Double or overcall?

[Wackojack]

[hv=d=w&v=n&s=sa9hkj1063dak654ck]133|100|Scoring: IMP[/hv]

 

1♦ pass pass ?

 

HB tournament yesterday. At my table I was sitting South and bid 1♥. I was very surprised to see that at the 4 other tables all the South hands re-opened with a double. To me that bid has got nothing going for it. Views please?

[P_Marlowe]

Hi,

 

on first though, I would have overcalled 1H as well.

The main problem, 1H could be 12HCP weaker, this

explains the dbl.

 

Dbl, followed by 2H is probably best.

 

With kind regards

Marlowe

[mike777]

Dealer: West Vul: N/S Scoring: IMP

♠ A9 ♥ KJ1063 ♦ AK654 ♣ K

 

1♦ pass pass ?

 

HB tournament yesterday.  At my table I was sitting South and bid 1♥.  I was very surprised to see that at the 4 other tables all the South hands re-opened with a double.  To me that bid has got nothing going for it.  Views please?

This brings up a recurring debate what is the max for 1H/1S in the balance seat. Mike Lawrence seems to imply in his book about a crummy 11-12 is near the top range. It could be as little as:

 

KJ875...3...Q542...T65

 

Often I see in the forum and online people bidding with 16HCP this seems to be quite a wide range. This hand has 18 HCP.

[whereagles]

Dbl should be fine because pard can hardly have the points to bid 2♠ as a response. I expect it to go

 

1♦ pass pass dbl

pass 1♠ pass 2♥

 

or

 

1♦ pass pass dbl

2♣ pass pass 2♥

[JohnnyH7]

This hand is just too good for 1H. I understand the major (black suit) defects to Xing, but thats the price you pay to be able to reopen light. In a pinch I will bid 1H in balancing seat with 16 on a really flawed X hand (this qualifies!), but you have to draw the line somewhere. Partner with a weak hand and a long suit will realize in passout seat you are likely to just have some kind of strong hand since he is weak and his LHO passed a 1 bid. You may get burned, but I feel that bidding 1H is just going to miss too many games.