What's wrong here?

[cherdano]

Something is wrong ...

 

Either overcaller is too strong for 1♥ or overcaller's partner must find a response with this hand.

No. There is also the option to pay the price of occasionally missing game when opponents don't balance with their 10-card fit, in exchange for getting better control of contested auctions.

 

With the given hand, I much prefer the auction (1D)-1H-(3D)-P-(P)-X over (1D)-X-(3D)-P-(P)-3H.

[Robert]

Hi Codo

 

I see that you live in Germany. In American high level bridge, the fairly strong overcall is almost standard. I switched to the style after I read what Edgar Kaplan had to say on why he bid that way.

 

On this side of the pond, we overcall to show our main suit and double later to show support for the unbid suits.

 

If you double 'without' support for the unbid suits, how does partner bid an unbid suit at a high level or with modest values. His 'shortage' in hearts might not be of great value after you 'pull' his club bid to your heart contract.

 

Play whatever style you are used to. Over here we tend to overcall with some pretty decent hands. My overcall range says 8-18(normally, however, with some exceptions!)

 

Regards,

Robert

[adhoc3]

I would try 1S with North's hand, it's white vs red. Yes, it's forcing, I could get back to H later.

[Codo]

Hi Codo

 

I see that you live in Germany. In American high level bridge, the fairly strong overcall is almost standard. I switched to the style after I read what Edgar Kaplan had to say on why he bid that way.

 

On this side of the pond, we overcall to show our main suit and double later to show support for the unbid suits.

 

If you double 'without' support for the unbid suits, how does partner bid an unbid suit at a high level or with modest values. His 'shortage' in hearts might not be of great value after you 'pull' his club bid to your heart contract.

 

Play whatever style you are used to. Over here we tend to overcall with some pretty decent hands. My overcall range says 8-18(normally, however, with some exceptions!)

 

Regards,

Robert

HI Robert,

 

I don´t see the point. Here the overcall shows up to 18 HCPs, which is exactly the same then yours, so where is the difference?

 

And of course you have no problems with strong hands, because they do not occur.

And if you have them once in while, there is never a problem. you still have much space to find the right place.

[helene_t]

As for the difference between European and American overcall style:

 

Here in NL, beginners are tought a rather old-fashioned style in which overcalls are limited to 15 or maybe 16 HCP. My impression is that most intermediate players play something like that. I don't know about other European countries.

 

Personally, I'd rather overcall with 20 HCPs than double with a doubleton in an unbid major. I certainly don't consider this hand too strong for an overcall, it's just that double followed by some number of hearts gives a good description of the hand, I think. So I see no reason to risk 1♥ getting passed out.

I thought this was pretty much standard among advanced players at both sides of the pond, but it seems not to be.

 

So my question is: if a double followed by some number of hearts does not show this hand, what would it show? More defensive potential? Even more offensive potential?

[whereagles]

So my question is: if a double followed by some number of hearts does not show this hand, what would it show? More defensive potential? Even more offensive potential?

Depends on agreement. French style, it would show 18-21 hcp and 5+ card suit.