A new low.

[pilowsky]

[hv=pc=n&s=sj97643h732dk73cj&d=w&v=b&b=4&a=1c1s(One-level%20overcall%20--%205%2B!S%3B%208-17%20etc)d]133|200|This comes from 'not best hand' match.

What does North have?

What should South bid?[/hv]

 

The full deal

 

[hv=https://www.bridgebase.com/tools/handviewer.html?lin=st||pn|pilowsky,~~v3fakebot,~~v3fakebot,~~v3fakebot|md|2SJ97643H732DK73CJ,SQHT654DQ9CAK9764,SAKT2HAJDJ852CQ52,S85HKQ98DAT64CT83|sv|b|rh||ah|Board%204|mb|1C|an|Minor%20suit%20opening%20--%203+%20!C;%2011-21%20HCP;%2012-22%20total%20points|mb|1S|an|One-level%20overcall%20--%205+%20!S;%208-17%20HCP;%209-19%20total%20points|mb|D|an|Negative%20double%20--%204+%20!H;%205+%20HCP;%206+%20total%20points|mb|3S|an|Unbalanced%20--%204+%20!S;%205-7%20total%20points|mb|P|mb|P|mb|P|pc|S8|pc|S3|pc|SQ|pc|SA|pc|SK|pc|S5|pc|S4|pc|C9|pc|C2|pc|C3|pc|CJ|pc|CK|pc|H6|pc|HA|pc|H9|pc|H2|pc|HJ|pc|HQ|pc|H3|pc|H4|pc|HK|pc|H7|pc|H5|pc|S2|pc|D2|pc|D6|pc|DK|pc|D9|pc|D3|pc|DQ|pc|D5|pc|D4|pc|C4|pc|CQ|pc|CT|pc|D7|mc|10|]400|300| I'm assuming that GIB was confused by the '10' and counted it as 2 cards.[/hv]

 

[LBengtsson]

Nothing unusual here - that's just my opinion. If North overcalls 1NT instead of 1♠ with a 4 card suit which is acceptable, you will still end up in a ♠ contract. I would have bid a direct 4♠ as South to North's 1♠ call. 4♠ should not make with correct defense though there are chances of an endplay as the cards lie if the defense take their tricks in the wrong order or play the wrong card.

 

If GIB overcalls 1NT then you are probably going to end up in 2♠ as opposed to 4♠. I think overcalling with a 4 card major suit at the one level is acceptable if there is not another obvious bid available. 1NT looks the better bid but GIB decided that 1♠ was just as good and chose the cheaper bid. Not so much 'a low point' but annoying nevertheless.

[smerriman]

While aspects may have changed, 10 years ago, GIB had this rule about overcalling 1X with 1NT:

 

- no singleton (or void)

- no 5 card major (but can have 5 card minor)

 

If 16-18 HCP, stoppers in X must be at least category 2

If 15 HCP, stoppers in X must be category 4:

 

0 no other value

1 Qx or Jxx (partial stop)

2 Kx or Qxx (one likely stop)

3 A, QJx or 5+ HCP in the suit

4 length + HCP in suit at least 8 (two stops)

So with an extra point it would overcall 1NT, but with just 15, it requires a better club suit.

 

Having decided not to overcall 1NT (agree or disagree), 1♠ seems OK.

[pilowsky]

Having decided not to overcall 1NT (agree or disagree), 1♠ seems OK.

 

Is this an approach that can be carried over into actual Bridge?

[smerriman]

Sure. More commonly done with length in the opened suit though.

[pescetom]

Nothing unusual here - that's just my opinion. If North overcalls 1NT instead of 1♠ with a 4 card suit which is acceptable, you will still end up in a ♠ contract. I would have bid a direct 4♠ as South to North's 1♠ call. 4♠ should not make with correct defense though there are chances of an endplay as the cards lie if the defense take their tricks in the wrong order or play the wrong card.

 

GIB aside, I agree this is not particularly unusual. Although 1NT at this vulnerability with this strength and stopper shows orange on my radar, I would incline towards 1♠ (if that is the disclosed agreement, or clearly is not) or a more pacific pass (partner is still there).