[han]

Here is a hand from yesterday's juniorBBO tournament:

Scoring: IMP

(1S) - ??

---

Do you pass or bid 2H? If you pass it goes (2S)-pass-(pass) to you, then what?

I had this hand in the tournament and bid 2♥, but at the teaching table afterwards we were told that no expert would ever bid 2♥ with this which made me very sad .

[helene_t]

Not that this is going to comfort you in any way but I would have bid 2♥ as well. Not without risk since we could go for 800 against 450 but with a doubleton spades, pass is more risky I think.

OTOH, if I got fixed I would stay fixed.

[mr1303]

2H, either now, or if I forgot to bid, the second time around.

But clearly I'm no expert....

[hrothgar]

I'd overcall 2♥. I'm not claiming that I am thrilled with this bid, but I prefer it to pass. As Helene notes, I have short Spades. I am expecting some kind of Spade raise on my right. An immediate Heart bid is likely to work much better than getting "stuck" in an auction like

(1♠) - P - (3♠) - P
(P) - ???

Moreover, those are quite nice Hearts that I am sitting on. That suit is missing top honors, but it has a lot of texture. I'm not particularly worried about getting penalty doubled at a low level.

Out of curiousity, who was dispensing the bidding lessons? (I really don't have any objection to recommending a pass with this hand. I do find it surprising that anyone would assert that the decision to pass is so cut and dry)

[han]

hrothgar, on Aug 8 2007, 07:34 AM, said:

Out of curiousity, who was dispensing the bidding lessons?

It wasn't someone I know, and I don't think it is useful to give their BBO id. Richie Reisig was in charge of the teaching table, but he wasn't commenting much. Several of the avaliable "stars" were giving their opinions, some with more authority than others.

[hotShot]

Would I want a ♥ lead from partner? No, but if opps play ♠ he won't have to lead anyway.
Is it likely that opps can make game? If partner has a few points, than opps won't have game.
We are red and opps white, if I bid I will have to make it, or else it will cost.
I see 7 looser and I will be down, if partner does not have 2 tricks.

So I think that one should consider to pass here very seriously.

[TimG]

Hannie, on Aug 8 2007, 06:37 AM, said:

I had this hand in the tournament and bid 2♥, but at the teaching table afterwards we were told that no expert would ever bid 2♥ with this which made me very sad .

I think this statement is an error. I would sooner think a majority of experts would overcall with this hand.

[Halo]

Two hearts over one spade. I've got a good hand.

[benlessard]

The way i see it is that if we have a game contract we will reach it most of the time even if i pass.(and at least reach a partscore if its a "lucky game")

If they have a game contract they will reach it even if i overcall.

If we have a partscore at the 2 level we will reach it most of the time even if i pass. (unless 1♠ all pass)

If they make 2♠ they will be there even if i overcall.




The keyzone is 2♠ and higher

Do i really want to be in 3♥ over 2♠ ?

It will work when they make exactly 8 trick in spades (2♠) and we make 9 in hearts.

or
they bid 3♠ and go down while 3♥ was also going down

or
They sell out in 3♥ making and 3♠ was making.

This is the 4 to 7 Imps zone.


IMO
This is where expert dominate the bidding. ( + also in slams)

These are the partscore battler where beginner don't fight enough.

Fighting there is good and i won't say that no expert will bid 2♥.

Just that in this case the risk seems higher then the benefits.



It what i called respect to the spades suit. meaning that even if whe have a fit we wont be able to capitalize on it expect (pushing them higher in a contract that still make or no really profitable sacrifice) and if we dont have a fit we are in a high risk zone.



according to wikipedia


an overcall is to

To buy the contract---------------------------------------(they make 8 you make 9)
To induce a good lead from his or her partner
To 'lift' the opponents' contract to a higher level------ (that goes down !)
To find an effective sacrifice----------------------------
To hinder the opponents in their bidding

[joker_gib]

I think it is normal to bid, you only pass when you see all 52 cards and LHO with AKJx in ♥

If I go for 800 or more, that's life !

[ArtK78]

Looks like a fairly normal 2♥ overcall to me, although I don't claim to be proud of it and it is not without flaws.

If I overcall 2♥ and it goes 2♠-P-P back to me, I certainly pass it out. Why would I ever consider making another call?

Overcalling 2♥ the first time is certainly preferable to passing and hearing 2♠-P-P back to me. Now I have to balance with 3♥. And I suspect that the person at the teaching table would find nothing wrong with that.

[jtfanclub]

hotShot, on Aug 8 2007, 07:51 AM, said:

Would I want a ♥ lead from partner? No, but.....

If they're playing in 3NT, I'd love a heart lead. I can set up all sorts of hands where partner has something like xxx in hearts, only a heart lead set it, and he'd never consider leading it without my interference.

I don't understand why this is a close call. You have six hearts. You have good entries. You have six hearts. You have short spades. Oh, did I mention you have six hearts?

I don't pretend to be an expert, but I would be absolutely shocked if experts passed this hand. The extra heart, the T98, the AKx side suit...I can certainly design a hand where I would expect experts to pass with this shape, but this isn't it.

[keylime]

I think passing on this hand when you have a decent suit is losing bridge. I will remain mute on who stated this rather contrary statement.

Whoever said that most would pass, hasn't play around here in D.C. lately. The texture of this suit is excellent, you do have 2 quicks, and you hold a doubleton spade. Green light values to take one stab at the pot.

[pbleighton]

2H, not close.

Peter

[lowerline]

Hannie, on Aug 8 2007, 06:37 AM, said:

Here is a hand from yesterday's juniorBBO tournament:

Scoring: IMP

(1S) - ??

---

Do you pass or bid 2H? If you pass it goes (2S)-pass-(pass) to you, then what?

I had this hand in the tournament and bid 2♥, but at the teaching table afterwards we were told that no expert would ever bid 2♥ with this which made me very sad .

I can imagine that an old expert passes this, but for a junior this is a clear 2♥ bid... ;-) Another reason to bid 2♥ is that you don't end up in a situation like this one. I'm afraid to bid 3♥ at these colors, so I pass again (sigh).

Steven

[ralph23]

I think if you submitted this hand to the ACBL Bulletin's "It's Your Call" column for experts to opine on it, you'd find a lot of experts overcalling 2♥. Certainly more than zero.

[Fluffy]

2♥ I like the suit.

[skjaeran]

This is an obvious 2♥ overcall to me.
I'd not consider passing.

[cherdano]

Sad to cross so many from my list of whom I considered to be an expert. Anyway, I am no expert anyway, so I have no problem bidding 2♥.