Poll: Balancing

[helene_t]

Many very strong players overcall on 4 carders at the 1 level.

That is correct. I've had BB winner Erik Saelesminde balance my 1♦ opener on something like...

 

♠ KJTx

♥ x

♦ Axxxx

♣ xxx

I can't believe a good player would balance with five cards in your suit, 8 HCPs, and a stiff in an unbid major. Maybe his minors were switched and the hand somewhat stronger?

 

4-card overcalls are less frequent in balancing seat because a 1NT overcall does not promise a stop. Anyway, even though one can construct a hand that would overcall on a 4-card, even in balancing seat, partner still assumes it to be a 5-card.

[whereagles]

I can't believe a good player would balance with five cards in your suit, 8 HCPs, and a stiff in an unbid major. Maybe his minors were switched and the hand somewhat stronger?

Maybe the minors were reversed, I can't remember. It was like 8 years ago. But the 4-card overcall seems normal. In fact, the norwegians constantly did it in direct and balancing seat when the suit was good.

[han]

LOL.

 

Don't say that a well known BB winner bid with that if you don't remember the hand! Reversing the minors makes it completely different. :)

[vuroth]

xx ATxx Kxxx AQT, over 1♦...

 

1♥ promises 5+ hearts

 

V

And who's font of knowledge does this pearl reflect?

I think my sig makes it clear that my opinion should not be regarded as expert.

[whereagles]

LOL.

 

Don't say that a well known BB winner bid with that if you don't remember the hand! Reversing the minors makes it completely different. :)

I was commenting on the 4-card overcall, not on the situation in the minors.

 

I seem to recall indeed he had 5 clubs and 3 diamonds, yes.

[han]

OK, I agree with you that there are hands where a four card overcall in balancing seat is the stand-out option.

 

I also agree with Ron that there are hands where many people would make a 4-card overcall. But not with the hand that Arend gave, and mike777 knows that very well and is indeed just asking to be insulted.

[MFA]

It's clear to bid 1♥.

 

1♥ vs double:

At high levels, (3D pp or 4D pp) it could easily be right to double with a (stronger) 3523 pattern to stay flexible. But at the 1-lvl, partner could conveniently have overcalled 1♠ with 5, and later on it's much easier for him to remove 1♥ than 3♥ or 4♥ if he has a decent alternative to hearts. Also, hoping for a penalty is not very much in the picture so low. So one should almost always bid a 5card major before doubling at this level, or the suit will get lost.

 

1♥ vs pass:

We must fight for the contract. It takes a very good catch to have a game, but there are MANY imps/mps in the long run for winning the partscore battles. Partner figures to have his share of the points here, so we surely can't sell to 1♦.