What does this auction show?

[whereagles]

Imagine the following auction:

 

(1♠) . dbl (2♠) pass

(pass) 3♣

 

do you think this shows... a.

 

♠ x

♥ AKJx

♦ xxx

♣ AQJTx

 

or something more like b.

 

♠ x

♥ AKx

♦ Kxx

♣ AKQJxx

 

What do you believe is more appropriate to the bidding and why?

[Apollo81]

That auction shows a hand with clubs that was too strong to overcall 2♣.

 

I don't think either of the hands you gave is appropriate. The first one should double again. The second one is close but a bit too strong IMO

[whereagles]

allright, give us your shot: hands c and d.

[jdonn]

Something like the second hand minus a king. It still shows extras.

[ArtK78]

I think the second hand is about right for the auction. It is near the top of the range for the bid.

 

With a king less, a simple 2♣ overcall is sufficient. Also, this would be about the top of the range for the bid.

 

In the GNT in Chicago a couple of years ago, I had a hand of similar strength to the second one, except the opening bid was 1♥ and I had spade shortness. I chose to double and bid. This worked well when my partner bid clubs. However, my partner was very unhappy with my double without spades. He said I should overcall clubs. I thought that my hand was too strong for a simple overcall.

 

At the other table, David Berkowitz did overcall 2♣.

[Apollo81]

allright, give us your shot: hands c and d.

 

c.

Ax

Kx

Axx

KQJxxx

 

 

d.

x

AKx

Kxx

AKJxxx

[Finch]

Something like the second hand minus a king. It still shows extras.

The shape of the second hand (roughly) but I agree it's too strong, I'd bid 3S on the second hand as we may well have 9 tricks opposite a spade stop.

[awm]

I think hand b is fine for the sequence. One could be a little weaker. I don't necessarily like my chances at 3NT if partner has a slow spade stop, and it seems like the alternative of bidding 3♠ over 2♠ will lead to putting up a substantial minus whenever partner is broke, which is not that unlikely on the bidding.

[pclayton]

Something like the second hand minus a king. It still shows extras.

Agree.

[whereagles]

hum.. well, the point I was trying to make is whether the original auction should stand for

 

A. a hand that has some extras (around 14-17), slightly off-shape as compared to a standard t/o shape, with preference for clubs

 

OR

 

B. a GOSH (good one-suited hand)

 

It seems clear that there's a tendency to interpret it as hand B, because if doubler had hand A, he could dbl again.

[Blofeld]

I think part of the problem is that your hand B isn't a GOSH - it has 3-card support for both unbid suits! Try the same hand with the majors reversed.

[han]

GOSH.