[P_Marlowe]

Hi,

as MikeH already said, it depends a lot on partnership style,
what is a rock bottom minimum.
That depends also, what is the max. strength for a one level
overcall. As I started to play bridge, I used to play, that one level
overcalls were limited to 15HCP, I learned to play in Ireland
10 years ago, so this style may either be out dated or a European
(Acol) thing.
I now play, that one level overcalls can be stronger, but how much
is partnership style.

One should also keep in mind, that partner holds spades,
which means, it is less risky to make a strength takeout X
than would be the case, holding hearts.

With kind regards
Marlowe

PS: For me partner shows a nice opening hand, one Ace (+ something)
above average, i.e. for me chances that we can make game are remote,
and game wont often be better than 30-40%, break even playing IMP's
and being red, and often wont have any play whats so ever.

[han]

I believe that I was the 2♠ bidder. I won't say what I would have done with Arend's hand, but I will comment on our style.

Quote

AKJxx....AKxx....x....Qxx

This is a 1♠ overcall for us, not even close.

Quote

AKQxxx KQx xx Kx, AKJxxx AJx x Kxx

I agree that these two are absolute minimums. Give me the same hands with the red suits switched and I think that I would overcall (for example AKJxxx x AJx Kxx).

[FrancesHinden]

Some people would double 1D on a 16/17 count with 5 decent spades, others would overcall 1S.

For me, double then bid 2S shows a seriously good hand, but it's not forcing. We have a strange hand opposite: the difficulty is that partner won't expect 4-card trump support. We would also raise to 3S with a doubleton (or trebleton) trump and more HCP.

I would also raise to 3S, but I could possibly be persauded to bid 4 if I have one of my regular partners opposite. The DK is not necessarily wasted, because partner hasn't necessarily shown diamond shortage with this sequence. Give partner AKxxxx Axx QJx x (which is not nearly enough for a 2S bid the way I play) and you are likely to make 4S. Change my DK to the HK and I'd definitely bid 4.

[paulg]

I'm tempted to bid 3♦ and let partner decide if diamond values are wasted.

p

[cherdano]

I think Phil and Frances have it right for our style, it's between 3S and 4S. Pass is certainly out.

Han had ♠AKJT65 ♥KJ9 ♦Ax ♣Qx. You bet the judge whether you want to be in this game.
We ended up in 4S making, as LHO led from ♦T9x instead of ♣xx with Qx as trump holding (and because they never lead a heart through, saving Han from a guess he would have gotten right anyway).

Arend

[luke warm]

that would be a good time for opening leader to underlead the ♥A (i assume he had it for his bid)... he may have also had the queen though

so the contract was cold?

[han]

luke warm, on May 29 2006, 09:41 AM, said:

so the contract was cold?

With the given defense it was Han-proof, but as Arend pointed out, three rounds of clubs beats it.

[civill]

Invite to 4♠,