A really simple bidding problem

[paulg]

[hv=d=e&v=b&s=sakxh9xxxxdckqjxx]133|100|Scoring: IMP

(1♦) ?[/hv]

The poll is really a test to see whether this is a suitable problem for a magazine.

[TylerE]

2♣=10

1♥=9

X=7

2N=2

Pass=0

[Fluffy]

yeah good problem, at least 3 options (1♥, double adn 2NT) look reasonable to me

 

the excess strenght in spades makes double a bit unattractive

[hrothgar]

I think that this is a good problem

 

Personally, I'm torn between X, 2♣, and 1♥

 

I think that I prefer double (this game is all about the majors and X is the best way to get them into play)

[TimG]

I'm surprised double is getting so much attention, usually folks on these forums are dead set against doubling with 4-5 in the majors let alone 3-5 in the majors.

[TylerE]

Yea. My thing with a double here is that we will rarely end up in the right fit. (Maybe even a ludacris 3-3♠ fit when partner is Qxx/xxx or xxx/xx in the majors with ♦ length.)

 

That leaves the overcalls and 2NT.

 

My agreement, which I beleive to be NA standard, is that two-suited overcalls are Min/Max, not continuous range. I don't know if this is best, but it certainly seems to be mainstream. So that rules out 2N.

 

Of the overcalls I favor 2♣ slightly because if partner ends up on lead against 3 or 4♠ I really need a non-♥ lead.

[WellSpyder]

the excess strenght in spades makes double a bit unattractive

I don't understand this comment - doesn't the strength of the spade suit make it more attractive to treat this as a genuine suit and therefore double, rather than less attractive?

 

It seems to me that you have a hand with two and a half suits, and you have a choice between showing no suits (pass), 1 suit (1♥ or 2♣), 2 suits (2NT) or 3 suits (double). I'm willing to treat both majors as 4-card suits given the disparity of strength, so I will double.

[hrothgar]

the excess strenght in spades makes double a bit unattractive

I don't understand this comment - doesn't the strength of the spade suit make it more attractive to treat this as a genuine suit and therefore double, rather than less attractive?

Ruffing with the ace of trump is bad, m'Kay....

[mikegill]

I would double, but I think its a good problem. The hearts look like 4 to me - partner needs to have a strong 3-card holding to make hearts play reasonably so I will take a chance on not getting to a 5-3 when it's right.

[hanp]

I would overcall 1H. I can understand why people want to double, and even understand why some might want to bid 2C although I think that's pretty bad. 2NT is horrible imo, it makes it almost impossible to get to spades.

[pooltuna]

I would overcall 1H. I can understand why people want to double, and even understand why some might want to bid 2C although I think that's pretty bad. 2NT is horrible imo, it makes it almost impossible to get to spades.

certainly an auction like (1♦)-1♥-(P)-1♠; (P)-2♣-(P)-2♥; 2♠ should be possible as long as the overcall range isn't horribly large at the top end

[gordontd]

the excess strenght in spades makes double a bit unattractive

I don't understand this comment - doesn't the strength of the spade suit make it more attractive to treat this as a genuine suit and therefore double, rather than less attractive?

Ruffing with the ace of trump is bad, m'Kay....

Not if it promotes the Q, J, 10, 9 in the other hand.

[hanp]

Agree that the strong spades are a reason to double instead of a reason not to double. AKx is a very good holding for playing in spades (compared with other 3-card holdings).

[Phil]

I would double and sorry I think its kind of obvious.

[whereagles]

I'm going with dbl as well, mostly because the other options do a pretty good job of shutting the spade suit for good :(

[hrothgar]

the excess strenght in spades makes double a bit unattractive

I don't understand this comment - doesn't the strength of the spade suit make it more attractive to treat this as a genuine suit and therefore double, rather than less attractive?

Ruffing with the ace of trump is bad, m'Kay....

Not if it promotes the Q, J, 10, 9 in the other hand.

Depends on who holds the "other" hand, methinks

[Fluffy]

Agree that the strong spades are a reason to double instead of a reason not to double. AKx is a very good holding for playing in spades (compared with other 3-card holdings).

AKx is very good as a trump sui when you have a balanced hand, but when you have a void it is not that awesome.

[jdonn]

I would overcall 1H. I can understand why people want to double, and even understand why some might want to bid 2C although I think that's pretty bad. 2NT is horrible imo, it makes it almost impossible to get to spades.

This is pretty close to what I think. I feel pretty strongly in 1♥, our hand has too much potential overall to lie about our shape with 2♣ or dbl, and too much potential for spades to bid 2NT (clearly the worst action in my mind). I find these suggestions that AKx of spades is a reason not to double as befuddling and quite strange. Would double be better if we had xxx AKxxx - KQJxx instead? Of course it's a good spade holding for doubling and for playing in a 4-3 fit.

[655321]

1♥, could live with double but it is not for me with 35 in the majors, and hate 2♣ which seems to be a complete masterminding bid for no reason.

[kayin801]

1♥ cause it's not like the bidding will stop here and partner will never play us for this kind of hand after X and DEFINITELY not after 2♣. We'll have a chance to show our other suits later most of the time.

[Free]

2NT is out of the question because of the possibility of losing the ♠ fit completely. Starting with 1♥ is probably the easiest, but I'd double because I don't like overcalling crappy suits.

[the hog]

Just saw this. I think 1H = 10, x = 7 and everything else = 0. I really don't understand a 2C bid or a 2NT bid at all.

[Flameous]

If pard was a passed hand, I'd have a lot more sympathy for 2C. Now I'm bit torn between X and 1H, but I think I'd go with 1H. With X partner won't usually play me for this shapely hand and I don't have describing bids to make later.

[jdeegan]

:unsure: I would double at the table, but I think it is close with 1♥ and 2♣ both possible.

[helene_t]

I double but 1♥ is fine, too. 2♣ is at least better than pass which I don't think 2NT is.