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Overcalling Dilemma


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The rationale is that you need a way to bid a 19-20 count without necessarily forcing to the 2-level. If dbl followed by 1NT didn't show this, it is not clear what you could do to show the strong hand.

 

This doesn't necessarily mean that you have to play it that way. There are alternatives. For example, reversing the fast and the slow 1NT, i.e. a direct 1NT is 17-20 and dbl followed by 1NT is 14-16, is arguably better. However, a double that can be a normal t/o double and also be a 14-16 notrump hand is awkward for partner if opponents compete. Partner can no longer trust that you have support for all three other suits.

 

Basically, I think, it has become standard to play dbl as "classic t/o OR too strong for an immediate action" because it is a simple principle, or maybe just by historic coincidence. You can chose different methods but you have to think carefully about the consequences it will have for how partner responds to your double.

 

Helene, thank you for this, very helpful.

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The early responders did not mention the possibility of overcalling 1. If the heart spots were better I would think that it was clear to bid 1 - say AQT9 or maybe a bit weaker.

 

1 has the advantage over 1NT of making it easy for partner to bid 1 and allowing you to rebid 1NT without showing the world's fair or necessarily a balanced hand, which ultimately may avoid a lot of bad 5=1 spade fits. Possibly though at the cost of playing some 4=3 heart fits.

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Not at all safer. A TOD followed by 1Nt shows 18-19 balanced,since with 15 -17 you overcall 1NT playing SAYC

 

A TOX followed by 1NT shows what the partnership has agreed to. My regular partners and I play TOX is opening count (13-15) and support for unbid suits. ANY continuation shows 16+... We prefer this to mis representing the shape of our hand.

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yes just pass and double spades for take-out or 1nt for penalties.

 

I don't think this is technically consistent. Put it this way, passing first time does not rate to be a good idea if there is only one subsequent auction after which we can show our hand.

 

It seem to me much better for a delayed double to show a good hand with short spades in BOTH sequences. For a start, I don't think there is much utility in a delayed pure penalty double of 1NT, and I think it is better both for catching them or allowing an escape route, or for bidding a good contract our way, to play the delayed double as this kind of hand.

 

I don't think the hand needs to be as good as this, but every extra value helps. ;)

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Pass.

 

Overcalling 1NT will often get you to 2S going down when you can get +200 defending an eventual 1NT by RHO. A 1H overcall shows five and all your total tricks partners will be bidding 3H on air against the opponents' 3C and you'll be down again when you're getting +200 defending 3C and you'll never recover from double so pass is your bid. Frankly, I don't see what the problem is.

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Suppose North's hearts were AQJx. Would that not make 1 also a possibility?

 

Even with AQxx it is a possibility to me. As well as 1 NT. I can not see any bid that deserves a "clear" title with this hand. But I personally would prefer to pass.

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