[mike777]

1) MP Unfav Vul.

(1D)=P=(1H)=?

AQT74....J984...T8....84

Do you overcall 1S or pass, why?

2) MP Unfav Vul.

(2C)=?

J872...AK8652...6...83

Do you overcall 2H or pass, why?

[Gerben42]

1. Yes. This is a typical MP situation, you don't want to let them play 2♥ and it is safer to get in now than later.

2. Assuming 2♣ is "strongest opening bid" I pass. No point really to tell them what to worry about when they bid 3NT! Also it is probably going to be my lead anyway.

[FrancesHinden]

The first one is tough, and is partly a matter of partnership style. I know many real MP experts who think 1S is automatic.

The second is obvious to bid any form of scoring. It's only being vul that stops me overcalling 3H. You have to get in over their 2C opening, just as much as over a strong 1C opening.

[MickyB]

FrancesHinden, on Feb 23 2007, 11:55 AM, said:

The second is obvious to bid any form of scoring. It's only being vul that stops me overcalling 3H. You have to get in over their 2C opening, just as much as over a strong 1C opening.

I disagree with this. When you bid over their 1♣ opening, you are removing a whole extra level of bidding. It's much harder for them to penalise you because they don't have a forcing pass available.

At the vulnerability, I think pass here is entirely reasonable, although if I think that the opposition will be on much firmer ground in an uncontested auction I'd be tempted to throw a spanner in the works.

[SoTired]

1) I pass because I strictly keep 8hcp is my min 1 level overcall. Esp Vul.
2) 2H seems automatic to me. For several reasons: 1) Interference, 2) Good lead, 3) Competition.

[Gerben42]

Quote

2) 2H seems automatic to me. For several reasons: 1) Interference, 2) Good lead, 3) Competition.

I am surprised that all think 2♥ is automatic at these colours.

1. Interference: It doesn't take away bidding space and 3♥ is WAY too dangerous.

2. Good lead: Which one? The Ace or the small one? Partner is not on lead!

3. Competition: Do you WANT to risk opps deciding for a safe 500 (800, 1100) instead of bidding their normal contract?

[MickyB]

Gerben42, on Feb 23 2007, 02:27 PM, said:

I am surprised that all think 2♥ is automatic at these colours.

I thought I just said that I didn't

[Apollo81]

Opening leads are hard.
Bidding with interference is harder than bidding w/o it.

I overcall on both hands.



Interestingly I had KQJxx xx xx 10xxx unfav IMPs after (1♣)-pass-(1♦). I overcalled 1♠ (and so did the other table) and it went pass-3♠ and then poor responder had to guess how many hearts to bid with his 0562 hand. Shows you how a bid that has seemingly no merit can work so much better than passing.

Pard gets the credit though....he raised to 3♠ and the other table was chicken and only bid 2, so our teammates had an easy 3♥ bid.

[FrancesHinden]

Gerben42, on Feb 23 2007, 02:27 PM, said:

2. Good lead: Which one? The Ace or the small one? Partner is not on lead!

There's no rule that says opener is going to declarer the hand. While it's likely, it's a long way off certain.

[mikeh]

1. I overcall 1♠. We want to get the right lead: we want to be able to compete... I agree with Justin in that I'd overcall 1♠ at imps as well. It is useful (essential?) to have agreements about 4th seat overcalls when 2nd seat passes. In the latest set of system notes I have created for my current (hopefully) serious partnership, such 4th seat overcalls are expressly competitive, and not constructive...

2. I'd bid. I like to use suction here, to create ambiguity: ambiguity is our friend when the opps own the hand, as they usually do when they open 2♣. But if forced to bid naturally, 2♥ it is, and I agree with Frances in that the vulnerability is what prevents me from choosing 3♥. I also agree (again.... I am being very agreeable this morning, for a change) with Justin: I'd get in their auction at imps as well as mps.

Most players know how to bid with reasonable accuracy when the opps keep their mouths shut. Even good players get into difficulties when the opps get into their auctions. The risk of the occasional disaster is a premium I'm willing to pay on these two hands. That has to be the correct approach at mps (give me two tops for every bottom, and I will win almost all the time) and I am increasingly of the view that (within more conservative limits) there is value to this at imps. There are just too many competent players around for players like me to be able to do well, on a consistent basis, by trying to avoid disaster.

[Double !]

1) I would bid. Master suit. I want a spade lead from partner.

2) I don't like going for telephone numbers, but 6-4 is better than 6-3. I am really undecided about bidding 2H at these colors: I can think of valid arguments both for and against. Part depends on what opps might open 2C on. Part depends on the fact that more and more people double to show dbl negatives on this bidding. This could put opener in an uncomfortable situation if holding a balanced 22-24, but might still choose to defend and we might not do very well. Put me down as an honest vote for undecided on this one.

DHL

[whereagles]

1. Bid
2. Bid

It's a bidder's game ^^

[pclayton]

1. Auto overcall. 20 years ago when I first learned the game, this was an auto pass.

2. Tough! Against a weak or middle pair that rates to throw up all over their auction if I overcall I'd find a bid.

Against a good pair, its very tough. Pros for overcalling:

1. We might be able to jam them a little bit, but not a lot.
2. If pard ends on lead (doubtful), we'll get the right lead. However, if pard has a singleton, we'll get the lead anyway.
3. We are at adverse vulnerability. The opponents know we are at adverse. The opps know we are a good pair. Good pairs have their bids at adverse. Therefore, they are less likely to sit for a double.

Against these:

1. We will warn them off NT (which may or may not be good).
2. RHO frequently has the 22-24 variety, so doubling is easy: -500 (or more) is very likely. -200 against a p/s rates to be a disaster too.
3. If they buy the hand in a normal contract, we have given extraneous information that may not be evident if we pass.
4. They might bid a slam off the heart suit (unlikely, but possible).

So I think a pass is better on balance against someone good.

[mike777]

Thank you all for your kind and thoughtful responses.

Needless to say I passed on both and got terrible scores.
1) Pard did not find a spade from Kx
2) LHO bid 3nt and pard did not find a heart lead where we had the first 7 tricks. No other game can make.

[han]

1S, 2H.

[the hog]

Overcall on both. Clear cut at MPs, if nv the first hand is also worth an overcall at IMPs.

[mike777]

The_Hog, on Feb 24 2007, 12:12 AM, said:

Overcall on both. Clear cut at MPs, if nv the first hand is also worth an overcall at IMPs.

Thanks for comment Ron.

Clear cut really cuts to the bone. For me I thought and passed.
I posted this since I thought these were common everday problems that nonexperts struggle with, or at least I do.

[the hog]

Sorry you took it this way. Seriously though Mike, you have numerous comments on overcalls and lobs in the past, intimiating that you need such and such a requirement to even consider this and everytime you get an answer you take no notice of it.

[mike777]

The_Hog, on Feb 24 2007, 09:27 PM, said:

Sorry you took it this way. Seriously though Mike, you have numerous comments on overcalls and lobs in the past, intimiating that you need such and such a requirement to even consider this and everytime you get an answer you take no notice of it.

OHH.....


I hope to in the future, thank you for constructive comments.