1H or 1NT?

[mtvesuvius]

NV vs V at IMPs, partner deals and you hold:

 

KQx

KQJxx

9x

K9x

 

Pass - (1♣) - ?

[hanp]

1H, 1NT is bad.

[kfay]

Don't understand the question.

[Lobowolf]

One heart. Not a particularly close call for me. Among the reasons -

 

*Strong preference for a heart lead.

*Worthless doubleton in a suit where I have no reason to think partner has anything.

*Only one stopper in opponent's suit.

*Likelihood of losing the heart suit if I don't bid them now.

[mtvesuvius]

I figured 1♥ also... Partner now bids 1♠, now what?

[655321]

1♥.

 

I often prefer to overcall 1NT rather than 1M when the hand is in range, but this hand has only 14HCP and no Aces, so is clearly underweight for a 1NT overcall.

 

The only other motive for overcalling 1NT might be to steal - at the vulnerability, to talk them out of something. But we have a decent hand, and no reason to assume that they are making a game.

[hanp]

I would bid 2S over 1S.

[whereagles]

1♥ + 2♣ over pard's 1♠, intending to bid 2NT or 2♠, depending on how many spades 1♠ shows.

[the hog]

Volcanic one are these trick questions? 1H and 2S seem obvious.

[mich-b]

1H on the first round - because I have a good Heart suit.

2S on the second round , because I have support.

 

What am I missing?

[Hanoi5]

1♥, wtp?

 

1♥-1♠

1NT

[P_Marlowe]

1H.

 

For most 1NT showes at least a good 15 count,

and this one is not even a bad 15 count (it is at

best a average 14 count).

 

So the question is, why should I bid 1NT?

 

With kind regards

Marlowe

[P_Marlowe]

I figured 1♥ also... Partner now bids 1♠, now what?

2S.

 

Partially depends of course, if 1S showed 4 or 5, for me 1S

showes 5.

You could also pass, given that partner is a passed hand,

but since game is still an option, and it may make it easier

for them to enter the auction, I would go with a raise.

 

If 1S showed a 4 carder, ... bid 1NT or 2S.

 

With kind regards

Marlowe

[neilkaz]

1♥ of course, than after PD's 1♠ I am torn between 2♠ or something a bit stronger to be more of an invite.

[skjaeran]

Easy 1♥ overcall.

 

1♠ only promise four for me. Anyway, I'll raise to 2♠, 1NT most probably wrongsides the contract.

[mtvesuvius]

I did bid 1♥, and 1NT over 1♠, but partner had 5♠ and 10 points... We played that 1♠ only promised 4, so I guess this is an unavoidable problem... Although we can make 4♠ pretty easy.

[hanp]

It is possible that partner has 4 but assume 5 in this auction. Partner should try not to bid 1S with 4 (but with AQJx xx Qxxxx xx I would bid 1S).

[skjaeran]

It is possible that partner has 4 but assume 5 in this auction. Partner should try not to bid 1S with 4 (but with AQJx xx Qxxxx xx I would bid 1S).

Disagree, I'd bid 1♠ even with 5432 on some hands.

[Old York]

We played that 1♠ only promised 4, so I guess this is an unavoidable problem... Although we can make 4♠ pretty easy.

This is a slightly dangerous agreement to have. As soon as you start to deviate from standard practices, the more chance there is of getting into unusual contracts. This is a gamble at duplicate, sometimes you win and get a top, sometimes you lose and get a bottom. The normal contract of 2+♠ is likely to give you a good result, so shooting for tops is unsound.

 

The question of whether or not the spade game is "pretty easy" is a mirage

It is not recommended to bid borderline non-vul games at Imps, and even less so at MP. Again, you are just as likely to get a bottom as a top.

Playing in 2♠, you should get an excellent score for making 1 or 2 overtricks, so going 1 down in 4♠ is an unnecessary risk

 

Pushing for game with an Aceless hand is optimistic, partner is a passed hand with no Heart support. Using normal methods he should have 8-11hcp and 5 Spades, so game seems remote

 

Tony

 

p.s. Many players may choose to respond with a 4 card suit, but it is not necessary to include this in your system, allowing partner to use his judgement without hinderance is usually best

[bill1157]

1H, 1NT is bad.

I like 1NT, it is an imaginitive call and is certainly worth considering.

 

Bill

[hanp]

I don't disagree with it being imaginative. I do disagree with it being worth considering. It is an overbid and doesn't show the major feature of this hand, the heart suit.

[bill1157]

I don't disagree with it being imaginative. I do disagree with it being worth considering. It is an overbid and doesn't show the major feature of this hand, the heart suit.

I guess I might ask the question: would you consider opening 1NT with this hand? If so, then yes the 1NT overcall is definitely worth considering...

 

Bill

[skjaeran]

I don't disagree with it being imaginative. I do disagree with it being worth considering. It is an overbid and doesn't show the major feature of this hand, the heart suit.

I guess I might ask the question: would you consider opening 1NT with this hand? If so, then yes the 1NT overcall is definitely worth considering...

 

Bill

That doesn't follow.

 

I'd most probably open this hand 1NT. But I'd never consider overcalling 1NT here.

[hanp]

I would not open 1NT with this hand. While it has a nice 5-card suit, given that we have no spots and no aces I don't feel obliged to upgrade the hand. 1H seems a better description given my excellent heart suit. Also (but this is a very minor factor for me) the small doubleton could mean that notrump might be better from partner's side.

 

You can ask any questions you want but that doesn't make the 1NT overcall any less bad.

[bill1157]

The point here is that whether you overcall 1♥ or 1NT is not because 1 is right and the other is wrong. It is a matter of style.

 

Bill