93353
# When none of the opening bids are suitable - what do you bid?

(Asked by: username_0 on 2018-07-12)

Let's say I have a 4-4-4-1 distribution. I have somewhere between 20 to 22 points.

What do I bid in this case? 2NT is not possible because of the singleton. 2C is not possible because what would be the rebid after the partner responds - any response promises a 5-carder.

What would be the right bid in this case?

I play Standard American 5 Card Major or 2/1.

**Tags:** bridge, bidding

> **Comments:**
> **username_1**: You're going to have to give us at least some information about what system you're playing.  
> **username_0**: @username_1 - added the info.  

---

## 2 answers

### Answer by username_2 on 2018-07-12. Score: 4 | Accepted answer

Don't be afraid to downgrade the strength of a hand by 1 HCP when it is flawed for the call being made. username_2, treat a (exactly) 20 HCP hand as just 19 and open 1D.

Remember that it is very rare for a distributional opening 1 bid to get passed out. Partner needs to have a hand with no excuse to respond; RHO needs a hand with no excuse to reopen; and LHO needs a hand with no decent 5-card suit. Just because you have a strong hand doesn't force you to open above the 1-level. With any doubt at all, just open 1D in tempo - Hands opening with a NT bid should be good examples of the type, not bad ones.

As I commented to **username_3**'s answer:

> Modern treatment (and rules!) now allows the 2NT opening with a singleton K as well [as with a singleton A]. This is an expert call, however, so should only be engaged in if partner is not going to react inappropriately when revealed.


---

### Answer by username_3 on 2018-07-12. Score: 2

If the singleton is an Ace (and an Ace only!) a lot of players will open this hand in 2NT. If it isn't an Ace, or if you very explicitly agree with your partner that 20-22 4-4-4-A is not 2NT, then just open in the lowest available 4-card and, if partner answers, jump to indicate points. If opponents start bidding, double\*.

'Worst case' scenario is that everybody passes and you're playing a 1-level contract, but oftentimes partner's hand is very limited in these cases and a game-score is very improbable. You'd rather play a 1+2 then a 4-1, right?

(\*) Note that opening and then doubling the opponents while Partner passed indicates a pretty strong hand on your side, and since you still have two unbid suits (or at least one if opponets are bidding one of your 4-cards) there is a good chance you will still find a fit with partner. Making this double a penalty is still an option for your partner, if he has length in opponents suit (probably your singleton).

> **Comments:**
> **username_4**: Nice answer, but careful with the doubles. If opponents are bidding your singleton's suit, it can get expensive; if not, you may drive them towards it.  
> **username_3**: @username_4 regardless, I alone hold the majority of the points. Partner might still have one or two points too, and may have some trumps when I don't, creating a threat on both sides of the declarer. And, if your opponents never make a doubled contract against you, you don't double enough.  
> **username_2**: Modern treatment (and ***rules***!) now allows the 2NT call with a singleton K as well. This is an expert call, however, so should only be engaged in if partner is not going to react inappropriately when revealed.  

---

