[Phil]

W/W Imps

AKxxx x KJ9x AKx

RHO opens 1♥. Whether or not you double or bid 1♠, LHO greets you with 3♥, pass, pass to you.

Choose your 1st two calls.

[Statto]

1st call double, far too good for 1♠. 2nd call 3♠...

[Fluffy]

1♠ then double for me, I need a better suit or a stronger hand to double first

[FrancesHinden]

1♠ then double
If I double on the first round (which is fine) I'd still double again on the second, I'm calling it a 3-suiter not a strong hand with spades.

[Codo]

I would have enough strength to double and bid later, but 1♠ then double is so much better in describing the hand that this is an auto choice.
And of course the choice is valid even without knowing that LHO will jump in hearts. If 1 Spade is passed out, we will have no game.

[whereagles]

X then 3S. This is more well-defined than 1S + dbl, which could be made on a balanced 17 or so.

[Phil]

BTW this hand had QJ9x of diamonds, not KJ9x. Partner held x Qxx KTxx Jxxxx. Do you think this hand should pass a double of 3♥? That is certainly the best place.

We got to 5♦ -1 when the ♣Q didn't drop.

[MrAce]

Codo, on 2012-January-28, 05:58, said:

I would have enough strength to double and bid later, but 1♠ then double is so much better in describing the hand that this is an auto choice.
And of course the choice is valid even without knowing that LHO will jump in hearts. If 1 Spade is passed out, we will have no game.

Problem is not 1♠ passed hands imo.

Dont get me wrong i am not saying in anyway or form that starting with 1♠ is wrong, in fact i probably would too. I am one of those who overcalls as if there is no hand too good to overcall (i dont overcall 1 NT with 22 hcp tho like Fluffy )

But i think here we are talking as if starting 1♠ and then doubling 2 or 3♥ describes this hand perfectly. Which is the only thing that i am not so sure about.

When we overcall and then DBL 2 or 3♥, does that mean we have prime 17-18 hcp + perfect take out dbl shape ? To me the answer is definetely not. It can be made as low as with AT9xx x Kxxx AQx (you can modify the hand if that doesnt fit your taste but i think u got my point), if it is not being made with this hand too then we will have other issues in some other boards perhaps.

When we assign such a wide range for 1 level overcall and then DBL, this puts some weight on pd to judge his hand imo. This is one of the biggest downsides to it, often pd is scared to pass when it is correct to convert this DBL or vice versa, he converts and it may end up with upset. Or wrong level or wrong suit contracts. Because unfortunately this DBL is not made only with 5431 hands, there are 6133 hands too.

I think when our suit is ♠ it is correct to start with overcall with this type of hands. If our major was ♥ and their ♠, then things change in favour of DBL for me because finding a minor fit becomes almost as important as ♥ fit then.