[cherdano]

IMPs, all vulnerable,
♠Axx ♥KJx ♦QJ9xx ♣Ax, RHO opens 1S.

[mike777]

double

[TimG]

Jlall, on Aug 1 2007, 07:53 PM, said:

1N. Rightsiding NT is not as important as getting your hand off of your chest. X is a big distortion on shape and leaves you with awkward rebids.

Double is not a big distortion if you can convert 2♣ to 2♦ without showing extras.

[cherdano]

TimG, on Aug 1 2007, 07:13 PM, said:

Jlall, on Aug 1 2007, 07:53 PM, said:

1N. Rightsiding NT is not as important as getting your hand off of your chest. X is a big distortion on shape and leaves you with awkward rebids.

Double is not a big distortion if you can convert 2♣ to 2♦ without showing extras.

You can't, please don't consider non-standard treatments when answering judgment polls.

[Trumpace]

15-18? Check.
Balanced? Check.
Spade stopper? Check.

[ArtK78]

The ONLY alternative to 1NT is 2D. Double is not an option.

[cherdano]

Jlall, on Aug 1 2007, 06:53 PM, said:

1N. Rightsiding NT is not as important as getting your hand off of your chest.

Usually I think exactly like that, but do you really want to get your hand off your chest as a balanced 15 hcp with stopper? Give partner a random balanced 10-11 count with neither 5 hearts nor a spade stopper, and do you want to be in game?

[whereagles]

cherdano, on Aug 2 2007, 02:08 AM, said:

Jlall, on Aug 1 2007, 06:53 PM, said:

1N. Rightsiding NT is not as important as getting your hand off of your chest.

Usually I think exactly like that, but do you really want to get your hand off your chest as a balanced 15 hcp with stopper? Give partner a random balanced 10-11 count with neither 5 hearts nor a spade stopper, and do you want to be in game?

Let's stop masterminding when we know close to zero about pard's hand, shall we?

Justin is completely right

[cherdano]

whereagles, on Aug 1 2007, 10:08 PM, said:

cherdano, on Aug 2 2007, 02:08 AM, said:

Jlall, on Aug 1 2007, 06:53 PM, said:

1N. Rightsiding NT is not as important as getting your hand off of your chest.

Usually I think exactly like that, but do you really want to get your hand off your chest as a balanced 15 hcp with stopper? Give partner a random balanced 10-11 count with neither 5 hearts nor a spade stopper, and do you want to be in game?

Let's stop masterminding when we know close to zero about pard's hand, shall we?

Justin is completely right

This isn't masterminding, I am just wondering whether this hand is worth a 1N overcall with almost no tenaces, a bad stopper, and very slow tricks (♦).

[helene_t]

Dbl and 2♦ are 100% out. Even if playing ELC I would not double. The most accurate description of this hand is 1N followed by 2♦ after LHO doubles and p passes, denying a long suit on his own.

For 1N this hand is a tad weak for my style (could also be my bad judgement of course), so I voted pass. For 1N I usually have a 16-count with an upgraded spade honour or two. It's possible that I should bid 1N with a pick-up p, I really don't know. I voted pass, then changed my mind and edited this post after reading Justin's post, then sorta changed my mind again after reading Arend's post.

[zasanya]

1 NT.Reluctantly but firmly because that is what the system demands.

[FrancesHinden]

If I do anything, I bid 1NT. Second choice pass.

Give me either pointed suit 10 and I bid 1NT with no second choice.

[whereagles]

cherdano, on Aug 2 2007, 04:31 AM, said:

This isn't masterminding, I am just wondering whether this hand is worth a 1N overcall with almost no tenaces, a bad stopper, and very slow tricks (♦).

While all you say above is quite true, it is also true that those considerations are all second to showing shape and strength.

As a rule, the priority of things to show about your hand is: (this is due to Goren, I belive)

1. shape
2. strength (hcp)
3. controls
4. location of high cards

By bidding 1NT on this hand you're giving a VERY accurate picture of what really matters (1 & 2). By failing to bid 1NT, you're giving priority to 3 & 4, and that rates to be technically wrong.

[MickyB]

cherdano, on Aug 2 2007, 03:08 AM, said:

Jlall, on Aug 1 2007, 06:53 PM, said:

1N. Rightsiding NT is not as important as getting your hand off of your chest.

Usually I think exactly like that, but do you really want to get your hand off your chest as a balanced 15 hcp with stopper? Give partner a random balanced 10-11 count with neither 5 hearts nor a spade stopper, and do you want to be in game?

I voted for 1NT, but you've convinced me.

Conventional wisdom is that partner should bid game aggressively on this auction, partly because overcaller usually has tenaces over the opening bidder. We don't have that here. If pard has any help in spades, the lead will come through it, and we'll quickly lose a diamond trick to RHO who will cash out.

Double and 2♦ are both sick, so pass it is.

[paulg]

1NT.

As Fred said in a similar thread, there is a school who overcall 1NT with the slightest excuse (inspired, perhaps, by Meckwell) and others who are more conservative. Colour me with the former group.