bid after pard overcalls 1NT

[mikegill]

I think everyone is reading a little too much into the good 14 thing. Let's just pretend that it's a 15-17, since that's what it really is. I think many would overcall 1NT on AT9 AQT KJT9x xx, since I think this is a better hand than, say, AJx Axx KQxx Qxx, on which I'm sure everyone would overcall 1NT, since it's a 16-count. Technically, our agreement is that we only could overcall on 14 over minors and when white - I think in general it's a bad idea like everyone else. But I forgot that when writing this post (swayed by the fact that partner actually held a 14-count on this particular hand). But nevermind that, that's his problem not ours. This seems like an interesting problem regardless.

 

At the table, I tanked for a long time on this hand, deciding first between inviting game and forcing game. I decided to invite via 2♠ - I think inviting in clubs is too much of a distortion. I still think, mainly for the reasons awm mentioned, that this is not worth a game force at matchpoints. My heart holding devalues many of partner's heart holdings (KJx, Qxx, etc.) and makes for serious communication problems, and I don't have high cards where my length is. I think I would force game here even if I had the ♦T, since that would give me a much better chance of getting tricks there.

That being said, I would force game at IMPs, even white, and I would choose to show 2245 in the process. If you're going to force, why not get partner's opinion? Sure it's a 1-card distortion of your shape, but partner will get the idea that he needs stuff in the majors to play 3NT. It's hard to imagine him making a terrible judgement based on this. They could be taking 5 spades (or 4 spades and a slow minor trick). They might not even have to lead them - we know a heart won't give us a trick.

[Guest Jlall]

Another option was to simply ask if partner were min or max.. yet with my hand, some minimums make for a decent game if vul at imps... AJx Kxx KJxx Kxx.. on a ♥ lead I need 2-2♣s with the A onside... not too terrible at imps... Kxx Kxx Kxx AQxx.... looks like a wonderful game to me, yet this is a sterile minimum...unless opener expects 6 ♣ tricks.... and so on.

I agree with this, but I think with this hand there will be a good correlation between partners overall values and our chances for game. ie, I think MOST maximums will make game good, and MOST minimums will make game bad. I think this would be a good hand type for a simulation though.

[SoTired]

if this hand was xxx Axx Axxx 109x, what would you do? Since 1N overcall is behind the opener, most would invite with this hand.

 

So the hand is basically an invite plus a bonus weak 6-card club suit which may prove worthless if it does not run. But that still does not lower the invite status.

 

I bid 2S and if opener is max, 3N

[civill]

pass,I never regard bridge-playing as high-key.

[skjaeran]

At IMP's I'd surely just bid 3NT. The invite with clubs sequence isn't going to work, since pard wld bid 3NT with some wrong hands and not with some right hands, expecting me to hold a good suit.

 

At MP my choice is between 2NT and 3NT. The "value" bid is 2NT, but playing in a overly agressive environment, I'd most probably bid 3NT even at MP.

 

Harald