[hanp]

All red, IMPs

-
A10xxx
Jx
AQ98xx

1C (3+) on your right, you play that 2C shows clubs. What's your call?

[mikeh]

1♥.

I wouldn't understand any other call... we have reason to suspect that someone will shortly be bidding spades, and we can hardly bid clubs then hearts over spades, with this hand.

Admittedly, I am not going to enjoy this if partner introduces spades first, because I don't have a 'NATURAL' sticker I can attach to my subsequent club bid (so can't make it) but so what? He'll bid spades over clubs as well... now I have to bid 3♥ to even hint at my shape, and I'd be puking at that point.

In fact, I'd rather pass than bid clubs... if I pass I might get to bid an 'impossible notrump' later, but, then again, I might not, and I might not like it if I did.

[jdonn]

I hope my 2♣ overcall doesn't make Mike puke. Yes I'll have to bid (probably reverse) into hearts next round. But on the plus side I have shown my 6 card suit!

[whereagles]

I think I know why this is called "diamond". Anyway, abstain. Know the hand

[Apollo81]

I'd just overcall 1♥. Hopefully partner can raise to a high level, and LHO will be in for a surprise if he leads clubs!

I suspect this is from the Diamond vs Nickell match going on today, but I haven't looked.

[rogerclee]

Thought this was a clear 1♥ bid, since bidding clubs risks losing the hearts too easily, and I don't like the idea of introducing my hearts at potentially the 4-level.

[mikeh]

jdonn, on Mar 20 2009, 05:47 PM, said:

I hope my 2♣ overcall doesn't make Mike puke. Yes I'll have to bid (probably reverse) into hearts next round. But on the plus side I have shown my 6 card suit!

ohhhhhhhhhhhhhh... I feel ill

[JLOL]

1H for sure. Too much chance of hearts getting shut out if we bid 2C, and there is also clear danger of 2C being passed out when we have a good heart fit.

[gnasher]

2♣. If LHO bids a forcing 2♠ over that, we're probably not going to be able to play in 4♥ anyway. If he has five spades but isn't strong enough for 2♠, I'd prefer that it went
  2♣ (dbl)
where I have begun an accurate description and LHO has done something ill-defined, than
  1♥ (1S)
where I have started to misdescribe my hand and LHO has said quite a lot about his.

I'd be very surprised if 2♣ were passed out. Where are all the spades and high cards?

[JLOL]

gnasher, on Mar 22 2009, 08:28 AM, said:

I'd be very surprised if 2♣ were passed out.  Where are all the spades and high cards?

RHO is not often balancing. If LHO bids it's forcing. It is easily possible that the remaining points are split between LHO and partner, and partner is the one with short clubs and 2C gets passed out.

Also if partner is the one with spades you could still belong in 4H but bidding 2C then 3H over 2S is really overbidding without safety. Our hand just isn't that good.

[jdonn]

I'm open minded to the fact I'm in the minority but the 1♥ bidders have not convinced me. True if we have 4♥ then overcalling 1♥ might be the only way to find it, but I'm not going to avoid bidding my longest suit if the hand might be ours just because I fear missing my ATxxx, which I can usually bid next round anyway.

[gnasher]

I'd expect partner to bid with a 10-count and a stiff club, so I'm not worried about playing in 2♣ instead of 4♥.

I agree with Justin's other point, though: 2♣-2♠; 3♥-3NT isn't the auction I want to hear.

This post has been edited by gnasher: 2009-March-22, 14:48

[dburn]

Don't mind 1♥ if 1♣ shows 3+ - rather less likely that we ought to play in clubs in those circumstances. Would certainly bid 2♣ if 1♣ showed 2+, though - if partner has anything, we might make 3NT, and it is important to show these clubs in that context.

Mind you, one advantage of 1♥ is that it will make it easier for the opponents to find a 4-4 spade fit; my hand suggests that on this occasion I would not greatly mind if they did that, and nor would my partner. If my spades and my diamonds were interchanged, the case for 2♣ would be enhanced, since now I might be more concerned about making it easier for the opponents to find any spade fit they have.

[hanp]

The opponents were Nickell and Freeman, I think they play 1C shows 3+ but I am not 100% sure.

Diamond bid 2C. He never mentioned hearts but they had a club fit and not a heart fit so no disaster.

[Gerben42]

I'm going to bid 2♣. I usually don't have that luxury, and ♥ can wait as the auction does not ALWAYS go 2♠ 4♠ next.

[Fluffy]

1♥ wtp in my style since 2♣ tends to deny 5 card major, would also bid 1♥ over 1♦.

[Codo]

I would join the minority and bid my longest suit.