Style Question

[rogerclee]

IMPs, All Red, Third Seat

 

♠KQJx ♥AKJ9x ♦x ♣xxx

 

P - (2♦) - ?

[JLOL]

obv double!!!

[hanp]

Clear 2H.

[karlson]

I would 2♥.

[cherdanno]

Double.

[655321]

Ha ha, good hand Roger!

 

On principle this is a 2♥ overcall for me.

Yet something, perhaps the good spades, makes me want to double instead.

 

Put me down for an doubtful 2♥. :D

[mich-b]

Double.

 

I would consider 1H over 1D though , since there is more chance I will get a second bid (likely double) on a low level.

[jmcw]

DBL but 2♥ a close 2nd

[Gerben42]

Sure, 2♥ could work, but clearly Dbl.

[whereagles]

Dbl. 2♥ buries the spades, probably forever.

[mtvesuvius]

Double.

[Hanoi5]

My first thought was 2♥, but double is very close and surely better.

[skjaeran]

At the 1-level this would be an obvious overcall for me. At the 2-level I think I have to double, to be able to find a 4-4 spade fit.

[kenrexford]

I think I'll bid 2♥ for a counter-intuitive reason.

 

My diamond length is short enough that I may often get a second bite at the auction.

 

If I overcall 2♥, and LHO bids 3♦, passed to me, I feel OK doubling NOW, as it shows about this shape.

 

If I double, on the other hand, and 3♦ comes back to me, I have a problem. I now want to bid 3♥, but that shows too much stuff.

[Echognome]

Opposite a passed partner, I feel I am only worth one bite at the cherry, so double it is.

[jdonn]

I think I'll bid 2♥ for a counter-intuitive reason.

 

My diamond length is short enough that I may often get a second bite at the auction.

 

If I overcall 2♥, and LHO bids 3♦, passed to me, I feel OK doubling NOW, as it shows about this shape.

 

If I double, on the other hand, and 3♦ comes back to me, I have a problem. I now want to bid 3♥, but that shows too much stuff.

Do you see the problem is you would also bid 2♥ then double with your black suits reversed? That's why I think you have to double now, the spades are so good.

[kenrexford]

I think I'll bid 2♥ for a counter-intuitive reason.

 

My diamond length is short enough that I may often get a second bite at the auction. 

 

If I overcall 2♥, and LHO bids 3♦, passed to me, I feel OK doubling NOW, as it shows about this shape.

 

If I double, on the other hand, and 3♦ comes back to me, I have a problem.  I now want to bid 3♥, but that shows too much stuff.

Do you see the problem is you would also bid 2♥ then double with your black suits reversed? That's why I think you have to double now, the spades are so good.

Well, yeah. Of course that's the problem. However, I would also double with 4-3 in the majors, which creates a problem for partner also. I'd rather have partner know that I have 5♥ and 3.5 of each black suit than 3+ of each major.

[cherdanno]

Am I alone in thinking the hand isn't good enough to bid 2H, and then double 3D if it comes back to me?

[Echognome]

Am I alone in thinking the hand isn't good enough to bid 2H, and then double 3D if it comes back to me?

I believe I expressed this same sentiment with my answer.

[jdonn]

Am I alone in thinking the hand isn't good enough to bid 2H, and then double 3D if it comes back to me?

I believe I expressed this same sentiment with my answer.

Those sentiments I disagree with, but I double first anyway.

[jdonn]

I'd rather have partner know that I have 5♥ and 3.5 of each black suit than 3+ of each major.

A second round double shows 3.5 spades, but a first round double shows 3+ spades? You sure are a lawyer!

[hanp]

For the record, my "clear 2H" was a joke. Roger was playing with me and doubled, which worked out well. Someone told him it was a clear 2H, I didn't agree and wasn't sure what was better at the time.

[kenrexford]

I'd rather have partner know that I have 5♥ and 3.5 of each black suit than 3+ of each major.

A second round double shows 3.5 spades, but a first round double shows 3+ spades? You sure are a lawyer!

I'm not sure how that's confusing.

 

If I double initially, my heart length is 3, 4, or 5. Thus, partner can trust that I have at least three hearts. My spade length is 3, 4, or 5. Same trust. My club length -- same thing, but a doubleton is possible.

 

If I bid hearts, by heart length changes from 3, 4, or 5 to 5. When I later double, my spade length changes from 3, 4, or 5 to 3 or 4.

 

The fine-tuning comes because the hearts-first auction is intended as a two-bid auction, which provides more detail.

 

So, if you look at spades only, then "3.5" is only different from "3+" in the sense of "not five." True. But, the heart length goes from "3+" to "5," which is the key improvement.

[jdonn]

I'd rather have partner know that I have 5♥ and 3.5 of each black suit than 3+ of each major.

A second round double shows 3.5 spades, but a first round double shows 3+ spades? You sure are a lawyer!

I'm not sure how that's confusing.

I don't think you understand stereotypes of lawyers...

[JLOL]

The problem with overcalling planning to double later is that it goes all pass a lot. RHO is never balancing, and partner needs much more to bid than he does over a 1 level overcall, so if LHO passes you are often screwed. It's easy to imagine playing 2H opposite something ridiculous like 5143 etc.