[markleon]

Maybe I'm just getting old, but I don't understand anything but passing here.

I judge that the chance of buying the contract is low. Bidding anything will just tell declarer how to play the hand. The bidders should not be surprised when declarer easily picks the right direction to take the 2-way diamond finesse.

[pclayton]

Wow - I can't believe al the hyperactive bidders here. Maybe they play in a different game than I do.

The only calls worth considering are 1s and pass. I dont understand 2S with this heart suit on the side. Just what are the 2S bidders trying to preempt?

I can stomach 1S since it still gives a chance to find hearts. But I''m having a hard time trying to determine why pass isn''t best. If it continues 1N - p - p I have an easy balance. Most of the time I'll just be happy defending and glad I didn't volunteer any information.

[whereagles]

Phil, there's little risk in butting-in at the 1 level on this hand. We got 'nuff shape for 7 tricks and pard is passed so he's not going to blast away on his own.

Since low level action should be safe, one only has to choose between 1♠ and dbl. I preferred dbl because this is a 1-bid hand and dbl keeps hearts in the pic.

[MickyB]

Yup, pass and 1♠ are the only options. Pass feels right, if the oppo are going to game it's very unlikely that there would be a gain from bidding.

[awm]

I'm fascinated by the range of responses on a hand that I considered a relatively obvious 1♠ bid when I saw it at the table. In my book, double promises a better hand and more diamonds, and is just asking for the auction to continue with 1M on my left and 2♦ by partner on some 9-count with a 4-card suit. A 2♠ bid with a lousy five card suit, enough hearts to keep them from wanting to play there, and random defensive cards all over the place also seems amazing to me (and likely to go for a number opposite air). I can see a case for pass, but we are white vs. red and competing for the partial takes priority over "safety" at these colors.

[cherdano]

markleon, on Aug 2 2007, 10:59 AM, said:

Maybe I'm just getting old, but I don't understand anything but passing here.

I judge that the chance of buying the contract is low. Bidding anything will just tell declarer how to play the hand. The bidders should not be surprised when declarer easily picks the right direction to take the 2-way diamond finesse.

Given that I would overcall 1♠ without the diamond queen, I maybe wouldn't be surprised if declarer did that, but it wouldn't work well for him in the long run.

[pclayton]

whereagles, on Aug 2 2007, 11:08 AM, said:

Phil, there's little risk in butting-in at the 1 level on this hand. We got 'nuff shape for 7 tricks and pard is passed so he's not going to blast away on his own.

Since low level action should be safe, one only has to choose between 1♠ and dbl. I preferred dbl because this is a 1-bid hand and dbl keeps hearts in the pic.

LOL - thanks for the 411 Eagles .

I'm not concerned about getting creamed at the 1 level, although I'm very worried pard will sac at 4S over 4H.

I dont like the idea of -150 over their -130 or -110 either.

I have a simple question for the bidders. If you don't buy the contract, will you be happy you bid?

[ralph23]

Hold my nose and bid 1♠.

[cherdano]

pclayton, on Aug 2 2007, 01:48 PM, said:

I have a simple question for the bidders. If you don't buy the contract, will you be happy you bid?

Depends on which contract they play. If it goes 1S X 3S 4H I am happy, they probably guessed wrong.
OTOH if I pass and it goes 1C 1H 1N I wish I had bid, as it could well be our hand but balancing at the 2-level seems suicidal. Similar for a Walsh-style 1C 1D 1N, where balancing could be very dangerous. So if I do bid and they end up playing at a low level I am happy I avoided a balancing guess (even though there is a worry we may have missed hearts, of course).

[awm]

If I don't buy the contract, I'm likely to be quite happy that I bid. After all, my bidding could easily have pushed the opponents up a level, or into a strain that is not best. I'm not afraid to locate cards for them in the play, since I would surely overcall without any of the minor suit high cards. I'm not afraid of partner's lead, since my partners don't "automatically" lead my suit in any case and there's no reason a spade lead won't be good against 3NT, say.

The only time I'm likely to regret bidding is if I end up declaring the hand in something that's failing, possibly doubled, when the opponents didn't have anything on. This is possible, but much more likely if I bid 2♠ (which encourages partner to sacrifice) instead of 1♠, which can certainly contain some defense.

