biding question

[jocdelevat]

Hi all

 

Im beginner-intermediate and I play basic SAYC.

NT range 15-17.

 

It hapend to me a lot of times to have an oppenning hand in second seat like 12-14 balance after opponents open (often a minor) however I m not short in their suit.

 

What I do not know how to proceed:

1.pass

2.bid major in 4 with 2 top honors

3.bid the other minor in 4 at level 2.

 

thank you all in advance for your advice.

 

best regards

jocdelevat

[Guest Jlall]

Never do option 3. Option 1 will be your most common choice if not suitable for a takeout X. You will get differing opinions on option 2, but I think it's ok to bid a 4 card major with that hand type if you have a good suit.

 

Also note you do have the option of Xing with 4333, or 4423 with 2 in the unbid minor and 2 four card majors. If you have something like a 2 card major, and 4 in their minor, and 43 in the other suits and NOT a good four card major, it's not a disaster to have to pass.

[HeartA]

To overcal a major of 4 with 2 honors at 1 level is acceptable. But to overcall a suit (minor or major) at two level is not acceptable, imo. If you can not overcall 1NT (not strong enough), can't double (because of shape), and don't have a good suit to bid, pass is the only choice, isn't it?

[mikeh]

Pass is the most under-utilized call in bridge.

 

overcalling 4 card majors that have good honour holdings and spot cards is ok, but you must make sure that your partner is on the same wavelength.

 

4=4=3=2 or 4=4=2=3 hands are okay for takeout doubles of the tripleton minor IF partner is an understanding partner and you have 12-14 hcp. The same is true of 4=3=3=3 or 3=4=3=3.

 

However, I recommend that you venture into these short suit overcalls and offshape doubles very cautiously. There is rarely anything really wrong with pass in these situations.

 

As your declarer play becomes better, your ability to handle 4-3 fits (or worse) will improve and you can start to be a little more aggressive.

 

If you watch top players make aggressive calls, remember that they can usually get at least a trick more out of most hands than would a beginner/intermediate.

 

There is a school of thought that says that overbidding is a good way to learn to be a good declarer, because you get into a lot of bad contracts. That may work for some, but my experience suggests that it does not work for most.

[EricK]

There is a school of thought that says that overbidding is a good way to learn to be a good declarer, because you get into a lot of bad contracts. That may work for some, but my experience suggests that it does not work for most.

And remember that for every hand your side doesn't get to practice its declarer skills you have a hand where you get to practice your defensive skills!

[P_Marlowe]

Hi,

 

either pass or option 2.

Option 2 is ok, as long as a raise to the 3 level by your

partner is made always on 4 card support (unclear if you

play with a stranger) .

So with a stranger pass, with a regular partner, who is

aware of 4 card mayor suit ovrcalls option2 is fine, altough

you may or may not need the 10 or 9.

 

With kind regards

Marlowe