Learning from Soloway
#1 Guest_Jlall_*
Posted 2007-August-13, 15:06
He was red/white and his RHO opened 1S.
I have always passed with this type of hand, but soloway who is in general considered a sound player for that level of play overcalled 2C. I was wondering about this bid but the more I thought about it the more it made sense.
What bad things can happen? If partner bids 3N you should have good play as you have a lot of tricks. If partner bids 5C that should be fine as you have 7 of them. The only bad thing is partner overestimating your defense and doubling, but Hamman (Soloways partner) never doubles anything anyways, and partner will not X a freely bid game anyways unless he has good trumps. We may even get a nice lead director in if LHO plays 4H or 3N.
Anyways, the 2C overcall did indeed find a cold 3N and at the other table after this hand passed they were shut out of the auction.
I think this is a great hand that illustrates one of the reasons hamman and soloway are so successful.
#2
Posted 2007-August-13, 15:30
So what should one learn from this? Perhaps that Soloway really tries to bid a suit like that, and that Hamman doesn't often burn him for doing so?
- hrothgar
#3 Guest_Jlall_*
Posted 2007-August-13, 15:32
Hannie, on Aug 13 2007, 04:30 PM, said:
So what should one learn from this? Perhaps that Soloway really tries to bid a suit like that, and that Hamman doesn't often burn him for doing so?
I think its that they like hands with a lot of offensive potential/playing strength, that seems to be the biggest factor in their decision whether or not to bid.
#4
Posted 2007-August-14, 14:07
Other than leaving the opponents guessing, what's the value of making the same overcall with that hand and a full opener with a decent 5-card suit? 2♣ doesn't even have much preemptive value, except that responder can't bid a forcing NT (but I doubt this is a problem for the class of players Soloway plays against).
#5
Posted 2007-August-14, 14:20
barmar, on Aug 14 2007, 02:07 PM, said:
I just checked, Hamway seem to be playing intermediate jump overcalls when red.
barmar, on Aug 14 2007, 02:07 PM, said:
Jlall, on Aug 13 2007, 03:32 PM, said:
#6
Posted 2007-August-14, 14:21
barmar, on Aug 14 2007, 03:07 PM, said:
I have been thinking that maybe I need to reverse that red vs. white. I've noticed that I can't seem to find a hand too weak to bid 2 clubs, and yet strong enough to bid 3 clubs and survive a double. Surely such hands exist, but saving 3 clubs for a 7 card suit doesn't seem very useful.
If I do play IJOs Red vs. White, then the 2 club bid ought to show...well, this hand, or maybe a hair stronger.
Maybe Soloway-Hamman play IJO's at this seating and vulnerability?
Edited to Add- looks like they do:
http://public.aci.on...man-soloway.pdf
This post has been edited by jtfanclub: 2007-August-14, 14:26
#7
Posted 2007-August-14, 14:31
#8 Guest_Jlall_*
Posted 2007-August-14, 14:32
#9
Posted 2007-August-14, 15:18
Jlall, on Aug 14 2007, 03:32 PM, said:
Well, no, but it seems like if you play IJOs then bidding 2 clubs with this hand is a lot safer, as your partner's going to take you for, say 8-11 instead of 8-15.
#10
Posted 2007-August-14, 15:25
jtfanclub, on Aug 14 2007, 03:18 PM, said:
Jlall, on Aug 14 2007, 03:32 PM, said:
Well, no, but it seems like if you play IJOs then bidding 2 clubs with this hand is a lot safer, as your partner's going to take you for, say 8-11 instead of 8-15.
Nope, partner is playing you for 8-19 anyway, with a 1435 19-count you will still overcall 2♣. (If that's good enough to double just put in whatever your top range with that shape for a non-double is, the point is that range doesn't change whether you play IJO or not.)
#11 Guest_Jlall_*
Posted 2007-August-14, 15:32
#12
Posted 2007-August-14, 16:26
I still don't this its inconsistent to overcall 2♣ on this playing IJO's. If not, you are really limiting your range for a simple overcall, since all IJO's fall into a normal 2♣ basket. Note that 2♣ can be a lot of different hands, including this hand type.
#13
Posted 2007-August-14, 23:52
For instance, he doesn't like being used as a human shield when we're being shot at.
I happen to think it's a very noble way to meet one's maker, especially for a guy like him.
Bottom line is we never let that difference of opinion interfere with anything."
#14
Posted 2007-August-15, 00:35
It was bd19 in the round of 8, seg 4 of Nickell v Schwartz. All available at the Vugraph Project

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