[Echognome]

Scoring: MP

(1♥) - ?

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I was given this problem without knowing opponents system, but it was either Acol or SAYC. If it makes a difference to you, simply state why.

What's your bidding plan?

[jillybean]

I'd double and then bid my ♦'s. I would prefer to play in ♦'s but happy with nt if partner insists.

[Gerben42]

I overcall 2♦ and it's not close. Hard to find a hand where partner passes and 3NT is cold.

[inquiry]

I like bidding 1NT even with side singletons, but this is not the hand for it. So I will bid a tame 2♦. If partner raises, I will try 3NT.

[AlexOgan]

2D, easy. Not particularly close to X followed by 2D.

[mike777]

X and then D.

Never ending debate on how strong a simple overcall can be.
If you do not x on this 17Hcp I bet you almost never will on any 17 hcp hand. .
For those that say this is not close, what example hand would be close but still be a 2d overcall?

[Robert]

Hi Everyone

2D overcall 'not' even close to a double.

Regards,
Robert

[inquiry]

mike777, on Jun 14 2006, 12:05 PM, said:

X and then D.

Never ending debate on how strong a simple overcall should be.
If you do not x on this 17Hcp I bet you almost never will on any 17 hcp hand. .
For those that say this is not close, what example hand would be close but still be a 2d overcall?

Join the 21st century.. (hehehe). Takeout doubles are based upon shape or monsterous stregnth. The day of double and then bid a new suit to show 16, 17, 18 points (without fantastic playing stregnth) are over... despite what this poll is showing. I agree this hand is not near double then bid diamond stregth.

Change it too...

A
AQxx
KQJTxx
Ax

it will make it to double then diamonds.

[FrancesHinden]

mike777, on Jun 14 2006, 06:05 PM, said:

X and then D.

Never ending debate on how strong a simple overcall should be.
If you do not x on this 17Hcp I bet you almost never will on any 17 hcp hand. .
For those that say this is not close, what example hand would be close but still be a 2d overcall?

Not close to x and 2D.
To double-then-bid on a 17-point hand it will have one of two features:
i) be a flexible type hand (e.g. AKxx xx AKxxx Kx will double 1H and bid 2D over 2C, not playing ELC) or
ii) have spades e.g. AK109xxx x AKx Kx

and look how pure I've made those 17-counts as well

[whereagles]

The hand is strong enough for a GOSH double, but the texture and shape are wrong. 2♦ thus.

[jdonn]

Funny how there is a fairly even split between people that double, and people that overcall and think it's not close to a double. I must be crazy, I overcall but think it's pretty close to doubling first.

The middle ground is quite lonely.

[jdonn]

FrancesHinden, on Jun 14 2006, 12:39 PM, said:

To double-then-bid on a 17-point hand it will have one of two features:
...
ii) have spades e.g. AK109xxx x AKx Kx

Are you saying you would just make a simple overcall on hand ii) if the suits were rearranged? It makes 3NT opposite xx JTxxx xxx xxx (with the suits similarly rearranged to match JTxxx with your shortness).

[ArcLight]

Why is 1NT such a bad call?

If pard has ♦Kxx, we can take 9 tricks before the hearts are set up.

[FrancesHinden]

ArcLight, on Jun 14 2006, 08:09 PM, said:

Why is 1NT such a bad call?

If pard has ♦Kxx, we can take 9 tricks before the hearts are set up.

Two reasons why 1NT is such a bad call.
First, if partner has Kxx diamonds they aren't obliged to lead hearts.
Second, partner is entitled to believe you may have some sort of fit for one or other of the black suits.

[FrancesHinden]

jdonn, on Jun 14 2006, 07:41 PM, said:

FrancesHinden, on Jun 14 2006, 12:39 PM, said:

To double-then-bid on a 17-point hand it will have one of two features:
...
ii) have spades e.g. AK109xxx x AKx Kx

Are you saying you would just make a simple overcall on hand ii) if the suits were rearranged? It makes 3NT opposite xx JTxxx xxx xxx (with the suits similarly rearranged to match JTxxx with your shortness).

OK, that hand was possibly just a bit too good.

But most 17-counts with a 7-card minor I would make a simple overcall in the minor. Re-arrange the hands into x Kx AKx AK109xxx and I would overcall 2C over 1H, because partner is entitled to jump to 4S with 5/6 of them and a fair hand.

[bid_em_up]

The best part about simply overcalling 2D with this hand, is when opps keep bidding hearts

[hatchett]

I would bid 2♦ playing with a partner who appreciates I might have this sort of hand. Playing with a pick up on BBO I might double since most people seem to treat overcalls as garbage.

[jchiu]

DBL then ♦.

I think it is close, but this hand is simply too pure to just bid 2♦. While I am an advocate of the sound overcall school, there are simply too many hands for partner with a diamond honor and nearly out with which we can make 3N. Also, if it sounds like I am trying to make 3N with a single ♥ stopper and a one-loser long ♦ suit, I will attract the favorable ♥ lead. This is precisely the reason overcalling 1N is ludicrous. It will almost certainly ensure that they will find the killing lead.

[han]

I would bid 2D, and I don't feel awkward while doing it.

[Double !]

bid 2♦

the idea of having to double first and then bid a suit to show a certain number of points is obsolete if not dysfunctional (especially when one plays fairly sound overcalls). If this suit had been a major, then perhaps my opinion would have been different. Partner should be able to depend on you having a good hand for a 2-level overcall and, hopefully, will support with support. With so much shape, there is likely to be more bidding or else the hand is a misfit bigtime, or so i suspect.

DHL