[Poky]

IMP. We vul.

Pass (3♦) ???

♠Q98xx
♥AK
♦Jx
♣KQJx

[mikeh]

Pass.

Wrong ♦ holding and wrong suit for an overcall. Utterly wrong for a double: what do you intend to bid over 3♥?

Tempting to bid 3♠... and I might choose that if partner were an unpassed hand, but that suit.... ugh....

BTW, it would never occur to me that 4♣ could be both blacks... and, having had it occur to me, I don't like it.

Sure, the need and opportunity for a 4♣ natural overcall may be limited, but having a 10-trick black two suiter unsuited for a 3♠ overcall is not exactly common.

And what hand does it show, if two-suited? Is it forcing: if so, then it becomes even less frequent. If not, it seems that it is going to apply only to a very, very small number of hands.

FBTW (further by the way): I hope I passed quickly (in tempo... after the due delay needed by the stop bid)... if I tanked, I might 'have to' bid 3♠

[mike777]

pass will bid 4s if partner balances with X.

[cherdano]

mikeh, on Jul 21 2006, 08:56 PM, said:

BTW, it would never occur to me that 4♣ could be both blacks... and, having had it occur to me, I don't like it.

Sure, the need and opportunity for a 4♣ natural overcall may be limited, but having a 10-trick black two suiter unsuited for a 3♠ overcall is not exactly common.

And what hand does it show, if two-suited? Is it forcing: if so, then it becomes even less frequent. If not, it seems that it is going to apply only to a very, very small number of hands.

I think it is common e.g. in Netherlands to play 4C as C + major, 5/5, forcing. Part of the idea is that with only a club suit, it is not such a bad idea anyway to double and hope partner bids 3NT ("thrump double"). Of course, double becomes even less shape specific playing this style.

Arend

[willow23]

Opt for a pass...leave it up to p...if he can't make some noise ..I will be happy with a + score...if he re-opens with a dbl...hmm...I have to go with 4♠ ...

Suit quality test fails the hand despite the lovely hcp...very sad to have to pass with that hand..

[cherdano]

I chose 3S. I don't believe much in balancing at the 3-level, and since the right 8-count without shortness in diamonds will produce game (KJx xxxx xx Axxx), I feel I have to act. It is a very nice 15-count after all. I admit I won't like my chances if partner raises with Ax Qxxx xxx Axxx (as he should, IMO).

[Free]

I double, if partner bids ♥ I'll scramble with ♠s. Bidding 4♣ to show ♣-♠ requires a lot stronger hand! My only alternative is 3♠, but I don't like the suit...

[P_Marlowe]

3S, since I cant bring myself to pass,
and dbl?
The only suit you want to hear is spades,
over 3H, bidding 3S would show a stronger
hand and a stronger suit.
You may be able to lie about your strength or
your suit quality and may still survive,
but lying about both, is a sure way to loose
control about the auction.

With regards
Marlowe

PS: 4C should show 5-5.

[Free]

Sorry, but if you want to show a strong hand with ♠s, you should Dbl and jump to 4♠, not 3♠. So Dbl followed by 3♠ is a scramble...

[mr1303]

I think that X followed by 3♠ should be a strong 5-3 shape. This hand wouldn't qualify (something near a 20 count would be required for that)

[Walddk]

Pass. Moth-eaten spade suit, passed partner. Double followed by 3♠ over 3♥ shows a much better hand in my opinion, and often 5-3 in the majors. And even if a direct 4♣ shows both blacks, the hand isn't good enough.

Sometimes pre-empts are effective. Live with it. When fixed, stay fixed.

Roland

[FrancesHinden]

I don't usually disagree with both Roland and Mike, but I would bid 3S.

Partner won't usually protect on this auction without a singleton or void diamond, so 3D is going to be passed out a lot of the time you have a vulnerable game.

My second choice is double and bid 3S over 3H. I'm a bit light for this, the way I play it, but not hugely so - it's certainly what I would if the hand had the same high cards but better distributed (AQJxx Kx xx KQJx say).

[hatchett]

3♠

It's a dirty job but someone has to do it.

[neilkaz]

3S for me, worrying that I'll miss too many games even vs a passed PD if I pass.

[Kalvan14]

3♠: I'm not proud of thsi bid, but the alternatives (including pass) are all worse, IMO.