opps open, what is your call?

[jillybean]

A hand from Juniors BBO today...

 

NV, rho opens 1♥ and you hold

 

KQxx,Qx,AQJxx,xx

[hrothgar]

Absent gadgets I'd overcall 1♠

[skjaeran]

Playing ELC I double, else I overcall 1♠.

[Cascade]

I double. This is the best way to get a four-card spade suit into the picture.

 

I am not adverse to four-card overcalls but they are over-rated IMO. I suppose if partner knows that you overcall a four-card suit frequently they are ok but then you lose the definition that an overcall shows five plus.

 

In one partnership I actually play that I can overcall this hand 2♥ showing five diamonds and four spades. That works quite nicely but obviously it too has its costs.

[han]

1S, 2D and double are all somewhat reasonable in my opinion, each with their flaws. Michaels is the ugly duckling in this list, not sure how that could be an option.

 

My first choice is double, second choice 2D, third choice 1S. Make it KQxx xx AQJxx Qx and double is 100% clear I think. Make it Qxxx Qx AQJxx Kx and 2D is 100% clear I think. Make it, uhm, something different with this shape and 1S may be clear.

[P_Marlowe]

Hi,

 

I prefer 2D.

 

2nd choice would be 2H, but you need to

have agreed, that a Michales Cue could be

5-4 and that you bid it with Intermediate hands

as well, both agreements are certainly not

mainstream.

Given the queen of hearts, I would not

do it even with this agreements in place.

 

X is out, I dont play ELC, if you do, the hand would

be perfect.

1S is ok, but I would prefer a better suit.

 

With kind regards

Marlowe

[Apollo81]

I'll double, happy if playing ELC, willing to live with the consequences if not.

[jdonn]

I bid 2♦. I think most often after this one or the other opponent bids 2♥ and I get to bid 2♠ next. If it is passed out I think it's very unlikely we have game in spades. I am definitely not a fan of four card overcalls, especially on a good hand with other reasonable alternatives. I will only make them very tactically (meaning rarely) and usually on light hands as an obstructive manuver where pass is the only other alternative.

[jillybean]

pray tell, what is ELC?

[jdonn]

pray tell, what is ELC?

Equal Level Conversion, meaning they can double and if partner bids 2♣ they can bid 2♦ without showing extras. Obviously that would be the way to go if playing that.

[Guest Jlall]

I think anything but X is really bad.

[rogerclee]

Double > 1♠ > 2♦

 

for me. I don't strongly prefer 1♠ to 2♦, but I strongly prefer Double over either.

[jdeegan]

:) Dbl. Doesn't everybody play equal conversion nowdays? So, if I bid 2♦ over partner's 2♣ bid, it does not promise much (if anything) in the way of extra values.

[Cascade]

:) Dbl.  Doesn't everybody play equal conversion nowdays? 

I hope not

[pclayton]

Double.

 

Contrast this with the hand with 4 hearts and 5 diamonds in the other thread.

[whereagles]

I'll double, happy if playing ELC, willing to live with the consequences if not.

Agrreee

[Fluffy]

I'd like to have ♠10 for bidding 1♠, anyway I don't feel very strong about any option, I like to bid 1♠.

[jillybean]

The biggest push was for the 4card ♠ overcall, seen as best to outbid the ops once they have opened ♥'s.

I would double here. I am trying to become a lot more disciplined, not less.

[TimG]

Do the doublers also double with:

 

♠KQxx ♥Qx ♦xx ♣AQJxx?

[jillybean]

Do the doublers also double with:

 

♠KQxx ♥Qx ♦xx ♣AQJxx?

no

2♣ or 1♠ now

[TimG]

Do the doublers also double with:

 

♠KQxx ♥Qx ♦xx ♣AQJxx?

no

2♣ or 1♠ now

Why the difference?

[dburn]

Double. 1♠ is truly horrible: imagine that the auction proceeds 2♥-pass-pass. Am I supposed to bid 3♦ now, and watch partner return me to 3♠ with three spades and three diamonds? Am I supposed to pass now and concede a double part-score swing? It's not as if double will prevent us from playing in spades if that's what we should be doing, but 1♠ will often have us playing in spades when that is certainly not what we should be doing.

 

Of course, I play equal-level conversion, but I would not overcall 1♠ even if I did not. Nor would I overcall 2♦, although I regard that as preferable to 1♠ (but I regard a sinus wash as preferable to 1♠).

[pclayton]

Do the doublers also double with:

 

♠KQxx ♥Qx ♦xx ♣AQJxx?

Yes.

[benlessard]

I think 1S,2D and X can work well if you are on the same wavelenght. Ive got good result overcalling 1S in imps with those hand but im not convinced at all 1S is best. 1S vs X is mostly a matter of style i think, it depend on the type of hand partner will compete at 3C or at 3S. Off shape X and 4 card overcall both are playable just that you have to be coordinated on both side.

[Guest Jlall]

I am sure I will get flamed for this but I will say probably 9 out of 10 experts would X with this shape routinely. It is just so much better to X, the worst case scenario doesn't always happen and when it does you're usually in a 5-2 fit anyways which isn't even so bad. The worst case scenarios for 1S and 2D are not only more frequent, they are much much worse.