benlessard

2nd is clear take-out of clubs, something like a good 4432/3442 is probably the most frequent hand. 1st is clear penalty in imps with good hearts (nothing mysterious here). But in MP its might make sense to use it as a flawed take-out depending on the vulnerability since you wont get rich defending 1NT if they are white.

2nd is clear take-out of clubs, something like a good 4432/3442 is probably the most frequent hand. 1st is clear penalty in imps with good hearts (nothing mysterious here). But in MP its might make sense to use it as a flawed take-out depending on the vulnerability.

I think 3C as P/C is superior because it doesnt allow a free double of 2Nt. (1S)----2S------(P)-------2Nt ???? allowing the almost free double here is costly.

OH boy i have to strongly disagree here. Its a risky overcall even at the 2 level, to make it at the 3 level is just plain ugly and wrong. As for 3NT is the only bid, passing is just inconceivable. 100% blame to the overcaller.

Either North hand isnt an opening. Or South had no right to bid 6S after 5H. I like 4m/4H to show minimum hands but with a control and 4S show AK/AQ in spades + 2 Queens or 1Q+3 jacks. And im not a big fan of jacoby 2Nt anyway.

Read "Overcall" by Mike Lawrence, IMO its a mandatory reading. Overcalls are basically for 3 main reasons. 1- To buy the contract or to push the opps higher. Overcalling with a hand where you have little or no hope of buying the contract is often dubious. 3rd hand too light or passed hand overcall when the opps have the spades are common mistakes. 2- Lead directing, this IMO is where there is a big philosophical difference between overcalling style. In good old days having a good suit for overcalling was more important than the modern "get in your face" overcall style. Im somewhat in the middle here. 3- To rob opponent valuable space. a 1S overcall after 1C steal space and make it harder for opps, but 1D over 1C is harmless. As for 1Nt or not, I suggest you to try 16-19 instead of 15-18. Passing balanced 15 count is less dangerous than people think.

bidding here is so sick.

I agree with 4Nt. The chance of missing a slam by bidding 3Nt are much higher than the chance of reaching a bad slam + the chance that 4Nt go down.

He will pull all hands with voids. He will also pull some hands with 1H/4S and extras values. So he will pass with all hand with a stiff H and not 4S and pass 1H/4S and no extras.

5H is an overbid but i wont bid 4S for sure. At first i thought 4Nt and pull to 5D to suggest 6D but i think X is the best bid. If partner got a void in H 6 should be a nice spot and if hes got a stiff ill be happy in 4H X. I agree with Frances post

I think you need a week off Ken ;) Go get some mountain air and when you ll be back im sure you ll double instead of overcalling 2D.

For me 2Nt isnt a catch all bid, It show the desire to declare the hand in Nt. 3S is ok but since ive got no ruffing power i prefer to bid 3C, its just way more likely to reach a bad 4S after 3S than to reach a bad 5C after 3C. Of course some of the hands will play 4S in 5-2 fit better than 3Nt. But i expect that my 3C will strongly encourage opps to lead H and 3Nt should be the best spot fairly often.

I think its close call between 3S and 3Nt. Partner can surely have 4S (5 ?) and bid 2Nt. Making a neg X with 1.5/2 stoppers in H and short clubs will often backfire. So with most hands where ive got 2 H stoppers and values ill stretch to bid 2Nt instead of making a neg X. Qxxxx KJx Axxx x Even with 5S it will not surprised me that 2Nt might be better than a neg X.

Agree cant find anything better

1H is obvious, you have enough strenght to double 2C/3C afterwards so will be very well placed to find your best fit. Make the hand weaker to the point that X a further 2C is less clear and maybe ill be tempted by double. Those who bid 2Nt are way out of track.

