Two totally simple questions

[the hog]

Both Imps. Vul? can't remember, does it matter at 1 level?

 

1)

 

KJx

xx

AQxxx

xxx

 

(1C) your call?

 

2)

 

AJTx

xx

KTxx

QTx

 

P (P) P (1D) your call?

[GijsH]

1) 1D

2) 1S

 

A bit obvious in my view

[Free]

1) pass

2) 1NT

[vang]

1). 1D or 2D (so, vuln does matter...)

2). 1S (marshall miles and mike lawrence influenced me ;-)

[TimG]

1) Pass

2) 1♠

[inquiry]

1) vulnerabilty does matter. Pass is 1000% clear vul, while not vul, you can choose between pass and 1♦

 

2) - 1♠ not vul, pass vul.

 

Here is a hand from a jr. Flight event just this week. [hv=d=n&v=n&n=skj64h853dj63cqj2&w=st75haqt6d54cat43&e=saq32h2dkqt2ck975&s=s98hkj974da987c86]399|300|Scoring: IMP[/hv]

 

West North East South

 -     Pass  1♦    ?

 

In the five table event, four south's overcalled 1♥ and all north's raised to 2♥. Obviously this is a huge mistake. East should pass over 1♥ and when south reopens with a double, 1♥ is down 3. Of course in the real world, 2♥ doubled is down four. Both of these well more than the 3NT EW can make. Amazingly, only one of the 2♥ bids got doubled. But if you play in better competition and bid on JUNK vul versus not vul, you risk going for a huge number. After your partner has passed on the given hand above, there is NO EXCUSE for bidding. Now at MP, 1♦ is clear, regardless vul on problem 1...but then, that is a different game then isn't it?

 

Ben

[helium]

Both Imps. Vul? can't remember, does it matter at 1 level?

 

1)

 

KJx

xx

AQxxx

xxx

 

(1C) your call?

 

2)

 

AJTx

xx

KTxx

QTx

 

P (P) P (1D) your call?

Offcourse voulnarbility matter on the 1 level to. if u use to bid on garbage in non flavord voulnrability f.ex u pay a lot of 500-800 out im sure

[mikestar]

I'm going agaist the modern trend, but I prefer to defend with mediocre balanced hands. Pass both hands.

 

I could tolerate 2D at favorable on hand #1, but it has too much defense for this bid. 1D is out of the question as it has no obstructive value--it may even help them if responder has a bad 4 or 5 count that he would have to bid over 1C and can pass if I overcall, possibly avoiding a bad game or 2N contract.

[Fluffy]

Agree with my dog friend, they are clear 1♦ & 1♠ overcalls

[paulhar]

1D on first. I want partner with diamonds to bother the opponent's auction. A diamond lead is good. If partner finds spades, I'm quite happy and if partner bids hearts, I'm not totally unhappy. The benefits outweigh the costs IMO and I bid this at any vulnerability.

 

Pass on second. When I bid 1S, partner (over)competes as if I have 5. Even not vul, it's better to set the opponents than to get one too high or be doubled and down (in some high number of spades.)

 

Also, I prefer partner on lead which is a lot more likely after 1D P 1H than after 1D 1S Dbl.

[hrothgar]

1) Pass

 

2) 1♠

[luis]

1) 1d

2) Pass

[pclayton]

Both Imps. Vul? can't remember, does it matter at 1 level?

 

1)

 

KJx

xx

AQxxx

xxx

 

(1C) your call?

 

2)

 

AJTx

xx

KTxx

QTx

 

P (P) P (1D) your call?

#1 1♦. I given countless numbers of these types of hands to Chris Larsen, who always says that its at least as dangerous to pass rather than bid. 1♦ will likely get pard off to the winning lead against NT. Further, would you rather be in this position now, or after:

 

(1♣) - Pass (1♥) Pass

(2♥) - ?

 

#2 Pass - probably. I could honestly go either way on this. Pard is a passed hand (could not open even in 3rd, mind you), so obviously we don't have a game. If I bid 1♠ now, will I be happy if it continues 1N on my left and 2♠ by pard? I don't know that a spade lead may be the key to beating some # of NT - maybe it is; I can't tell.

 

OTOH, if we do have anything approaching 1/2 the deck; I'm probably going to get the chance to compete over (1♥) on my left, pass, pass. If they play 1N, I'm not worried about competing, since we probably don't have a fit either.

[joker_gib]

1) 1♦

2) Pass

[etherwiz]

call me CHICKEN and I will agree

 

1) PASS

 

2) Vul:Pass and Not Vul:Pass or 1D

(depends on how much I have drinking)

[luke warm]

1) 1D

2) pass

[goodwintr]

The first hand looks like a pass to me, regardless of colors. With all due respect to the people who would bid 1D, that seems like bidding to hear yourself bid: balanced hands are defensive, not offensive, and 1D takes away virtually no useful bidding space. It might be different with S - AQxxx and D - KJx, where a 1S overcall would at least wipe out the one-level. In fact, does anyone think Meredith wouldn't have bid 1S with the actual hand?

 

The second hand also looks like a pass to me, for pretty much the same reasons as before. 1S would shut out hearts at the one-level, but that is about the extent of its virtues. I have heard people say they like to have length in opener's suit, because that means advancer will be short there and accordingly long in overcaller's suit. It seems just as likely that it means the deal is a relative misfit, and you will be happier defending. The fact that you have defensive values doesn't suggest that you shouldn't defend, if you see what I mean.

 

T. L. Goodwin

[TimG]

The second hand also looks like a pass to me, for pretty much the same reasons as before. 1S would shut out hearts at the one-level, but that is about the extent of its virtues. I have heard people say they like to have length in opener's suit, because that means advancer will be short there and accordingly long in overcaller's suit. It seems just as likely that it means the deal is a relative misfit, and you will be happier defending. The fact that you have defensive values doesn't suggest that you shouldn't defend, if you see what I mean.

I almost mentioned that I would like 1♠ better on the second hand if the minors were switched. I would be less inclined to overcall if I was 43 in the majors (increasing the risk of my 1♠ overcall hindering us finding our best fit). I think the not-3-in-the-other-major rule is somehting that Miles put forth.