Forever young

[gnasher]

In this type of sequence I play 2NT as a raise. That has less overhead than agreeing to play transfers, though I'm sure transfers are superior.

[Phil]

Gwnn what actually happened?

[Double !]

- I think the case for 3♠ originally wins

Agree with Arend on this point. Don't see the point of the resp X in the first point. Even if you find a heart fit, opps have already established a spade fit, hence can always out-bid you. 3S (to a lesser degree 3♦) comes closest to describing your hand as quickly as possible. Then you're in a better position to rely on partner's decisions.

 

DHL

[jdeegan]

:P I have to join the camp that wonders why I doubled at my first turn to bid. It seems an easy 3♦ bid to me - a 3♠ Q bid seems a bit much with 3-4-3-3 distribution even with 2.5 quick tricks. Chances of a ♥ fit seem very remote since pard did not double - automatic with almost any 1-4-6-2 or 1-4-5-3 shape or the like because of equal conversion. Time now to pass - elementary bridge as partner is 'good for' only one trick and I have only two.

[Phil]

In general, I still like double The auction doesn't always get away from us, and this is a good start to describe a 3 card limit raise. Initially, while I like my chances to get to 3N, pard will move over a 3♦ rebid by me (if we have the chance), and over 3♥, I can then try 3♠, so I do not see why a direct 3♠ is necessary to reach 3N.

[gwnn]

partner overcalled on x xx KJxxxx Axxx (I think-the numbers following are accurate). 5Dx goes for 300, 4S makes, I doubled and we didn't take our diamond trick so -990. I don't get why people say 'partner is good for only 1 trick', is it really normal to play partner for something this light? I don't want to insist how well I bid and how right I am- I just want to understand the logic.

[Fluffy]

my style seems to be far from forum standard, but I would rather bid 3♦ with that hand.

[hanp]

Doubling twice with prime support, maybe not a good time to complain about partner's overcall.

[gwnn]

I asked a question, I wasn't complaining.

[Codo]

Somehow you deserved your partner. I hate his overcall and your doubles.

[gwnn]

Fine, but could you explain why the second double is so bad?

[Codo]

Because it did not work. :)

 

1.You have about one trick in diamonds and one in heart. To beat them twice, so that the double earns, partner needs to have three tricks outside diamonds... How likely is this? 0,2 %?

 

3. You never showed your support, so partner is never in a position to judge well whether 5 Diamond or 4 Spade is the best contract. Okay, now it is too late for 5 diamond, but if they had forbidden me to pass, I had bid it.

[gwnn]

It was matchpoints, +200 is a good score, better than +100

[MFA]

I don't see a problem with the 2♦ overcall. I think it's fine. That hand has potential if it hits a fit and we are NV vs VUL. I'd much rather bid 2♦ with that than some of the solid 5card suits we have had recently. Those hands had no future, this one does. We are delighted if partner can raise.

 

Regarding advancer's hand. If we never support partner with a fit we are taking a position. None of the two doubles are unlikely as such to work out well, but sometimes it just explodes when partner is minimum and unbalanced and we don't support, and on this layout it just did.

[bluecalm]

I pass: I would not have doubled earlier: aiming for a 4=4 heart fit is too narrow a target. I would have raised diamonds, thus confirming for partner that he can save if he has extreme shape. As it is, he made a 2/1 overcall on a poor suit, so he rates to have defence.

 

I tend to agree that aiming for 4-4 hearts is too narrow a target. Do you think double should promise 5♥ then ? I am not sure but I think probably yes.

[Phil]

partner overcalled on x xx KJxxxx Axxx (I think-the numbers following are accurate). 5Dx goes for 300, 4S makes, I doubled and we didn't take our diamond trick so -990. I don't get why people say 'partner is good for only 1 trick', is it really normal to play partner for something this light? I don't want to insist how well I bid and how right I am- I just want to understand the logic.

Well, its hard to explain the reasoning of my previous response, since I had so many learned posters tell me that I'm out to lunch with 5♦. The fact it worked on this hand, isn't really relevant, but let me offer this:

 

1. Its MPs, and people aren't bidding games helter-skelter r/w. The opponents have the higher ranking suit, so they aren't trying for -100 versus -130 or things like that. LHO could have comfortably reraised to 3♠ or made a zillion game tries. I'm fairly sure he thought he could make 4♠, if not on power, on shape. If LHO semi-bluffed me, then good job him.

 

2. We are w/r. I encourage my partners to drop in reasonable competitive overcalls not only for the lead, but for possible sacs, and it turned out to be the winning action, since 5♦ x'd is a great spot. I know several really good players on here that haven't posted on this thread that would absolutely overcall on this.

 

3. Doubling is really bad, sorry. If they are going down, you are getting a good board! And what surprises do we have? We have serious wastage in diamonds which have little or no defensive value, and we have roughly the values needed for a responsive double, so if anything, our hand is worth less defensively than what we have represented, and we have no surprises. Pass I understand, double I do not.

 

Judging from the comments here, I really think that a lot of posters aren't playing matchpoints. I would pass also at IMPs, and really don't think its close.