[sailoranch]

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Scoring is IMPs, systems are on over balancing 1NT. What is the best action here?

Thanks in advance.

[mgoetze]

Tough one. I would probably double, though that could of course go horribly wrong. But partner will hopefully stretch to respond in a major if feasible. Also, if partner responds 1NT it will probably better to play that from his side than from mine.

I would say that both 1NT and 1♥ are perfectly reasonable alternatives, though.

[Hanoi5]

Pass, double and 1NT all have their merits.

Double gets the Majors into the picture right away but the dreaded 2♣ from partner makes it less appealing.

1NT is apparently right on the values but we have a singleton and since we don't have a proper stopper in their suit we should be maximum (14HCP's).

Pass will have us defend instead of competing which doesn't sound very 'law-abiding' or just aggressive enough.

I'd take my chances at doubling.

[the hog]

Pass. Partner has not overcalled and so probably has rubbish. Don't let the opps find a far better C fit.

[daveharty]

the hog, on 2011-July-11, 05:35, said:

Partner has not overcalled and so probably has rubbish.

I'm not sure I agree with this, partner could have quite a reasonable hand that wasn't able to make an overcall, including a hand with a four card major, or a near-opener with a broken club suit that wasn't worth 2C, etc. As for WHAT to balance, double and 1NT both seem reasonable, obviously double will more often get you to your major fit if it exists but risks 2C (or 3C). I guess 1NT, it seems a decent description of the "essential nature" of the hand, but I don't feel strongly about it.

[jmcw]

I am not passing. IMO, passing is a losing strategy at the 1 level, especially when you have both Majors, opening values, and favorable vulnerability. Pass is the worse call available in this scenerio.

As others have said, DBL may get a ♣ bid from partner, on the other hand he may bid either Major or a NT, and, even if he does bid ♣ the opponents may rescue us.

I would DBL, and consider 1♥ or 1NT reasonable alternatives, I just cannot live with a pass.

[mich-b]

I would try 1NT , since singleton kings are often ok in notrumps, and though a ♦ stopper would be nice it is not 100% guaranteed.
I consider Double to be a reasonable risk, partner will have a major often enough.
I don't like 1♥ at all - my hand has many features, the ♥ suit is far from being the most significant.

[the hog]

daveharty, on 2011-July-11, 06:54, said:

I'm not sure I agree with this, partner could have quite a reasonable hand that wasn't able to make an overcall, including a hand with a four card major, or a near-opener with a broken club suit that wasn't worth 2C, etc. As for WHAT to balance, double and 1NT both seem reasonable, obviously double will more often get you to your major fit if it exists but risks 2C (or 3C). I guess 1NT, it seems a decent description of the "essential nature" of the hand, but I don't feel strongly about it.

Two points about this:
1) My partners frequently overcall on decent 4 card suits if they have values.
2) My partners strive to bid 2c over 1D to take away as much bidding space as possible. Anyway, if pd has Cs, do you really want him to bid them over a double by you?

[mgoetze]

the hog, on 2011-July-11, 19:40, said:

1) My partners frequently overcall on decent 4 card suits if they have values.

So, do you often play with beginner/intermediate partners, or why do you consider this relevant in this forum?

[mike777]

sailoranch, on 2011-July-11, 03:29, said:

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Scoring is IMPs, systems are on over balancing 1NT. What is the best action here?

Thanks in advance.

I dont know I would pass but I see many think this action is horrible.

balancing auctions are really hard

pard passed at fav vul.

[the hog]

mgoetze, on 2011-July-11, 19:46, said:

So, do you often play with beginner/intermediate partners, or why do you consider this relevant in this forum?

wtf? Do you think B/I players are brain dead? Please don't do them the discourtesy of underestimating them.

[ggwhiz]

Anything could be right (except pass) so I'll go for the 1nt that scores best if it works.

Pard (usually) has something in ♦ or a really bad hand for the first pass in which case we are probably dead anyway. Unless I pass but I'm not up to that.

[daveharty]

the hog, on 2011-July-11, 19:40, said:

Two points about this:
1) My partners frequently overcall on decent 4 card suits if they have values.
2) My partners strive to bid 2c over 1D to take away as much bidding space as possible. Anyway, if pd has Cs, do you really want him to bid them over a double by you?

I agree with both of these strategies, but sometimes partner just doesn't have the hand to take either of these actions. What is he supposed to do over 1D with something like QTxx/Kx/xx/Axxxx? Bidding 2C seems a stretch and that's not a major I would advocate overcalling. Regarding your second point, I agree completely that I wouldn't want to hear a club bid from partner, which is why I (slightly) favor 1NT, which doesn't preclude finding a major fit (but will admittedly make it more difficult).
Also disagree with those who think that pass couldn't work out on this hand, I think it definitely could be the winning action. I just think balancing will work out somewhat more often.

[mgoetze]

the hog, on 2011-July-11, 21:20, said:

wtf? Do you think B/I players are brain dead?

No, I just think almost all of them have been taught that an overcall requires 5 cards in the suit.

[P_Marlowe]

I am not sure, I find it on the table, but 1NT is ok.

In the bal. seat, stoppers, espesially if they have opened in
a minor are not that important.

The alternatives are X or 1S, if one does not like 1NT, and if
I had to choose between X and 1S, I guess, I would bid 1S.

With kind regards
Marlowe

[mgoetze]

P_Marlowe, on 2011-July-12, 03:58, said:

The alternatives are X or 1S, if one does not like 1NT, and if
I had to choose between X and 1S, I guess, I would bid 1S.

I think 1♠ is a tactical mistake.

[Phil]

I would pass.

[the hog]

mgoetze, on 2011-July-12, 03:08, said:

No, I just think almost all of them have been taught that an overcall requires 5 cards in the suit.

Probably. They are also taught no doubt that a 1NT bid should show a stopper and a balanced hand. So why are you recommending a 1NT bid. If 1M has to show 5 why are you also saying a 1H bid can be ok? Your arguments apply to your posts as well as to mine. Still think pass is best on this.