With no one vulnerable at matchpoints, I passed in first position with ten high card points. Ditto for second seat with eight high card points.

Partner passed in third seat with eleven points and a weak five card spade suit: ♠ 97642 ♡75 ♢KJ3 ♣ AK3.

Then fourth seat passed with eleven high card points and a slightly stronger heart suit: ♠ K5 ♡JT964 ♢AQT9 ♣ J5.

My understanding is that third seat should usually open after two passes with 11 high card points and a five card major but is ♠ 97642 too weak? How about 11 high card points and five hearts in fourth seat?

Switch the third and fourth seat hands so that five hearts were in third seat, and five spades were in fourth seat. Should they both open, both pass, or one open and one pass?

(We got a bottom because others with our 21 high card points and eight spades made two spades.)

With no one vulnerable at matchpoints, I passed in first position with ten high card points. Ditto for second seat with eight high card points.

Partner passed in third seat with eleven points and a weak five card spade suit: ♠ 97642 ♡75 ♢KJ3 ♣ AK3.

Then fourth seat passed with eleven high card points and a slightly stronger heart suit: ♠ K5 ♡JT964 ♢AQT9 ♣ J5.

My understanding is that third seat should usually open after two passes with 11 high card points and a five card major but is ♠ 97642 too weak? For instance, if partner can't tolerate spades, can s/he bid and reasonably hope to make INT with 8-10 high card points? How about 11 high card points and five hearts in fourth seat?

Switch the third and fourth seat hands so that five hearts were in third seat, and five spades were in fourth seat. Should they both open, both pass, or one open and one pass?

(We got a bottom because others with our 21 high card points and eight spades made two spades.)