DEFENCE BIDING

[michel444]

[hv=pc=n&e=saq98ha98dt9876c2&d=n&v=n&b=5&a=1c]133|200[/hv]

North deal and open 1♣ 5 cards Major biter minor

you are east non vulnerable they are vulnerable

do you bid?

if yes what do you bid?

[DavidKok]

I'd bid 1♦ at IMPs, and probably also at matchpoints though I could easily be convinced that this is a bad idea at that form of scoring. A 1♠ overcall is also interesting at MPs. Pass and double are poor choices.

[Gilithin]

I'd bid 1♦ at IMPs, and probably also at matchpoints though I could easily be convinced that this is a bad idea at that form of scoring. A 1♠ overcall is also interesting at MPs. Pass and double are poor choices.

Funny how differently players see a hand, particularly as I usually agree with your logic. I see this one as a choice between X and Pass, with 1♦ and 1♠ coming in a distant 3rd and 4th place.

[Cyberyeti]

Funny how differently players see a hand, particularly as I usually agree with your logic. I see this one as a choice between X and Pass, with 1♦ and 1♠ coming in a distant 3rd and 4th place.

 

And I see it differently again, the less exclusive an overcall is, the more we need for it, this is nowhere near 1♦ particularly with a poor suit, P/X/1♠ all in the frame.

[DavidKok]

I think at IMPs 1♦ stands out, 1♠ is acceptable and pass is subpar but tolerable. Double is nowhere close.

[AL78]

If I were to bid I would double (I have shortage in opener's suit and support/tolerance for the other three) although it a tad light in strength. I don't see the value in overcalling on a ten high suit that, if anything, increases bidding space for the opposition.

[mycroft]

Wow. For me if I don't pass, this is an auto-double. I am happy wherever we play. With a 5cM, I bid it and then double next round, but minors are different. And ten-fifth is "a suit", I guess.

 

Okay, for me, it's an auto-1NT. But still, takeout.

 

1♦ is going to get a diamond lead from KJx into 1NT or Qxx into 3NT, isn't it? And are we really winning the competitive auction in diamonds?

 

1♠ at least gets the lead-director in. I'd prefer a slightly stronger suit for the 4-card overcall, but that's my agreements.

 

I am well known for being an idiosyncratic (read: wrong) bidder. But I'd really like to know why 1♦ is "standout", and why IMPs matter.

[pescetom]

At MP, 1S is tempting, otherwise double, although both are likely to antagonize weak opponents or a poor TD. I don't like pass and 1D does not cross my mind.

[sfi]

I'm never going to get a better chance to say something about my hand, and the most useful thing I can say is that I have support for the other three suits.

 

Why wouldn't I make a takeout double? It's our best chance to find the right game and allows partner to compete on hands where they may find it difficult to get into the auction. With most partners it's not even light with this shape - we have some aces and excellent spot cards. Any other call looks like a distant second choice.

[mw64ahw]

Takeout X or NT for me

[Tramticket]

As 10 HCP-hands go, this is pretty strong. I would like to have a fourth heart for a (sub-)minimum takeout double, but it feels like the best call, particularly as it will never force partner to the two-level.

 

As for the other choices, pass is the only one that I would consider. 1D over-emphasises the diamonds and 1S is a complete mis-description of the shape.

 

Also, there is a significant problem with overcalling on a four-card suit on this hand. When you eventually win the contract in a Moysian-fit spade contract, you will be forced in clubs!

[paulg]

I'm very comfortable with doubling here. It is minimum, but I'm in and out of the auction quickly.

[Gilithin]

I'm very comfortable with doubling here. It is minimum, but I'm in and out of the auction quickly.

As you are one of the better posters here Paul, I have to ask if you would feel just as comfortable with a random non-expert pick-up partner? or if the comfort comes from knowing your partner will not hang you by doing something stupid?

[TylerE]

X beyond clear. If I was going to overcall a suit, it would be ♠, not ♦.

 

Why overcall a crappy suit that will get partner to botch the opening lead?

[mcphee]

This hand represents a t/o dble to me and I consider a 1!D o/c a foolish thought at any form of scoring.

[michel444]

X beyond clear. If I was going to overcall a suit, it would be ♠, not ♦.

 

Why overcall a crappy suit that will get partner to botch the opening lead?

I think an overcall of 1 spade is right but with my home made biding would bid 1 diamond to show 4 spade and 8 hcp or more

[hv=pc=n&w=skt542h654d42cj65]133|100[/hv] adding west hand

West should bid 3or 4 spade

[apollo1201]

I think an overcall of 1 spade is right but with my home made biding would bid 1 diamond to show 4 spade and 8 hcp or more

[hv=pc=n&w=skt542h654d42cj65]133|100[/hv] adding west hand

West should bid 3or 4 spade

An easy X…oh damn, that H6 is actually the D6…too bad🤣

Over a 1S overcall, W is pretty weak and flat. I guess it depends if S takes action, but I’m not sure 4S is the kind of call you (or partner) will like. Green vs red is the only position I’d consider it.

[Gilithin]

I think an overcall of 1 spade is right but with my home made biding would bid 1 diamond to show 4 spade and 8 hcp or more

[hv=pc=n&w=skt542h654d42cj65]133|100[/hv] adding west hand

West should bid 3or 4 spade

The right call depends on what hands your 1♦ overcall can contain. ♠Qxxx ♥Qxx ♦Qxx ♣Qxx matches the description of your call - you really do not want to be bidding 4♠ (or frankly even 3♠) over that.

