[Free]

2NT is out of the question because of the possibility of losing the ♠ fit completely. Starting with 1♥ is probably the easiest, but I'd double because I don't like overcalling crappy suits.

[the hog]

Just saw this. I think 1H = 10, x = 7 and everything else = 0. I really don't understand a 2C bid or a 2NT bid at all.

[Flameous]

If pard was a passed hand, I'd have a lot more sympathy for 2C. Now I'm bit torn between X and 1H, but I think I'd go with 1H. With X partner won't usually play me for this shapely hand and I don't have describing bids to make later.

[jdeegan]

I would double at the table, but I think it is close with 1♥ and 2♣ both possible.

[helene_t]

I double but 1♥ is fine, too. 2♣ is at least better than pass which I don't think 2NT is.

[Fluffy]

The_Hog, on Oct 6 2010, 08:19 AM, said:

Just saw this. I think 1H = 10, x = 7 and everything else = 0. I really don't understand a 2C bid or a 2NT bid at all.

2NT focuses on our 2 most likelly fits and preempts the opponents at the same time, not the best constructive method, but I though at least you would see the destructive benefits.

[the hog]

Fluffy, on Oct 7 2010, 05:07 PM, said:

The_Hog, on Oct 6 2010, 08:19 AM, said:

Just saw this. I think 1H = 10, x = 7 and everything else = 0. I really don't understand a 2C bid or a 2NT bid at all.

2NT focuses on our 2 most likelly fits and preempts the opponents at the same time, not the best constructive method, but I though at least you would see the destructive benefits.

I take the point, but the poor H suit is just too much. Look at the disparity in the black suits and your hearts, Fluffy.

By the way, been thinking about this and I now believe x should be demoted to 4, not 6 as I originally said. It is a poor call and I would be disappointed if my partner found it at the table. He was far better than that!

[bid_em_up]

TylerE, on Oct 5 2010, 09:29 AM, said:

2♣=10
1♥=9
X=7
2N=2
Pass=0

Arrrrgggggghhhhhh.

[skjaeran]

1♥ is obvious to me.
Double is not an option to me - I'll never be able to descirve my hand afterwards, 2♣ neither. And I'd never bid 2NT with these spades in hand....

[Phil]

TylerE, on Oct 5 2010, 08:29 AM, said:

2♣=10
1♥=9
X=7
2N=2
Pass=0

Assigning scores to a problem does not lend any legitimacy to an answer.

[bid_em_up]

Phil, on Oct 7 2010, 04:52 PM, said:

TylerE, on Oct 5 2010, 08:29 AM, said:

2♣=10
1♥=9
X=7
2N=2
Pass=0

Assigning scores to a problem does not lend any legitimacy to an answer.

wtf?

Even if you think the scoring/ranking is incorrect (and I'll agree that it is, imo), it's simply one person's way of showing how they would evaluate each bid.

Not sure why you would make this comment, unless you want the reasoning for each score assignment provided as well.

[Little Kid]

1♥, wouldn't really want to bid anything else.

[jdonn]

Btw I sometimes put down Mike Lawrences books on overcalls and balancing as too old and out of date. But his page and a half section in Overcalls about why it's right to overcall 1♥ over 1m on some hand like x 65432 AQxx AKx had a huge influence on me and I still remember it clearly. His points are accurate and I believe tons of bridge players could improve their defensive bidding a lot simply by reading that one small section of that book.

[blackshoe]

Max Hardy thought it was important enough to reprint in his last two book series on 2/1.

[nige1]

cardsharp, on Oct 5 2010, 08:10 AM, said:

IMPS East/Both ♠ AKx ♥ 9xxxx ♦- ♣ KQJxx
(1♦) ??
The poll is really a test to see whether this is a suitable problem for a magazine.

Carsharp's problem is hard but IMO ...

• _X = 10. Treating the hand as if it were 3415.
  
• 2♣ = 9. Intending to double or bid ♥ next.
  
• 2N = 8. Overemphasising ♥ and
  Risking the loss of a ♠ fit unless you are prepared to bid 3♠ later
  
• 1♥ = 7. Exaggerating ♥ quality, directing the wrong lead, and making next round action difficult.

