Opening 1 of a Minor

Requirements for Opening 1 of a Minor
(clubs or diamonds)

• 13+ points
• longest suit -or- no 5 card major

Other Considerations
If you have two 5-card suits (or 6 card suits) that are the same length, open the higher one. i.e. Prefer spades to hearts to diamonds to clubs.

If you have no 5-card major, and your minor suits are the same length, open 1 diamond if you are 4-4 in the minors, and open 1 club if you are 3-3 in the minors.

Examples
In all the examples the suits are ordered, from top to bottom, spades, hearts, diamonds, clubs. A number means a card with that number, A = ace, K = king, Q = queen, J = jack, and T = ten.

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Q74

AT5

63

AK532

With 5 clubs and 14 points (don't forget to count the 1 distribution point for the fifth club), open this 1C.

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Q74

AT5

63

K7532

With less than 13 points, just pass.

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AK53

K74

KT43

63

You have 13 points, but you don't have a 5 card major, so open this one 1D.

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53

9

AK532

AQ743

You have enough points to open, and two 5 card minors, so open the higher one:  1D.

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532

96

AK53

AQ74

You have enough points to open, and two 4 card minors, so open the higher one:  1D.

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9532

943

AK5

AQ7

You have enough points to open, and two 3 card minors, so open the lower one:  1C.

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Q532

A784

AK5

AQ

You have enough points to open, but no 5 card major, so open the longer minor:  1D.