Balance?

[Mr. Dodgy]

[hv=d=e&v=e&s=sq987hqt8765d84cq]133|100|Scoring: IMP

1♦-P-P-?[/hv]

[jdaming]

Generally the suggestion is to have 8-13 hcp which this hand obviously does not meet. In addition 2 of the 6 points you do have (Q♣) are virtually wasted. While you do have a 6 card ♥ suit I do not think this can outway the other negatives of this hand.

[nick_s]

Pass.

 

Partner is marked with at most 16 HCP. It is highly likely you are outgunned.

 

The best that can happen is that you steal a part score. The worst that can happen is that you push the opponents into a making game.

 

Remember that opener is sometimes forced to open one of a minor with a 20+ count if the hand is unsuitable for 2NT or 2♣. There's a good chance that this is one of those times.

 

If you were thinking about overcalling 2♥, this is not the hand for it. When balancing, a jump overcall is commonly played as an opening strength hand with a good 6 card suit.

[jdonn]

This seems like one of those times they could be in a 6-1 diamond fit while missing their 4-6 club fit which makes game or slam. I pass.

[neilkaz]

Pass for me, although if PD is really cautious about competing somewhat offshape over a 1♦ opening, I can see where you may be missing a game, but the odds favor passing here.

 

Often when I pass here with a hand like this, I see that opener either has a near 2♣ bid or was unbalanced so he didn't open 2NT and responder passed 1♦ with a 5 count, that most of us would bid on.

[Walddk]

This seems like one of those times they could be in a 6-1 diamond fit while missing their 4-6 club fit which makes game or slam. I pass.

Possible, but it is also possible that partner has been kept out with something like

 

♠ Ax

♥ AJxx

♦ KQxx

♣ xxx

 

Wishful thinking? Perhaps. I tend to believe that opener is very strong and that pass is with the odds.

 

Roland

[P_Marlowe]

Hi,

 

1H, but it may well be, that the later auction

teaches me, that Pass is better.

 

If I add a King, I have a min 1H overcall, so

I would just do it.

 

With kind regards

Marlowe

[pclayton]

Pass. Patience here. Pard has a good hand yet passed. I think its a near-lock he has a diamond stack.

 

Alternately, LHO has some 23 point monster and didn't want to open 2♣. Why give him a 2nd chance to find 3N?

[mikeh]

pass...(relatively) easy at imps, notwithstanding Roland's valid construction of a hand where balancing is right.

 

A tougher problem at mps, I think.

[pclayton]

pass...(relatively) easy at imps, notwithstanding Roland's valid construction of a hand where balancing is right.

 

A tougher problem at mps, I think.

Odd, I think its an easier pass at MPs.

 

Defending 1 or 2 of a minor is very attractive especially when the opps are vulnerable.

 

At IMPs, if pard hits one of our majors we could have a game, and even then +140 / +200 isn't a big swing.

[whereagles]

lack of controls is worrisome. Pass

[mike777]

[hv=d=e&v=e&s=sq987hqt8765d84cq]133|100|Scoring: IMP

1♦-P-P-?[/hv]

pass, partner could not find a bid at fav vul. Next hand.

[mike777]

This seems like one of those times they could be in a 6-1 diamond fit while missing their 4-6 club fit which makes game or slam. I pass.

Possible, but it is also possible that partner has been kept out with something like

 

♠ Ax

♥ AJxx

♦ KQxx

♣ xxx

 

Wishful thinking? Perhaps. I tend to believe that opener is very strong and that pass is with the odds.

 

Roland

14 hcp at fav vul? looks like a clear 1nt overcall.

One more reason to pass in balance seat.

[rogerclee]

This seems like one of those times they could be in a 6-1 diamond fit while missing their 4-6 club fit which makes game or slam. I pass.

Possible, but it is also possible that partner has been kept out with something like

 

♠ Ax

♥ AJxx

♦ KQxx

♣ xxx

 

Wishful thinking? Perhaps. I tend to believe that opener is very strong and that pass is with the odds.

 

Roland

14 hcp at fav vul? looks like a clear 1nt overcall.

One more reason to pass in balance seat.

I never understand why people are so eager to overcall 1NT. Even with very sound overcalls, this is, in general, pretty risky.

[CSGibson]

This seems like one of those times they could be in a 6-1 diamond fit while missing their 4-6 club fit which makes game or slam. I pass.

Possible, but it is also possible that partner has been kept out with something like

 

♠ Ax

♥ AJxx

♦ KQxx

♣ xxx

 

Wishful thinking? Perhaps. I tend to believe that opener is very strong and that pass is with the odds.

 

Roland

14 hcp at fav vul? looks like a clear 1nt overcall.

One more reason to pass in balance seat.

I'd overcall a heart before overcalling a NT with that hand if I felt I had to get in the bidding. Pass seems right.

[CSGibson]

[hv=d=e&v=e&s=sq987hqt8765d84cq]133|100|Scoring: IMP

1♦-P-P-?[/hv]

I learned my lesson on hands like that early on. I balanced in a similar situation, only to find opponents bidding and making 5 clubs. Unlucky, but why give them that opportunity. And god forbid if partner doesn't have a fit with us, but isn't in on the joke and gets too high!

