Response after Interference

[Tramticket]

[hv=pc=n&s=shq98753d752ckjt8&d=w&v=b&b=4&a=p1c1s]133|200[/hv]

 

IMPS

Your system is Acol, so the 1♣ opening promised at least a four card suit. It will usually be either strong (15+) and balanced or at least a five-card suit (although 4414 is possible). 2♥ in a disturbed auction is forcing and tends to suggest 10 or more HCPs. You might stretch this with a suitable hand, but 6 HCPs? A 2♠ bid is artificial and forcing to game.

 

Double shows four hearts and 10+ points or four+ hearts in a weaker hand. But what are you planning to do when they raise spades?

[mw64ahw]

I would be tempted to go with 4♥ although 2♥ would be the more natural response for me

[DavidKok]

Three observations:

1. One of the advantages of playing a weak notrump is that responder is somewhat protected after interference over 1m. Opener will either have extra strength (15+ HCP) or extra shape (5+ clubs unless exactly (4441), and some partnerships open 1♦ with 4=4 in the minors). This allows us to stretch our overcalls since the 3-level is often safe. Playing 4cM increases our advantage even further - even if partner is balanced, we are guaranteed a double fit in hearts and clubs. I think for this reason it is common, maybe even standard, and certainly my personal favourite to lower the HCP requirement of overcalls. I frequently stretch on this auction playing a strong notrump anyway and think a better agreement would be "8+ HCP, forcing for one round" to begin with (and if they catch us speeding with 12 opposite 8 misfitting I'll take the bad with the good), and I'm tempted to knock a point or two off of that in a weak notrump system. 10+ opposite 15-17 is also straight up GF, which seems excessive.
   
2. This hand is worth a game force opposite 15-17 balanced with 4(+) clubs due to the double fit. Partner is likely to have 4 spades if balanced (since we don't have any), but even opposite some wasted values I am never stopping in 3♥ or 2♥. ♥AKx ♣Axxx and out is fine odds for game, 4 points less than a minimum 1NT opener.
   
3. Even if we were unsure of our willingness to bid 4♥, we always bid shape first, strength second. An extra heart and a spade void is exactly the type of scenario where double can come back to bite us if they raise spades. I think our primary goal should be to inform partner of what to do over their possible 4♠ coming up, and this 'HCP' business is of secondary concern.
   

For all the reasons above I would bid 3♥ - a forcing fitbid with 5(+) hearts and 4(+) clubs. I intend to pull 3NT or 4♣ to 4♥, and if partner is unbalanced with clubs and a heart shortage they will pull to 5♣. I think 2♥ is a close second (and the only real option if you do not have a fitbid available), and double, pass, 4♥ or club raises are poor choices.

As a final remark I would really like to make partner declarer in 4♥, protecting their possible spade or diamond holdings. Unfortunately I do not have the tools to make this happen.

[Cyberyeti]

I agree with David I'd bid 3♥, this is an advantage of a 4 card club.

[Tramticket]

I was kibitzing, rather than playing, so don't know whether 3♥ was available as a fit jump - which was the reason that I didn't include it as an option. Presumably 2♥ is the nearest alternative without that toy?

 

Edit: I managed to update the poll options to include the fit jump.

[pescetom]

Edit: I managed to change my vote now that 3♥ is available is a fit jump, assuming I knew I had that toy B-)

[LBengtsson]

I am not sure what you are trying to achieve here with this poor hand when the opps. are holding the ♠ suit so can outbid you without raising the level. A 3♥ bid just seems extreme and partner could be very confused whether to sacrifice or X the opps. if they end up in a ♠ contract at any level. I think X is enough here. The opps. will raise the ♠ suit that is a given, but I want to hear what partner says to X first when that happens. If he cannot bid further, then I do not want to be competing at the five level at red.

[Cyberyeti]

I am not sure what you are trying to achieve here with this poor hand when the opps. are holding the ♠ suit so can outbid you without raising the level. A 3♥ bid just seems extreme and partner could be very confused whether to sacrifice or X the opps. if they end up in a ♠ contract at any level. I think X is enough here. The opps. will raise the ♠ suit that is a given, but I want to hear what partner says to X first when that happens. If he cannot bid further, then I do not want to be competing at the five level at red.

 

So partner's supposed to realise his xxx, AKx, Axx, AQxx is truly vast opposite my double and bid 5♥ or 6♣ rather than doubling 4♠ for a quite probable -1 ? The point of 3♥ is to bid 9 cards rather than 4 and suggest my hand is more offensive than defensive.

[Gilithin]

The problem with a fit jump is that some pairs play forcing passes after a FJ when vulnerable. If you have this agreement then it would not be a good call. If your fit jump only promises enough offensive strength for the call, then it is fine. If you do not have a fit jump available then the normal way of responding in the English-speaking world is Double. If you play in a part of the world where NFBs are standard then you probably respond 2♥, with the strong expectation that this will not end the auction.