[Jlall]

2 similar double or overcall situations:

1: R/R imps, AQJxx --- Kxxx Qxxx. RHO opens 2H.

2: R/R imps, Axx AJxxx AQT xx. RHO opens 3C.

[Phil]

2S on #1. I expect a 3♥ raise and I will x that.

Double on #2. I hate my heart suit for an overcall, but it may be right.

[shyams]

Dbl on both

The first seems automatic
The second is trickier because partner may bid 3D, which I will have to pass (I have no agreement to play my 3H rebid as no extra values) OR partner may bid 3S which i definitely have to pass

[Apollo81]

2♠ on first as my major is both better and longer than my other suits.

Double on second, we've got less room here to investigate, and my hearts won't play that well opposite anything less than Qxx (or maybe Txx)

[karlson]

I overcall on both.

The first seems automatic. On the second, I think it's just too unlikely that spades is better, the biggest upside is if we're really in trouble and need to find the safest spot, or if partner can pass the double (very tempting to double if partner is an aggressive passer).

[Echognome]

2♠ on the first one. The suit quality makes we feel this is the right call.

Dbl on the second one. The heart suit isn't good enough to overcall on.

[OleBerg]

Echognome, on Aug 10 2009, 11:28 PM, said:

2♠ on the first one.  The suit quality makes we feel this is the right call.

Dbl on the second one.  The heart suit isn't good enough to overcall on.

I echo Gnome.

[Hanoi5]

Double on the second one is quite clear. First one, I'm not so sure, 2♠ might be better.

[nigel_k]

Overcall on both.

Obviously we have a mediocre suit on the second one but our goals are different when they preempt compared to when they open at the one level. 3♥ is the right way to bid constructively and find our best strain.

[655321]

1) 2♠, prepared to double 4♥ if LHO bids it.

2) 3♥. Don't like to double with 2 card discrepancy in major suit length unless there is no alternative. And on this hand, if we belong in 4♠ partner will often be able to bid 3♠ over 3♥.

[aguahombre]

Karlson, Nigel,65, and (almost) Phil.... I agree. Overcall on both. Double on #2 could get just as ugly as 3H could.

[TimG]

Two overcalls for me; 2nd one is close.

[peachy]

First overcall, second I am not sure which is better, but probably overcall.

[WesleyC]

1. 2S is obvious with such a good suit.

2. Double. Prefer flexibility at the 3 level with a flimsy heart suit. Also maintains the small chance of a penalty pass.

[Fluffy]

I'd double the second one for sure, that suit is not worth a 3 level overcall.

On the first it is closer, I think Phil is on the right track that we should bid spades to double latter, if we think we are strong enough.

I don't think so, so I double as on first.

Unsurprisingly off-field

[Free]

Dbl on the first, overcall on the second. I was surprised many do the exact opposite

[ochinko]

aguahombre, on Aug 11 2009, 02:27 AM, said:

Karlson, Nigel,65,  and (almost) Phil.... I agree.  Overcall on both. Double on #2 could get just as ugly as 3H could.

I am with these guys here.

[phil_20686]

I think that the first hand is a clear 2s bid. With the spades so good the advantage of playing game in a lower level seem to me to outweigh the advantages of dble. Dble seems to win most often when the bidding stays, low. If your lho bids 3 or 4h hearts, partner might not bid even with a hand that you would like to play in 5 minor, reckoning that you are most likely to have a weak nt and maybe only 3 or possibly Hx in his minor. If you are prepared to double a second time with this hand, it is surely right to bid spades first and then double. It seems like the advantage of finding game in a 5-3 fit far outweighs the disadvantage of sometimes missing a minor suit fit. With your hand so weak its reasonably rare for you to miss game when partner passes 2s, which is the principle danger i think.

There is also the question of whether you play 2h 2s 4h x as penalties, values, or t/o. This may affect your willing ness to double later.

I'm an (over) bidder, i am prepared to double later with thsi hand, so i will bid 2s now.

The second hand is much more difficult. I would double here I think. Despite the disparity of suit length, i dont see the issue as necessarily one of finding the right strain. Im not sure that either 3h or x is any better for that, but i am very concerned that if i bid 3h, and it is the right strain, partner will raise me too agressively. 3h is a very wide ranging bid, and partner is guaranteed to raise on Hxx in hearts and an outside ace, and that might not be pretty. There is a huge difference in playing strenght between the hand you ahve and teh hand x KQxxxx KQxx Kx, which is probably typical for a 3h bid.

[pooltuna]

Jlall, on Aug 10 2009, 03:02 PM, said:

2 similar double or overcall situations:

1: R/R imps, AQJxx --- Kxxx Qxxx. RHO opens 2H.

2: R/R imps, Axx AJxxx AQT xx. RHO opens 3C.

1) while I have good distribution I want to slow partner down a little bit so I am inclined to call 2♠

2) the chances for 3NT or a major suit game are not negligible so I will X

[skjaeran]

OleBerg, on Aug 10 2009, 11:38 PM, said:

Echognome, on Aug 10 2009, 11:28 PM, said:

2♠ on the first one.  The suit quality makes we feel this is the right call.

Dbl on the second one.  The heart suit isn't good enough to overcall on.

I echo Gnome.

Me too.