[Douglas43]

This looks like a routine double at this score. 1♦ is a bad suit and takes up no bidding space. 1 ♠ shuts out hearts which is good news if they have hearts, bad news if we do. But if we have the spades, double will still get us there.

[michel444]

This looks like a routine double at this score. 1♦ is a bad suit and takes up no bidding space. 1 ♠ shuts out hearts which is good news if they have hearts, bad news if we do. But if we have the spades, double will still get us there.

1 DIAMOND dont steal the biding space of opponent but say i have 4+♠ 8+ point and no interest in Heart 0-3 ♥

partner should bid 3♠ with 4 spade any shape even a flat 0 point with 4+♠ 12+point can make a limit raise with 2NT

.....

[michel444]

The right call depends on what hands your 1♦ overcall can contain. ♠Qxxx ♥Qxx ♦Qxx ♣Qxx matches the description of your call - you really do not want to be bidding 4♠ (or frankly even 3♠) over that.

y not ? opponet may have a 3NT or 5 Diamond what south bid with 6 diamond ?after an "overcall" of 1 diamond ?

[DavidKok]

I am well known for being an idiosyncratic (read: wrong) bidder. But I'd really like to know why 1♦ is "standout", and why IMPs matter.

I seem to be the only one advocating against a takeout double, but I'll share my thoughts anyway.

 

I think a takeout double should be slightly stronger than this. Partner will often raise me to 2M with about 8-9 HCP and a 4cM, or compete to the 3-level with a 5-card suit. I think this will often be the wrong decision opposite this hand, at least in part because my aces are pulling their weight on defence. Swap the aces for two kings and a queen and I would be a lot more comfortable. Also the standard responsive structure over (1♣)-X-(P)-? is kind of lousy - partner will often have to 'take a view' with a so-so 12 HCP. We also don't stand to gain that much - if the opponents bid and raise clubs, then either they subside in a partscore and we get a second (albeit worse) shot later or they rush to game and we're happy to not have disclosed some of our assets.

Personally I think the main ways taking action can help is by 1) getting to a sharp game, 2) sacrificing over their (club) game or 3) putting on the pressure quickly by getting to the par or total trick level quickly. I think double may help accomplish the first but may also actively harm it (see above, partner will somewhat frequently be rushed into a wrong guess since we don't have our values), and if I double and partner jumps to 2♥ (4+, 8-11) I'm not actually happy about it so number 3 is at risk as well. If we're sacrificing over 5♣ we need partner to have significant shape, and partner may act on their own with a hand like that even if we pass. Lastly there's the not insignificant risk of redouble, which always looms when you takeout double on subpar values.

 

By contrast, 1♦ at least helps us put on the pressure or sacrifice if partner has a diamond fit, and we can still recover if partner has a major suit (though we'll miss some 4-4 spade fits). It also doesn't promise lots of values, our response structure is very clean and it is difficult to penalise. Some other poster mentioned that 1♦ increases the bidding space for the opponents (true), but the standard continuations hardly makes use of this (weak/trap pass and double to show exactly 4=4 majors are both infrequent) so I'm not that worried about helping the opps. If they were playing T-Walsh and play system on they also don't use the extra step well, in fact I don't think many people do.

 

Now for the form of scoring: at IMPs 1-over-1 overcalls can be weak, don't promise a good suit and are trying to fish for a raise from partner. I don't think this suit quality is much of an issue, although of course I would like a better one if available. The goal is not to directly obstruct the auction, but to hope that partner can make a bid on their turn that can obstruct (either through a raise or bidding a major suit). At matchpoints I think bids like this should be much more lead-directing, and therefore typically show a stronger suit. Furthermore, at matchpoints the risk of ending in a diamond partial when we belong in a major suit is significant, while at IMPs I just shrug if we go 2♦+1 while the field is in 3♠C. The risks, rewards and expectations are quite different, and I would probably bid 1♠ at the table at matchpoints (though I confess I wouldn't be able to do it in tempo, so maybe I'd have passed before realising 1♠ is better).

[Tramticket]

I think a takeout double should be slightly stronger than this.

 

I’m not generally an advocate for light takeout doubles, but this has much more strength than most 10-counts. K&R values this as 12.45 and I would consider it an opening hand.

 

if I double and partner jumps to 2♥ (4+, 8-11) I'm not actually happy about it

 

It isn’t ideal but I don’t see why a heart contract at the two-level should play badly – even if it is a Moysian. You are ruffing clubs with three-card holding. By contrast, if you choose to overcall in spades and partner raises on a three-card holding, you will be uncomfortably forced on club leads.

[paulg]

I'm very comfortable with doubling here. It is minimum, but I'm in and out of the auction quickly.

 

As you are one of the better posters here Paul, I have to ask if you would feel just as comfortable with a random non-expert pick-up partner? or if the comfort comes from knowing your partner will not hang you by doing something stupid?

 

 

To be honest I don't play with random partners (of any standard), but I'd be happy to double with any non-random partner: the experts will not hang me and the non-experts are generally looking to improve, so it may become a learning opportunity.

 

As others have said or implied, this is a good hand if you do more than just count points. Prime values, support for all three unbid suits and a relatively safe entry into the auction.

 

It will not work out every time, but when you hit a fit you will also make life far more difficult for the opponents. And making life more difficult is a major part of the game these days as everyone bids so much better than in the past.

[P_Marlowe]

Pass, ... If I have to finde a bid, I would go with T/O.

 

If you have it av., the hand maybe a 1NT Raptor Overcall

for you. You could also use a Michaels Cue.

 

Both options have the adv., that they bring 2-suits into

play, dont overstate the suit quality of the diamonds suit,

and steal space.

The only real downside is, you loose the heart suit.