[1eyedjack]

Just a question for the floor, this.

I have noticed that when LHO GIB overcalls my 1N with 2C to show an unspecified single-suiter, my partner GIB, if it had a game-going hand, will never pass in order to wait to find out what the overcaller's suit is, but will immediately make whatever bid it would have made over a natural overcall in some imaginary suit. Frequently that bid will be 3N, sometimes with a small doubleton, trusting that opener will have all suits covered

I am not sure that this is best strategy. Not saying that it isn't best - I really am not sure.

On the plus side,

1) it inhibits opponents finding a fit and potentially lucrative sacrifice if overcaller is denied the opportunity to clarify the location of his suit.
2) on the rare occasion that overcaller's partner is left on lead, he has to guess partner's suit.
3) very rarely, by passing you risk it being passed out in 2C

On the minus side

4) you cannot cue the opponent's suit when in doubt, if that suit is hot specified.
5) Most of the time overcaller's partner will correctly guess the suit when it is necessary for him to commit, and that will seldom be on opening lead
6) The assumption, that opener can guard whatever suit is held by opener, is flawed.

What say y'all? What do you do in F2F?

[mycroft]

FtF, over ART F 2♣: systems on immediately, X is Keri (for those still playing Stayman, I guess you could do that).
after P, next round, we play "overcall system on", including Lebensohl.

I get to decide which way I want to play, or can bid on if I'd rather bury their suit, and pass if I want to find out about it.

Of course, I got a call in Penticton where the caller asked for "protection" because the auction went 1NT-2♣ Cappelletti-p-p-p; "it's forcing isn't it, dummy has to bid 2♦ to find the suit?". I suggested (after it was obvious I was right, I'm not going to look in anyone's hand) that dummy might provide a "fair number of clubs" (AKQxxx in fact). There's always that chance when you pass "knowing" you're going to get another call.