[P_Marlowe]

mike777, on Jan 29 2008, 03:02 PM, said:

pard could not overcall or double at nv 1D. Is not pass a reasonable option?

The most likely holding for partner is a weak
NT type hand.
Of course, this depends on your t/o style, e.g.
would you make a t/o with 4333 and 12-13HCP,
I would not, hence in my partnership, there would
still be a fair chance that our side owns half of the
pot.

If you have the agreement to make nearly always
some noise in 2nd hand, if you hold opening strength,
than the above arguments looses some weight.

With kind regards
Marlowe

[the hog]

vuroth, on Jan 30 2008, 04:08 AM, said:

xx ATxx Kxxx AQT, over 1♦...

1♥ promises 5+ hearts

V

And who's font of knowledge does this pearl reflect? Many very strong players overcall on 4 carders at the 1 level. Mind you, I would not do it on your posted hand, as I'd like slightly better Hs; but its close.

1H in the balancing seat on the given hand.

[whereagles]

The_Hog, on Jan 30 2008, 07:02 AM, said:

Many very strong players overcall on 4 carders at the 1 level.

That is correct. I've had BB winner Erik Saelesminde balance my 1♦ opener on something like...

♠ KJTx
♥ x
♦ Axxxx
♣ xxx

[Gerben42]

Quote

1♥ promises 5+ hearts

Yes but sometimes you are only dealt 4!

[Codo]

The_Hog, on Jan 30 2008, 04:02 PM, said:

vuroth, on Jan 30 2008, 04:08 AM, said:

xx ATxx Kxxx AQT, over 1♦...

1♥ promises 5+ hearts

V

And who's font of knowledge does this pearl reflect? Many very strong players overcall on 4 carders at the 1 level. Mind you, I would not do it on your posted hand, as I'd like slightly better Hs; but its close.

1H in the balancing seat on the given hand.

But mabye the knowledge wehn to overcall in 2. seat on four card suits is not needed to be discussed here. There are bigger problems to solve.
So in the B/I sector, sticking to 5card suits is a given pearl.

[helene_t]

whereagles, on Jan 30 2008, 12:11 PM, said:

The_Hog, on Jan 30 2008, 07:02 AM, said:

Many very strong players overcall on 4 carders at the 1 level.

That is correct. I've had BB winner Erik Saelesminde balance my 1♦ opener on something like...

♠ KJTx
♥ x
♦ Axxxx
♣ xxx

I can't believe a good player would balance with five cards in your suit, 8 HCPs, and a stiff in an unbid major. Maybe his minors were switched and the hand somewhat stronger?

4-card overcalls are less frequent in balancing seat because a 1NT overcall does not promise a stop. Anyway, even though one can construct a hand that would overcall on a 4-card, even in balancing seat, partner still assumes it to be a 5-card.

[whereagles]

helene_t, on Jan 30 2008, 12:15 PM, said:

I can't believe a good player would balance with five cards in your suit, 8 HCPs, and a stiff in an unbid major. Maybe his minors were switched and the hand somewhat stronger?

Maybe the minors were reversed, I can't remember. It was like 8 years ago. But the 4-card overcall seems normal. In fact, the norwegians constantly did it in direct and balancing seat when the suit was good.

[han]

LOL.

Don't say that a well known BB winner bid with that if you don't remember the hand! Reversing the minors makes it completely different.

[vuroth]

The_Hog, on Jan 30 2008, 02:02 AM, said:

vuroth, on Jan 30 2008, 04:08 AM, said:

xx ATxx Kxxx AQT, over 1♦...

1♥ promises 5+ hearts

V

And who's font of knowledge does this pearl reflect?

I think my sig makes it clear that my opinion should not be regarded as expert.

[whereagles]

Hannie, on Jan 30 2008, 04:19 PM, said:

LOL.

Don't say that a well known BB winner bid with that if you don't remember the hand! Reversing the minors makes it completely different.

I was commenting on the 4-card overcall, not on the situation in the minors.

I seem to recall indeed he had 5 clubs and 3 diamonds, yes.

[han]

OK, I agree with you that there are hands where a four card overcall in balancing seat is the stand-out option.

I also agree with Ron that there are hands where many people would make a 4-card overcall. But not with the hand that Arend gave, and mike777 knows that very well and is indeed just asking to be insulted.

[MFA]

It's clear to bid 1♥.

1♥ vs double:
At high levels, (3D pp or 4D pp) it could easily be right to double with a (stronger) 3523 pattern to stay flexible. But at the 1-lvl, partner could conveniently have overcalled 1♠ with 5, and later on it's much easier for him to remove 1♥ than 3♥ or 4♥ if he has a decent alternative to hearts. Also, hoping for a penalty is not very much in the picture so low. So one should almost always bid a 5card major before doubling at this level, or the suit will get lost.

1♥ vs pass:
We must fight for the contract. It takes a very good catch to have a game, but there are MANY imps/mps in the long run for winning the partscore battles. Partner figures to have his share of the points here, so we surely can't sell to 1♦.