Jlall, on Oct 25 2005, 06:28 PM, said:
tysen2k, on Oct 25 2005, 05:57 PM, said:
Would you overcall 1♠ with this hand over a 1♦ opening? You have to be a little more careful at the 2-level, but as a general rule I think your requirements should be about the same. It's a much better overcall at MPs.
Really? My requirements are MUCH different, but I guess that is a style thing (I'm agressive at 1 level and conservative at 2 level). I guess that shows here since I think a 1S overcall is auto and personally would not consider 2S over 2D.
Why the criteria should be so different going from level 1 to level 2?
In a way, you are in a better position: RHO has a limited hand, while, had he opened 1
♦, his hand would be unlimited.
With a decent suit like this, I would be happy (maybe not really happy - let's say willing) to bid 2
♠
The 7
♠ hand is a funny one; the normal bid should be double. It never really pays to go for very long chances (and seeing the cards, I'd be happy to have doubled). OTOH, you never know what happens at the table. I am not surprised that someone jumped to bid 7N. It depends a lot on the status of the match: this kind of decision cannot be taken in a vacuum.
Years ago, in a very similar freakish hand, I reached 7
♠ in a whiff (I had 9 or 10
♠ with all the top honors, plus a chicane and a couple aces), and when RHO doubled, I redoubled: at worst I would have been 1 light, so I was betting 100 points against 730, not a bad bet with 7:1 odds