[cherdano]

Your RHO opens 1♣ at IMPs, noone vulnerable. You hold
♠AQJx ♥Kx ♦QJxx ♣T9x.

You don't normally make off-shape takeout doubles. You don't normally make 4-card overcalls. You don't normally pass with 13 hcp outside opener's suit.

What abnormal action do you take?

In case it matters: You play fairly pretty standard methods after a takeout double (partner can jump to 2 of his suit with 4 cards and 9-11 pts, cue-bid would be forcing until suit agreement) and Rubens transfer advances after an overcall.

Arend

[awm]

I would never double with this hand -- if forced to bid I am bidding 1♠. But I don't see anything really wrong with a pass here at IMPs. Often the bidding continues with 1♥ from LHO and 2♥ on my right, and I have an easy takeout double.

[Rebound]

awm, on Nov 7 2005, 02:43 AM, said:

I would never double with this hand -- if forced to bid I am bidding 1♠. But I don't see anything really wrong with a pass here at IMPs. Often the bidding continues with 1♥ from LHO and 2♥ on my right, and I have an easy takeout double.

Agreed. I would normally pass (90% of the time), but if I choose to make a call, it will be 1♠ - the usual "but I'm no expert" disclaimer applies

[Chamaco]

I bid 1S, even if I am not a frequent 4 card overcaller.
The suit quality hopefully compensate.
I am much more worried of holding T9x in clubs than of having 1 less card in spades.

1) With this hand type I might never get to show values if I pass.
On the other hand, when I double offshape, I like to have extra hcp to compensate for the deviant shape, and this is not the case

2) 1S overcall deprives opps of an entire level of bidding


3) 1S suggests a good lead to pard.

[joker_gib]

Pass or 1♠ but I will never dbl with that. (I voted 1♠)

Alain

[bearmum]

will NEVER double so HAVE to bid 1♠ because it best describes my hand (and in f2f if challenged will say "sorry P I had a ♣ in with my ♠s" --- just joking )

[helene_t]

Pass does not deny this strength and an almost-biddable suit, but I would bid 1♠ allthough I don't usually overcall with four.

[Walddk]

Pass is clear to me. Double is out of the question (I am stuck if partner responds 1♥), and I rarely overcall on 4-card suits. Partner will never know how high he can compete, and I will not know if his raise is based on 3 or 4-card support.

Pass does not deny a hand like this. It only denies that you have a hand suitable for anything else.

Roland

[Gerben42]

Only possible choices are 1♠ and Pass.
Which one you choose depends on your style. Mine is to bid 1♠.

[pclayton]

1♠ has a lot going for it.

The only drawback I can see is one of the main reasons for overcalling 1♠ is for the lead, but if we overcall 1♠ against a ♥ conract, there's a good chance that RHO will end up playing hearts after (dbl) - pass.....

If I pass, I will not bid at the 2 level in a live auction. Its very difficult for the opponents to penalize you with power and a 4 card stack, but a penalty is routine after:

(1♣)......Pass.....(1♥).....Pass
(2♥).....Double......(redouble)........

Further, when we overcall and pard raises on 3, it is also tougher to get penalized, as doubles by the opponents become 'action'.

[han]

Agree with Gerben.

[luis]

Pass but I would probably bid 1♠ with 4 clubs and 3 diamonds (!)

There's an interesting study that says that the worst holding you can have in your had to make an overcall is 3 low cards in the suit they just opened. So with xxx in clubs I pass this hand quickly, I've been experimenting passing when I have xxx in their suit in hands where the normal action seems to be an overcall, I got mixed results so I can't make a definitive conclusion on the topic, I'm still experimenting.

[han]

luis, on Nov 7 2005, 12:19 PM, said:

Pass but I would probably bid 1♠ with 4 clubs and 3 diamonds (!)

There's an interesting study that says that the worst holding you can have in your had to make an overcall is 3 low cards in the suit they just opened. So with xxx in clubs I pass this hand quickly, I've been experimenting passing when I have xxx in their suit in hands where the normal action seems to be an overcall, I got mixed results so I can't make a definitive conclusion on the topic, I'm still experimenting.

That's very interesting and it makes sense. I assume that you only follow this guideline when you think it is close between passing and overcalling.

[hatchett]

Double is impossible with only 2 hearts and weak no trump values. I try and avoid 4 card overcalls so would pass, but don't hate 1♠

[luis]

Hannie, on Nov 7 2005, 05:28 PM, said:

luis, on Nov 7 2005, 12:19 PM, said:

Pass but I would probably bid 1♠ with 4 clubs and 3 diamonds (!)

There's an interesting study that says that the worst holding you can have in your had to make an overcall is 3 low cards in the suit they just opened. So with xxx in clubs I pass this hand quickly, I've been experimenting passing when I have xxx in their suit in hands where the normal action seems to be an overcall, I got mixed results so I can't make a definitive conclusion on the topic, I'm still experimenting.

That's very interesting and it makes sense. I assume that you only follow this guideline when you think it is close between passing and overcalling.

Yes whenever I think I can either pass or overcall I pass with xxx in the suit opened, but I've also experimented with not overcalling hands where an overcall is clearly marked with xxx in their suit. As I sad I got mixed results, if you want to try for yourself I would love to get some feedback :-)

[inquiry]

1♠ - loosen up, overcall on four (and gasp, 3 card suits) every now and then. It is good for the soul.

[P_Marlowe]

Dbl is out, so this leaves 1S or Pass,
I will go with 1S.

Marlowe

[Al_U_Card]

This hand is a take out double if take out means take out a gun and shoot me if I double with this hand.....I would pass against good opps and bid 1S against a weaker pair