[Echognome]

By the way, I posted this as a bet with Cherdano (he won!). I thought this hand was sick for a 1♠ overcall. The suit is bad, we don't have great shape, and our values are outside of our suit, and I don't think partner is going to be able to judge the hand well. Of course it may work out if partner has a fit. I'm not too worried about going for a number at the 1-level if I overcall. (By the way, 2♠ is LOL!)

[mike777]

Echognome, on Aug 2 2007, 02:46 AM, said:

♠Q8543 ♥KQ93 ♦Q6 ♣J9

White/Red at IMPs

P - (1♣) - ?

Act now or hold your peace?

may we please have the full deal or can you PM me with it please. ty.

[Echognome]

mike777, on Aug 2 2007, 12:50 PM, said:

may we please have the full deal or can you PM me with it please. ty.

Scoring: IMP

---

Rotated for convenience.

Table 1:
P - 1♣ - P - 1♠
Dbl - P - 2♥ - 2♠
All Pass

Result: -140 NS

Table 2:
P - 1♣ - 1♠ - 1NT
P - P - 2♥ - P
3♥ - All Pass

Result: -150 NS

[neilkaz]

Tough choice between pass and 1♠ for me for the many reasons described by others. If I do bid 1♠ and PD sac 4♠ over their eventual 4♥ I am probably going to need a crying towel.

We are White vs Red..and I can balance with a double vs 1NT or better yet 2m if I pass now. Often this will drive them into 3m which I doubt we can set, but who knows.

OK I talked myself into siding with Phil and having a slight pref. to pass.

.. neilkaz ..

[Halo]

1S

I play 54/45 Michaels, and would not bid it on this hand. Two spades would not be on my short list. Passing is not for me; I've got nine major suit cards.

[ArtK78]

The West hand at the second table with AKJxxx of spades bid 1NT in direct seat over the 1♠ overcall? I guess he has the suit stopped.

Sick call.

Anyway, Echo, I agree with you that overcalling 1♠ on this hand is sick, even if most of the posters do not agree.

No game, no good suit, no good lead directing attributes - really, the 1♠ overcall has nothing to recommend it.

The side that bid 1♠ on this hand got away with it. They could have gone for 500 even after they found a good fit.

I wonder how the auction would have gone if West had passed over the 1♠ overcall? I suspect they would have had a shot at doubling out NS.

[whereagles]

pclayton, on Aug 2 2007, 07:48 PM, said:

1. LOL - thanks for the 411 Eagles .

2. I'm not concerned about getting creamed at the 1 level, although I'm very worried pard will sac at 4S over 4H.

3. I dont like the idea of -150 over their -130 or -110 either.

4. I have a simple question for the bidders. If you don't buy the contract, will you be happy you bid?

1. What do you mean? I didn't get it

2. We definitely are on different mindsets. I'm aiming at competing for the partscore and you're at the game level already

3. Well, I do dbl because pard is passed. Without him being passed, dbl risks pard taking you too seriously, so 1♠ is probably better.

4. Yes. They might be playing 3m, misguessing all about my hand. Happened to me before.. lol.

EDIT: just saw the board. Oh well, flat hand.. lol.

[awm]

I held the south hand at the second table. A few comments:

(1) I thought the 2♥ bid over 1NT was pretty dubious, much less clear than the 1♠ overcall which I thought was totally normal. Note that it's hard to double us in 1♠ as north will bid 1NT and quite possible make it.

(2) In any case, it's possible to get out in 3♥ for down two. I didn't necessarily play this hand very well, but then it was late at night in a NV partscore with no real chance to make. I suspect that if doubled I would have held it to two off at worst.

[Echognome]

awm, on Aug 2 2007, 02:43 PM, said:

I held the south hand at the second table. A few comments:

(1) I thought the 2♥ bid over 1NT was pretty dubious, much less clear than the 1♠ overcall which I thought was totally normal. Note that it's hard to double us in 1♠ as north will bid 1NT and quite possible make it.

(2) In any case, it's possible to get out in 3♥ for down two. I didn't necessarily play this hand very well, but then it was late at night in a NV partscore with no real chance to make. I suspect that if doubled I would have held it to two off at worst.

I didn't post the names as I wasn't trying to judge anyone else's actions. (I would start with my teammates first on that one).

I still think 1♠ is sick, but it's good to know that there are some good players that consider it a winning action.