[jillybean]

Dealer: North Vul: NS Scoring: IMP

♠ KJ8 ♥ AQT ♦ AJT7 ♣ K43

West North East South

 -     Pass  1♠    ? 

Too good for a direct 1nt but if I double my rebid is going to be at the 2 level.
How do you handle this? SA

[Walddk]

I overcall 1NT. It's not too good; it shows roughly 15-18 and you have the worst shape possible. Finally, your partner is a passed hand and LHO has not spoken yet. 1NT seems just right.

Roland

[neilkaz]

A lot of people play that a 1NT overcall is 15 or 15+ to 18. That makes sense over a 1M opener (esp. 1♠) since you really don't want to confuse the issue and rebid at the 2NT level and note our 4333 distribution isn't so nice for offence.
We do have opener's major double stopped, but I just don't see this as too good for a 1NT overcall.

So 1NT for me here and if PD invites, off course I'll accept.

Just my opinion .. neilkaz ..

[cherdano]

I agree with Roland; the working tens is a plus but the shape is a minus, this hand is not an extraordinary 18-count (and 1N shows 15-18).

[Fluffy]

I always though 1NT here was 16-18

[jillybean]

OK thanks. I’m splitting hairs here, thinking a direct 1nt was more like 15-17 and a double then 1nt was 18-20 (19-21).
The X/1nt seems to be a bid that you can only safely use after opps open 1minor, a waste of memory cells perhaps.

[han]

I play 1NT as 15-18, but wouldn't bid it with all 15's and all 18's. This one seems right.

[jdonn]

There are a couple other factors making 1NT the most desirable option here.

One is that a double then notrump bid would force you to 2NT, as opposed to if they had opened 1♣ where you could double and still hope to rebid 1NT.

Another is that you don't have the extra upside of finding a heart fit. If a club was moved to hearts to make the hand KJx AQTx AJTx Kx then I would double because of that important extra chance.

I play the overcall as good 15 (this does not include most 15s) to bad 19. If the jack of spades was the queen of clubs to make Kxx AQT AJTx KQx I would argue strongly that with just one spade stopper this is still a 1NT bid.

[kenrexford]

This is a HUGE 18, but what else can you do?

If partner burps, I'm bidding game.

[skjaeran]

I'm definitely a subscriber to the 15-18 NT overcall theory.
This is a maximum, but I'm allowed to have that on occasion (very seldom), so I'll overcall 1NT here and accept any invite from partner.

[P_Marlowe]

1NT.

It is close, but facing a passed partner,
and given the alternative 1NT looks best.

With kind regards
Marlowe

[jillybean]

OK, make the hand a little better so that it is too good for a simple 1nt overcall.
Is X then 2nt the correct method to show balanced ~19 hands?

[helene_t]

1NT and it's not close. One HCP more and I still bid 1NT. Two HCPs more and I double and rebid 2N.

[cherdano]

jillybean2, on Sep 23 2007, 07:23 AM, said:

OK, make the hand a little better so that it is too good for a simple 1nt overcall.
Is X then 2nt the correct method to show balanced ~19 hands?

Yes (see Josh's post though). You may be too high in 2N of course but with 19/20 you have to make a stronger try for game.

[P_Marlowe]

jillybean2, on Sep 23 2007, 08:23 AM, said:

OK, make the hand a little better so that it is too good for a simple 1nt overcall.
Is X then 2nt the correct method to show balanced ~19 hands?

Hi,

yes, but if responder makes a move
over your my bid orresponders bid, I
would pass.

If you have 19/20 you have the strength
for a 2NT opening.

With kind regards
Marlowe

[skjaeran]

helene_t, on Sep 23 2007, 03:27 PM, said:

1NT and it's not close. One HCP more and I still bid 1NT. Two HCPs more and I double and rebid 2N.

My 1NT range is 15-18. With 19 I'm too strong (there might be a reason for downgrading a few hands though) and will double and rebid 2NT, showing 19-21.

[jtfanclub]

skaeran, on Sep 24 2007, 01:33 PM, said:

helene_t, on Sep 23 2007, 03:27 PM, said:

1NT and it's not close. One HCP more and I still bid 1NT. Two HCPs more and I double and rebid 2N.

My 1NT range is 15-18. With 19 I'm too strong (there might be a reason for downgrading a few hands though) and will double and rebid 2NT, showing 19-21.

I think this is a good example of a hand that should downgrade.

Suppose partner has only the Queen of clubs for points and the 987654 of hearts? Hearts will work great as trump, but the suit blocks in no-trump. Even if partner has the jack of hearts, if one of the opponents has Kxx they can just hold up to shut down the suit.

It would take more than just upgrading the king of clubs to the ace for me to X and bid 2NT. I just don't see this hand making game across an average minimum response, or 2NT across a poor minimum response. 4333s are ugly.

[han]

I don't think this is a very poor 18-count. I like the diamond 10 and the ♠KJx behind opener are nice too.

Make the heart queen a king and I would certainly double.

[skjaeran]

Hannie, on Sep 25 2007, 12:29 AM, said:

I don't think this is a very poor 18-count. I like the diamond 10 and the ♠KJx behind opener are nice too.

Make the heart queen a king and I would certainly double.

Me too.