Min Requirements

[sceptic]

what are your minimum requirements for

 

t/o and then bidding a suit in 2nd 3rd and balancing positions and why?

 

t/o and then bidding NT in 2nd 3rd and balancing positions and why?

 

and does it differ if the bid is in 1st 2nd 3rd seat or vuln considerations or even which suit

 

or is there a general rule or down to partnership agreements

[skjaeran]

what are your minimum requirements for

 

t/o and then bidding a suit in 2nd 3rd and balancing positions and why?

 

t/o and then bidding NT in 2nd 3rd and balancing positions and why?

 

and does it differ if the bid is in 1st 2nd 3rd seat or vuln considerations or even which suit

 

or is there a general rule or down to partnership agreements

The requirements vary according to suit length and quality.

Roughly I need 18-19+ in 2nd and 3rd seat and 15+ in 4th to double and bid a suit (except that I like Equal Level Conversion).

 

To double and bid NT I require 19-21 hcp in direct seat and 15-18 in balancing seat.

 

No difference due to vulnerability or suit.

 

This is down to partnership agreement. Most double and bid a suit with less than I require. NT strength in balancing seat also vary according to partnership agreement - I play 1NT=11-14, but 12-16 and 15-17/18 are also normal.

[ArtK78]

1) It depends. I used to think that a simple overcall was limited to about 15 or 16 HCP. However, if you make a takeout double, you must be able to handle a response in an unbid suit. So, if your RHO opens 1♦ and you hold:

 

---

AKQJxx

xxx

AKxx

 

it is wrong to make a takeout double. If your partner jumps to 4♠, is your hand strong enough to bid again? If the answer is no (and I submit to you that your answer is no) then you cannot make a takeout double. All you can do is bid 1♥.

 

However, if you hold:

 

xxx

AKQJxx

---

AKxx

 

you can make a takeout double intending to bid hearts later. If partner jumps in spades, that is OK since you have some spades.

 

In balancing seat, the requirements for an overcall are lower, and the chance that your partner is going to jump in a suit that you cannot handle are also lower. So a double followed by a bid in a new suit is not nearly as strong as it would be otherwise. Since a simple balancing call in a suit could show anywhere from 8-13 HCP, a double followed by a simple bid in a new suit shows more than that - about 14-16 HCP.

 

2) A simple 1NT overcall shows 15-18 HCP (or thereabout, depending on your agreement). A double followed by 1NT (if available) shows more - about 19-21 HCP.

 

In balancing seat, a 1NT call shows about 10-13 HCP. So a double followed by a notrump rebid shows about 14-17 HCP. A double followed by a jump notrump rebid shows more - about 18-19 HCP.

 

Note that a jump to 2NT in balancing seat shows a 2NT opening bid - it is not unusual notrump.

 

Vulnerability does not change the meaning of the bids, although it might effect the quality of the suits that you choose to bid.

[jdonn]

what are your minimum requirements for

 

t/o  and then bidding a suit in 2nd 3rd and balancing positions and why?

 

t/o and then bidding NT in 2nd 3rd and balancing positions and why?

 

and does it differ if the bid is in 1st 2nd 3rd seat or vuln considerations or even which suit

 

or is there a general rule or down to partnership agreements

Double then new suit - At least good 18 for me in general. It goes without saying it depends greatly on many factors such as exact shape.

In balancing seat - Only a little lighter, about 17+. I absolutely hate the more old fashioned methods where this can be far lighter, these used to be standard but over time are falling more and more out of favor. They only fit with a very sound and out of date style of direct seat overcalls.

 

Double then notrump - Good 19 to 21 for me (1NT good 15 to bad 19.)

In balancing seat - I prefer 1NT over a minor 11-14, double then notrump 15-18. 1NT over a major 12-16, double then notrump 17-18 (since it will often have to be 2NT.)

[MFA]

As jdonn, especially on the balancing issues.

 

My direct 1NT overcall range is 15 - bad 18. So X+NT for me is 18+ - 21 approximately.