[the hog]

This seems like one of those times they could be in a 6-1 diamond fit while missing their 4-6 club fit which makes game or slam. I pass.

Possible, but it is also possible that partner has been kept out with something like

 

♠ Ax

♥ AJxx

♦ KQxx

♣ xxx

 

Wishful thinking? Perhaps. I tend to believe that opener is very strong and that pass is with the odds.

 

Roland

Eh? This is a 1H bid unless you have changed your name to Caspar Milquetoast. Pass on the given hand for me.

[jdonn]

1NT? 1♥? Well I thought it was a good example Roland. Granted I would still not balance, but it does illustrates the worst case scenario (after all it's a very specific hand. Jack of hearts, KQ in the right minor, four card support...)

 

I think there is a very easy rule. When you are a very minimum potential balance, you take your life in your hands when short in any side suit.

[mike777]

if you guys expect partner to pass many 14 hcp at fav vul .....ok?

[Mr. Dodgy]

it's a cruel game...

 

I passed, and lost 8.4 IMPs.

 

[hv=d=e&v=e&n=sq987hqt8765d84cq&w=sjt6h92dt7ck86532&e=sa53hjdaqj932cat9&s=sk42hak43dk65cj74]399|300|Scoring: IMP[/hv]

 

Several N/S Pairs were allowed to make 4♥, though it can be held to 9 tricks, as can E/W in ♦s (♣s is better. we let them make 11).

 

Resulting, I know. I'd probably overcall on the South hand myself. In my RL partnership 1NT is 13-15, 1♥ is also possible. Would you?

[mike777]

it's a cruel game...

 

I passed, and lost 8.4 IMPs.

 

<!-- FULLHAND begin --><table border=1> <tr> <td> <table> <tr> <td>Dealer:</td> <td> East </td> </tr> <tr> <td>Vul:</td> <td> E/W </td> </tr> <tr> <td>Scoring:</td> <td> IMP </td> </tr> </table> </td> <td> <table> <tr> <th> </th> <th> <table> <tr> <th class='spades'>♠</th> <td> Q987 </td> </tr> <tr> <th class='hearts'>♥</th> <td> QT8765 </td> </tr> <tr> <th class='diamonds'>♦</th> <td> 84 </td> </tr> <tr> <th class='clubs'>♣</th> <td> Q </td> </tr> </table> </th> <th> </th> </tr> <tr> <th> <table> <tr> <th class='spades'>♠</th> <td> JT6 </td> </tr> <tr> <th class='hearts'>♥</th> <td> 92 </td> </tr> <tr> <th class='diamonds'>♦</th> <td> T7 </td> </tr> <tr> <th class='clubs'>♣</th> <td> K86532 </td> </tr> </table> </th> <th> </th> <th> <table> <tr> <th class='spades'>♠</th> <td> A53 </td> </tr> <tr> <th class='hearts'>♥</th> <td> J </td> </tr> <tr> <th class='diamonds'>♦</th> <td> AQJ932 </td> </tr> <tr> <th class='clubs'>♣</th> <td> AT9 </td> </tr> </table> </th> </tr> <tr> <th> </th> <th> <table> <tr> <th class='spades'>♠</th> <td> K42 </td> </tr> <tr> <th class='hearts'>♥</th> <td> AK43 </td> </tr> <tr> <th class='diamonds'>♦</th> <td> K65 </td> </tr> <tr> <th class='clubs'>♣</th> <td> J74 </td> </tr> </table> </th> <th> </th> </tr> </table> </td> <td>  </td> </tr> </table><!-- FULLHAND end -->

 

Several N/S Pairs were allowed to make 4♥, though it can be held to 9 tricks, as can E/W in ♦s (♣s is better. we let them make 11).

 

Resulting, I know. I'd probably overcall on the South hand myself. In my RL partnership 1NT is 13-15, 1♥ is also possible. Would you?

i can very much understand playing 1d on defense and going minus 150 or 130

[jdonn]

South had an auto-double.

[jdonn]

if you guys expect partner to pass many 14 hcp  at fav vul .....ok?

Who said many? I said that particular one.

[mikeh]

South had an auto-double.

In the old days, hands like S's were automatic passes. But that dated from an era when there was an emphasis on conservative competitive bidding. The modern approach, certainly for the past 20 years or more, has been to get in early with hands like this, and the double is clearly the way to go. Double and then take the minimum possible action afterwards...

 

So I agree with Josh: the fault for the bad result here lies entirely with S.

[neilkaz]

The text hand given by Mr Dodge is a great example of why South should overcall on his good 4 card suit at the 1 level. 14 HCP and a suit headed by AK and certainly won't mind it being lead !

 

When you pass those hands, you or PD often end up guessing in the balancing decision and I find that is more costly than the time declarer take advantage of your O/C in the play, or the times PD competes too high with 3 card support (often not allowing for your 4 card O/C at the 1 level)

 

.. neilkaz ..