Your action?

[mohitz]

Incidentally, opener had a balanced 15-count with 5 hearts and did not double (probably fearing a stealing responder.) Responder had Q743 Q J9432 953.

Did he make it btw?

[eyhung]

Incidentally, opener had a balanced 15-count with 5 hearts and did not double (probably fearing a stealing responder.)  Responder had Q743 Q J9432 953.

Did he make it btw?

They never played 1NT : Meckstroth jumped to 3♣ with K2 8753 7 QJT876 and made it for +110. Win 9 IMP when teammates opened 1NT 15-17 with the 5-heart hand and the Meckwell hands interfered and got to 2♥, going down 3 vul after trying to set up clubs -- the 5-1 trump break doomed them.

[Jlall]

I have a number of times seen top experts overcall 1NT in this spot on much lighter hands than I would consider safe. In Meckstroth's book I think there is even an example of Rodwell doing it on (a good) 14.

Josh, you are the go-to guy when it comes to hands in bridge books. I found the hand you mentioned, it's :

 

[hv=v=n&s=sat98hkt2dak86c42]133|100|Scoring: IMP[/hv]

 

and the auction went 1♥ - P - 1♠.

 

And yes, they were vulnerable against not at IMPs for the 1NT overcall. It's a great 14, though.

 

Incidentally, opener had a balanced 15-count with 5 hearts and did not double (probably fearing a stealing responder.) Responder had Q743 Q J9432 953.

 

Also, Meckstroth comments that partner's sandwich 1NT is less defined than a opening strong notrump because "they may be bidding his suits, and then he has only two choices -- Pass and 1NT." No offshape takeout doubles? Unclear ... to be fair, double feels less attractive on this hand because both majors have been bid.

4-2 in the unbid suits is off shape. 4-3 is fine obviously. His point was when they have bid his suits (ie he has 7+ cards in those suits) he will have to pass or bid 1N. He did not say anything about when they have bid 2 suits that he has 6 cards in.

[eyhung]

Maybe we're just arguing semantics, but my definition of an offshape double after the enemy has bid two suits is 4-3 in the unbid suits. I understand why one might want to double with 4-3, but I expect my partner to have at least 4 cards in each of the unbid suits, and will bid accordingly. Similarly, in direct chair, I would define a double containing a 2-card unbid minor as offshape -- partner doesn't expect a 2cm when responding. I frequently make offshape doubles in direct, but have never had the guts to do it in sandwich. Perhaps this is a hole in my game.

 

And in case you were wondering, I would define a double containing a 2-card unbid major and standard values as ridiculous.