TMorris

i have a bad 8 count opposite what might be a weak nt with no known fit - i pass.

I think I would splinter with 4 ♣. You never know.

Overcalling 2 ♥ showing a single suited hand is not something I would do. I know no-one who doesn't play something to show two suiters in this situation. If you played something I would use if for sure and consider it automatic.

I play my splinters as 8-11ish with anything stronger through J2N

I still play the original mainly becase I haven't found a partner who is interested in changing. They all play the same withother partners & don't want to do something different with me.

Anything other than pass would not cross my mind. Partner is a passed hand. All you are doing by bidding is telling the opposition how to play the hand. Not that I would bid if partner wasn't a passed hand but it might just about cross my mind. "Careless talk cost lives" applies in bridge as well.

They way to think about it is that you have an 11 count and partner has opened so your side has the majority of the points. Consequently you cannot let them play undoubled at the two level. You have shown four hearts and a 6 count. You have an obligation to partner to tell them what you have so you need to make another bid to more fully describe your hand. You are bidding as if you don't have one of the aces so you need to give partner the good news. both 3nt and 5 ♣ are very poor contracts that should not be reached.

It looks like partner is either 4 2 2 5 or perhaps less likely 4 2 1 6 as I would expect partner to raise hearts with three even though I have only shown four. Partner is also a minimum given she passed 2 ♦. 2nt is right on values but most likely wrong sides the contract if it is right for us to play there. If I double partner will probably bid 2 ♠ then what do I do. I want to play in a 5 2 fit rather than a 4 3 fit. So I think I double to show values then after 2 ♠ I will bid 3 ♣.

Pass

Many years ago when I was an even worse player than I am now I played in a county event. One of the best county players, a well known EBU name, was playing with a partner who was not local. When they sat down at the table the good local player put a thumb down in the middle of the table. I have always assumed it was this sort of signal. It seemed rude & funny at the same time. They were after all going to beat us whatever happened.

For me double now is t/o so I do that.

No, nor have I suggested I was. What of it. It is common for these auctions to be NF in Acol. Some may play them otherwise. I play regularly with experts and am confident they would consider these auctions NF.

I would agree with Cyberyeti both are NF. Opener can have a 10 count and responder a 9 count.

2 ♦ is fine. It is a very long way from a WJO which amongst other things could put partner off from bidding no trumps

This approach seems common amongst the good players around here (Middlesex) albeit with transfers after the short club. They can respond on nothing as the 1♣ is often a weak nt and if opener has the weak nt hand they show this in their second bid and responder can pass at a very low level. One gets used to it.