A strong south easterly

[pilowsky]

Since I get a terrible result most of the time, I try to take pleasure in the unusual hands that pop up occasionally while I try and improve. This one appeared today in a best-hand tournament. I had been experimenting with bidding 1NT on anything from 14.5-18.5 HCP, but this looked too awful even for me so I started with 1♦. Interestingly, West's choice might have been easy if I had: Cappelletti 2♠.

West made a major-oriented take-out double. My book on TO doubles by Mike Lawrence says "A five-card suit is gold" so I'm not sure about option 5. What do you think?

Of course, I am pretty pleased with myself getting to redouble West who usually gets the better of me. Unfortunately, not vul and not IMPS.

Here's the link, here's the double-dummy, and here's the deal. Apparently, I should have made an overtrick.

[hv=pc=n&s=sqhaqt9daq8653ca9&w=sak632hkjdkcqj654&n=sj875h87632dckt72&e=st94h54djt9742c83&d=n&v=0&b=1&a=pp1dd1hp4hdpprppp]399|300[/hv]

[Tramticket]

A simple 1♠ for me. I don't think that double followed by bidding the spade suit is right - it is a bit light on strength (with the ♦K downgraded and seven of my points in the short suits) and it is a two-suiter,

 

With one partner I play that 2♦ would show a two-suiter in specifically spades and clubs. This would be perfect!

[P_Marlowe]

The only reason to make a T/O instead of the overcall would be, that the overcall is limited to at most 15HCP.

This was standard for some time, but even in those times, some would agree, that the 17HCP in the West hand are

worth a downgrade.

Nowadays, overcalls upper limit ist more like 18/19, so no reason to go via T/O.

 

In case you played Michaels as showing spade + ? instead of 2-suited with the unbid majors, you could make a

case for 2D.

 

With kind regards

Marlowe

[DavidKok]

I agree with the comments above, this is a normal 1♠ for me. To add to what P_Marlowe writes above, the reason overcalls have a higher upper limit these days is because most modern partnerships have a bunch of tools to show different kinds of raises as advancer, for example 2♦, 2NT or 3♣ or higher to show all kinds of shapely hands in this auction. Thanks to this it is a lot safer to raise partner with a garbage hand (because, by negative inference, it denies a constructive raise). And as a consequence of this overcalling on something like 18-19 points is fine. Partner will stretch to compete with a fit, so game will not be missed.

[nige1]

[hv=pc=n&s=sqhaqt9daq8653ca9&w=sak632hkjdkcqj654&n=sj875h87632dckt72&d=n&v=0&b=1&a=pp1dd1hp4hdpprppp]399|300|

Polowski's bidding problem

+++++++++++++++++++++++

For West, over 1♦, 1♠ seems best, with no special agreement. Double a close second.

I like to play a form of Michaels where (1m) 2m shows 5+ ♠ and 5+ of either unbid suit. But this hand has overmuch in the short suits.[/hv]

[nudnikbp]

Regarding opening 1NT with a singleton honor in a major suit, I've found that partner often transfers into that major,which is not ideal.

[msjennifer]

Sir,

Since the question asked is what does one bid over 1D by RHO the easiest answer is 1S.

[bluenikki]

A simple 1♠ for me. I don't think that double followed by bidding the spade suit is right - it is a bit light on strength (with the ♦K downgraded and seven of my points in the short suits) and it is a two-suiter,

 

With one partner I play that 2♦ would show a two-suiter in specifically spades and clubs. This would be perfect!

 

I'm sure 1♠ is best.

 

So what?

 

If you were doubling 4♥ after T-O-dbl what will keep you from doubling after 1♠?

[Tramticket]

I'm sure 1♠ is best.

 

So what?

 

If you were doubling 4♥ after T-O-dbl what will keep you from doubling after 1♠?

 

Umm. I don't understand this.

 

I made no comment about 4H.

 

Edit: I keep looking at this and can't see any auction where North is proposing to be declarer in 4H after the auction starts (1D), 1S ... I would love to see your suggested route to this contract??!

[Douglas43]

A simple 1♠ for me. I don't think that double followed by bidding the spade suit is right - it is a bit light on strength (with the ♦K downgraded and seven of my points in the short suits) and it is a two-suiter,

 

With one partner I play that 2♦ would show a two-suiter in specifically spades and clubs. This would be perfect!

 

If you like pinpoint routes, a modified Ghestem is also an easy development from Michaels. 2NT always two lowest suits, cue bid always two highest, 3C is extremes, so here would bid 3C. However, not playing that here, so 1S.

[bluenikki]

Umm. I don't understand this.

 

I made no comment about 4H.

 

Edit: I keep looking at this and can't see any auction where North is proposing to be declarer in 4H after the auction starts (1D), 1S ... I would love to see your suggested route to this contract??!

 

Negative double by north over 1♠ is much more attractive (at least to me) than 1♥ over double.

[Tramticket]

Negative double by north over 1♠ is much more attractive (at least to me) than 1♥ over double.

 

Really? North has a 4-count, a void in partner's suit suggesting a misfit and four cards in the opponent's suit. I would be passing.

[bluenikki]

Really? North has a 4-count, a void in partner's suit suggesting a misfit and four cards in the opponent's suit. I would be passing.

 

But you would bid 1♥ over double???? Shutting out a possible ♠ contract????

 

That's nuts.

[Tramticket]

But you would bid 1♥ over double???? Shutting out a possible ♠ contract????

 

That's nuts.

 

I wasn't even advocating 1H over a double, you seem to be putting a lot of words in my mouth.

 

But now you ask, it doesn't promise a lot and nor does it deny spades.

[bluenikki]

I wasn't even advocating 1H over a double, you seem to be putting a lot of words in my mouth.

 

But now you ask, it doesn't promise a lot and nor does it deny spades.

 

1♥ would not deny spades, but if advancer bids over 1♥ opener will strain not to introduce spades at 2 level.

 

I am not putting any words in anyone's mouth. I'm simply saying that intervenor's choice of doubling rather than overcalling, however inferior, was irrelevant to the final result. *Because* a player who would bid 1♥ over double (an abomination) would certainly double 1♠.