[goobers]

Both matchpoints

Favorable
Jx AT98x xxx AKx
Righty opens 1S, you?


Axxx AKQx Jxx Jx
Righty opens 1D, you? I don't remember the vul for this one, would it change your decision?

[Mr. Dodgy]

2♥

1♥

[Gerben42]

Quote

Favorable
Jx AT98x xxx AKx
Righty opens 1S, you?

Answer hidden, think before responding thanks

Spoiler

Never ever ever 2♥. If your bridge teacher says this is a 2♥-overcall, you will soon be a better player than he is.

Double.

Quote

Axxx AKQx Jxx Jx
Righty opens 1D, you? I don't remember the vul for this one, would it change your decision?

Spoiler

You have both majors, Double. The good things that can happen are numerous, and the only real bad thing is partner bidding ♣, but he will usually have 5 of them anyway.

[rogerclee]

1) 2H. I'd rather bid now than be forced to balance after 1S-2S. Anyway, this hand is not so bad; I'd bid 2H at any colors.

2) 1H at any colors, since I think both pass and double are worse. I don't feel very strongly about this, though.

[655321]

Gerben42, on Jan 4 2008, 03:12 AM, said:

Quote

Favorable
Jx AT98x xxx AKx
Righty opens 1S, you?

Answer hidden, think before responding thanks

Spoiler

Never ever ever 2♥. If your bridge teacher says this is a 2♥-overcall, you will soon be a better player than he is.
Double.

Spoiler

Perhaps this is the wrong forum for this discussion, but anyway ...

I strongly disagree with the comment, and would overcall 2H every day of the week.
Of course, if we had a 5332 hand with a 5 card minor, you would get no argument from me; indeed there are 2533 hands where we could agree that double is better than 2H. But this hand has sharp cards, the Hearts are internally solid, and you will never uncover the 5th heart after doubling. Certainly, I don't claim this hand is one we are proud to hold for a 2H overcall, just that 2H is a better call than Double.

[P_Marlowe]

#1 pass, 2nd alternative X, but most of the time I would pass
#2 1H, but X would also be fine,
you have enough compensation
for the missing shape

With kind regards
Marlowe

[joker_gib]

Pass : this is not a 2H overcall in my book

X : both majors and as Marlowe says : extras to compensate the shape. I can also live with 1H

Alain

[ArtK78]

I cannot imagine passing hand #1. Clear 2♥ overcall.

I would bid 1♥ on the second one. Double is my second choice.

[jtfanclub]

Not one person bids 1NT with the 2nd one.

Jxx isn't a perfect stopper, but it's usually better than nothing. I have the count for it, the shape for it, and considering what crap I might have for a double, it's going to be a lot easier for us to find game if I bid it now. I also would rather play 1NT then 2♣ if partner has 5 of them and a 5 count, even if that means no diamond stopper.

[helene_t]

1) is a clear dbl at IMPs or if vulnerable, but here 2♥ is an alternative. Risking that Gerben won't refer any students to me, I think I would bid 2♥.

2) dbl, this is not close.

[oldman5757]

If playing ELC, I double with hand one, and then bid ♥ over any ♣ bid by P. If not playing ELC, I bid 2♥ with hand one.

With hand two I start with DBL. If P bids 2 ♣, I'll bid 2♥. If P bids 3 ♣, I'll bid 3♦, asking for a stopper for NT. Partner can still show a 4-card major.

[mike777]

goobers, on Jan 4 2008, 02:46 AM, said:

Both matchpoints

Favorable
Jx AT98x xxx AKx
Righty opens 1S, you?


Axxx AKQx Jxx Jx
Righty opens 1D, you?  I don't remember the vul for this one, would it change your decision?

1-edit...pass

2-double

[pclayton]

1. I just can't bring myself to overcall with this suit, this many losers, this much defense and a 5 card suit. With some partners I'll double, but I have sympathy for a pass.

2. Double. This one's easy.

[awm]

I don't really like double on the first hand. While it's always easy to make a "flexible" call and blame partner if he chooses wrong, it seems like:

(1) If you double, you will fairly often play in 1NT or a seven-card minor fit when you have eight hearts. In this case 2♥ is normally better.

(2) Even if partner has a good hand, he may respond with 2NT over double when holding three hearts, which you probably have to pass. In this case 4♥ could be excellent.

(3) There are even situations where you may end up playing in a minor with a nine card heart fit, for example if LHO raises to 2♠ and partner shows "two places to play."

(4) Bidding 2♥ takes a lot of space away from opponents, making it hard for them to find a minor suit fit and hard for LHO to show a good balanced hand (he can't bid 1NT any more) whereas double gives them extra bids.

I'd bid 2♥ on this hand under the given conditions (favorable at MP). In some other situations I'd pass (i.e. vulnerable at IMPs).

On the second hand, it seems like bidding 1♥ gets you the right lead if you end up defending, and gets you to 2♥ on a 4-3 when it's right (it often will be with those hearts). It misses a spade fit on a number of occasions though (especially when partner has 3♥ and 4-5♠). Double will always find an 8-card major fit if one exists, but risks playing a seven (or even six) card club fit when a 4-3 heart fit plays better, and also might get your partner to lead the wrong thing (i.e. a club from length versus notrump). Honestly I think it's a fairly close decision between double and 1♥; would never seriously consider any other call.

[jdonn]

1. 2♥, the heart spots make me feel safe enough, if they were worse I would double.

Such strong statements Gerben!

2. Agree with easy double.

[Echognome]

The first one is close, but for me it's a double. Really the downside is either missing a 5-3 heart fit or missing a 5-4 heart fit and playing in a 5-3 minor fit.

However, there are plenty of upsides besides safety. For example, finding a 5-3 or 6-3 minor fit.

The second is a clear double.