Opening one

I love opening, it's why I turn up to bridge and one of the reasons I venture into silly systems. In these examples everything is mostly natural.

♠	K Q 9 8 3 2
♥	-
♦	A T 8 4
♣	9 7 5

Second seat, unfavourable.

You have a weak 2♠ available but is that really what this hand is worth? 6430 is high on the powerful shapes list and all your values are in the two longest suits. I opened at the one level.

Vul: NS Dealer: East	♠ T ♥ K Q 9 8 5 3 ♦ 6 2 ♣ A J T 6
♠ 7 5 ♥ A J 6 2 ♦ K J 9 5 ♣ K 8 2		♠ A J 6 4 ♥ T 7 4 ♦ Q 7 3 ♣ Q 4 3
	♠ K Q 9 8 3 2 ♥ - ♦ A T 8 4 ♣ 9 7 5

Partner responded 2♥ which made me feel all warm inside but she passed 2♠ which rolled in.

As an aside would you have made a takeout double sitting West? That won't go well if North thinks to send it back.

The consequences of taking the weaker option can be seen in this example:

Vul: Nil Dealer: West	♠ A J ♥ K 8 5 4 ♦ Q T 8 6 ♣ Q T 6
♠ Q T 9 7 6 4 ♥ 2 ♦ K 9 7 4 3 ♣ A		♠ K 8 5 ♥ Q 7 ♦ A 5 2 ♣ J 9 8 5 3
	♠ 3 2 ♥ A J T 9 6 3 ♦ J ♣ K 7 4 2

West	North	East	South
2♠1	Pass	Pass2	3♥3
3♠4	4♥	4♠5	End

1. 5♠ & 4+ any other (Lucas).
2. Just missed game.
3. There's me, handing out the life jackets
4. Oh look, I have an opening hand!
5. Sigh

A couple of people I get on well with opened the West hand at the one level and had no trouble reaching the game unaided.

Pushing them into wasn't all bad though. After winning the heart lead I sent back the J♦. Declarer won on the table and pulled a spade to the Ten. Don't know why.