This post has been edited by nige1: 2010-October-11, 10:35

[nige1]

TylerE, on Oct 5 2010, 08:29 AM, said:

2♣=10 1♥=9 X=7 2N=2 Pass=0

Phil, on Oct 7 2010, 03:52 PM, said:

Assigning scores to a problem does not lend any legitimacy to an answer.

bid_em_up, on Oct 7 2010, 04:05 PM, said:

wtf?
Even if you think the scoring/ranking is incorrect (and I'll agree that it is, imo), it's simply one person's way of showing how they would evaluate each bid. Not sure why you would make this comment, unless you want the reasoning for each score assignment provided as well.

I agree with Bid-em-up. Assigning marks to calls gives a rough indication of how close decisions are. For instance, a player often knows that he made an unfashionable call. He polls to find out ...

• What other calls players deem worth consideration and
  
• How badly they rate his actual choice.

Replies like "3N. No second choice. wtp?" seem unhelpful
Bidding has improved over the years but fashion is fickle. For example

• In the UK, in the early days, a double of 1N was for takeout but Reese, Mollo et al laughed at this, so the fashion changed to penalty. Now takeout doubles are back a la mode.
  
• The bridge-international and number-theorist, Swinnerton-Dyer was a maverick panellist in the Bridge Magazine Bidding Poll, decades ahead of his time. Nowadays, his efforts would be unremarkable and he would score much better in a modern poll.

[rhm]

The_Hog, on Oct 7 2010, 05:19 AM, said:

Fluffy, on Oct 7 2010, 05:07 PM, said:

The_Hog, on Oct 6 2010, 08:19 AM, said:

Just saw this. I think 1H = 10, x = 7 and everything else = 0. I really don't understand a 2C bid or a 2NT bid at all.

2NT focuses on our 2 most likelly fits and preempts the opponents at the same time, not the best constructive method, but I though at least you would see the destructive benefits.

I take the point, but the poor H suit is just too much. Look at the disparity in the black suits and your hearts, Fluffy.

By the way, been thinking about this and I now believe x should be demoted to 4, not 6 as I originally said. It is a poor call and I would be disappointed if my partner found it at the table. He was far better than that!

I, as almost anybody else, overcall with 3-5 in the majors, but...

I wonder how you feel when you overcall 1♥ and LHO jump raises ♦.
Is this unexpected??. Anything but DBL is likely to loose the ♠ for good.
I expect ♦ to get raised, perhaps vigorously and I feel more comfortable with DBL, one reason is because I am not that keen to get raised on 3 cards in ♥. (Though that could work out if you get lucky.)
The 1♥ overcall is a great bid if LHO will pass. Fat chance!

Rainer Herrmann

[paulg]

On the actual hand you have a 9-card heart fit that will probably get lost if you overcall 2♣, but that was largely irrelevant for the problem itself.

Thanks all

Paul

[Free]

jdonn, on Oct 7 2010, 10:58 PM, said:

Btw I sometimes put down Mike Lawrences books on overcalls and balancing as too old and out of date. But his page and a half section in Overcalls about why it's right to overcall 1♥ over 1m on some hand like x 65432 AQxx AKx had a huge influence on me and I still remember it clearly. His points are accurate and I believe tons of bridge players could improve their defensive bidding a lot simply by reading that one small section of that book.

I found the section online (Look Inside pages 15-20) and it's indeed convincing. Thanks!

[bid_em_up]

To me, X is best, it keeps all options in play. If partner can bid hearts, we can practically drive to game, it keeps both spades and clubs in the picture, and yes, even a penalty pass by partner. It's not like we don't have decent defensive prospects. This is the best of all worlds, imo.

2♣ offers our best suit, and the suit we want led, but likely loses both the heart and spade suits.

2N at least puts both our suits in play, but will lose the spade suit. Partner is also liable to choose 3H on three weak hearts (over three bad clubs), and it will probably fare poorly.

1♥ is awful (imo). We do not want a heart led. Hearts are unlikely to play well unless partner has four hearts (which double will find out anyway), or three good ones. Imagine partner raising on Qxx. We're likely to be tapped immediately @ trick one, and will be hard pressed to draw trumps without losing control of the hand.

I've looked at the info by Lawrence on bad suit overcalls. I didn't see a single example where X or another good 5 card suit is available as an alternative. Most all examples entailed something like (1♣)-1♥ on xx 98742 AKx AQx where you can't make a takeout double.

jmoo.