I know 3 style of overcalling. Old school An overcall show either a good suit or an opening hands. You often need to balance and here 2H show 6H but the suit probably lack quality. The philosophy of this style is if partner overcall and you have Kx lead the K and it will never cost a trick. Very agressive style quick in quick out. The requirement to overcall & preempt are quite low, once you pass youre rarely balancing or bidding a new suit after that. In fact a new suit by a passed hand tend to show tol for the unbids suit or for partner suit. Nobody that play that style will bid 2H on a hand that wasnt able to take action over 1D. The philosophy of this style is that its safer and more disruptive to get in early than later. No flaw overcalls. Could be as light as the quick in quick out but isnt afraid to pass hands with flaws and bid later. Overcall that doesnt steal space tend to be sound. A compromise between lead directing and quick in. KQxx JTxxx Kxx x If you play the 3rd style, overcalling with this doesnt make sense. You prefer a S lead than a H lead. 1H steal no space and having both major should enable to compete over 2D anyway. 2H should show 5S + 4H and 2D should show 5H and 4S. I believe that style 1 is close to being obsolete and i prefer style 2 for preempts but style 3 for overcalls.

Playing 4 way transfer is pretty standard among expert. So after 2H responder may or may not have 4S so you need a way to make the distinction. 1st way. 2Nt show 4S and is invitationnal. 2S is range ask and denies 4S Advantage You have an extra slamming tool with 2S. You are not wrongsiding the contract if 4-4 spades fit exist. disadvantage You allow a lead directing double of 2S. 2nd way. 2S is invitaionnal with 4S 2Nt is invitationnal without 4S Advantage You may stop in 2S in 4-4 or 4-3 fit.

If you want to compete with Qxxx Kxx xx K10xx (i dont) you still can bid 2H. If you dont want to use the double as penalty than you should use X to show 4H & 3S and bid 2H to show 4-3. With 4-4 you would have double 2C anyway.

My requirement for a take-out double by opener = not a minimum hand hand and xx (not Hx) in diamonds. Some other players require exact 4-4 in the majors. One thing is sure however is that responder X should be penalty or at least show cards since he can bid 2H to show a weakish both major take-out. Taht game is a good bet here is so unlikely that its like the perfect time to X and i expect partner to lead a trump if hes got something in clubs.

I think that this is a case where count isnt really more useful than attitude or SP.

The key here is the meaning of ----- ---- Pass....1♥ 2D....3D.......??? 3S here is kind of a PHJSF but does it show values or just suggest saving ? 4S S+D preempt. For me passing and bidding 4S is a delayed sacrifice D+S. Im not fond of waiting for opps to bid theyre game before sacrificing.

You will have a hard time finding an expert that will not bid 3H.

I meant pass 1H. Im not saying that 1S show extras but 1D----(1H)------??? I believe that some of the hand where you would bid 1S over 1D but can afford to pass when RHO bid 1H especially those with 5S/3H.

I dont think i would reach 7D but ill probably play 6D not 6S. With AKxx and facing possibly 4 small 6D could easily a better spot and i would bid 5Nt PAS to suggest alternative trump suit.

KJTxx xx ??? ??? Should make game a fair bet (even if they tap you in hearts). I can see many hands where partner will pass 2C and game is cold. Of course if partner got 3H its ugly, but its going to be tough to get a plus score anyway. I also think that partner with 5S and 3H and dead minimum values can pass. For the rest its a matter of style on how you handle the hand with short hearts or hand with no stoppers and your tolerance for fake jumpshifts. If bidding D,C and giving a delayed preference show short heart than you have to cue bid 2H. If 2H show real trump support or / half a stopper than you have to bid 2 or 3C. I personnaly use 2H to make the distinction between a good raise and a bad raise to 2S (2H is GF or weak raise & 2S is inv raise---or 2H is INV or better and 2S is minimum) If sometimes you can afford to bid 2Nt without a stop than 2Nt is your bid. On this hand its pretty clear that 3Nt/4S are much more probable game then 5m. So if you are not ready to force to game and dont have a way to inv and stop in 2S are you willing to bid 3S (INV) ?