[gnasher]

The closest I could get to a hand that would pass and then bid 3♦ is Kx KQxx x xxxxxx. Even that looks like a 2♣ bid on the previous round, though.

Some time ago (probably in the 1980s, when most bridge writers were insane) I remember reading a suggestion that you should pass partner's overcall with a reasonable hand, primary support and shortage in an unbid suit. Because opener is likely to be be short enough in the overcalled suit to have to reopen, and the opponents are then likely to bid your shortage, the idea was to use a delayed cue-bid to show shortage in their suit, leading to sequences like:

  1♦ 1♠ pass pass
  dbl pass 2♣ 3♣
  pass 4♠

[jdonn]

I personally don't see the point of 3♦, am I hoping partner bids 3NT so I can pass it? If I passed first I would simplify things with 4♠ now.

[pooltuna]

jdonn, on Oct 7 2009, 10:46 AM, said:

I personally don't see the point of 3♦, am I hoping partner bids 3NT so I can pass it? If I passed first I would simplify things with 4♠ now.

I'm not sure why I need to be so unilateral and why 3♠ does not show this hand. I really don't want to punish partner for just bidding competitively.

[jdonn]

I will assume it is my attractive avatar that gets me quoted so often even when I am not the first in the thread to voice the same opinion.

I further enjoy having debates about positions that I have already made clear I would never find myself in.

[Cascade]

While I was far from convinced that PASS was best, I am a bit surprised by the near unanimity of 1NT.

Depending on the style of overcalls a 1NT response could easily have two flaws:

1. Insufficient values

2. No stopper

This could easily be one flaw too many.

[Jlall]

Cascade, on Oct 8 2009, 03:54 AM, said:

While I was far from convinced that PASS was best, I am a bit surprised by the near unanimity of 1NT.

Depending on the style of overcalls a 1NT response could easily have two flaws:

1. Insufficient values

2. No stopper

This could easily be one flaw too many.

I respectfully do not understand how 10 HCP could be considered too few to advance with 1N in this auction.

[Cascade]

Jlall, on Oct 8 2009, 08:57 PM, said:

Cascade, on Oct 8 2009, 03:54 AM, said:

While I was far from convinced that PASS was best, I am a bit surprised by the near unanimity of 1NT.

Depending on the style of overcalls a 1NT response could easily have two flaws:

1. Insufficient values

2. No stopper

This could easily be one flaw too many.

I respectfully do not understand how 10 HCP could be considered too few to advance with 1N in this auction.

How light do you bid 1♠ with a five-card suit? (in a fairly balanced hand)

[OleBerg]

Cascade, on Oct 8 2009, 11:02 AM, said:

Jlall, on Oct 8 2009, 08:57 PM, said:

Cascade, on Oct 8 2009, 03:54 AM, said:

While I was far from convinced that PASS was best, I am a bit surprised by the near unanimity of 1NT.

Depending on the style of overcalls a 1NT response could easily have two flaws:

1. Insufficient values

2. No stopper

This could easily be one flaw too many.

I respectfully do not understand how 10 HCP could be considered too few to advance with 1N in this auction.

How light do you bid 1♠ with a five-card suit? (in a fairly balanced hand)

I do not consider pass outrageous. My partners freely overcall on 9 HCP and a semi decent suit, so the opponents might hold the balance. Still they might also do that when I reply 1NT on 6 HCP, and my partner holds 11. So I would definately bid 1NT. Remove the jacks and intermidiates, and pass would be a LA.

When partner bids 2♠, I fully concur with 3♦, and will respect a signoff in 3♠.

[hanp]

Cascade, on Oct 8 2009, 04:02 AM, said:

Jlall, on Oct 8 2009, 08:57 PM, said:

Cascade, on Oct 8 2009, 03:54 AM, said:

While I was far from convinced that PASS was best, I am a bit surprised by the near unanimity of 1NT.

Depending on the style of overcalls a 1NT response could easily have two flaws:

1. Insufficient values

2. No stopper

This could easily be one flaw too many.

I respectfully do not understand how 10 HCP could be considered too few to advance with 1N in this auction.

How light do you bid 1♠ with a five-card suit? (in a fairly balanced hand)

How heavy do you bid 1NT? (as a passed hand)

[655321]

Cascade, on Oct 8 2009, 04:02 AM, said:

Jlall, on Oct 8 2009, 08:57 PM, said:

Cascade, on Oct 8 2009, 03:54 AM, said:

While I was far from convinced that PASS was best, I am a bit surprised by the near unanimity of 1NT.

Depending on the style of overcalls a 1NT response could easily have two flaws:

1. Insufficient values

2. No stopper

This could easily be one flaw too many.

I respectfully do not understand how 10 HCP could be considered too few to advance with 1N in this auction.

How light do you bid 1♠ with a five-card suit? (in a fairly balanced hand)

What is your maximum for a 1♠ overcall with a five-card suit? (in a fairly balanced hand)

[andy_h]

With the added note of (not really great but) 1♦ was opened in 3rd seat. But there are many many decent hands where game is cold if partner has an opening hand with say 54 majors or 6♠ or 5-5 in the blacks or maybe 1NT actually turns out to be a better partial.

[jdonn]

Jlall, on Oct 8 2009, 03:57 AM, said:

Cascade, on Oct 8 2009, 03:54 AM, said:

While I was far from convinced that PASS was best, I am a bit surprised by the near unanimity of 1NT.

Depending on the style of overcalls a 1NT response could easily have two flaws:

1. Insufficient values

2. No stopper

This could easily be one flaw too many.

I respectfully do not understand how 10 HCP could be considered too few to advance with 1N in this auction.

I wonder the same thing. I could imagine an agreement (even though I would consider it inferior) that 10 was too good for 1NT, but not too bad for 1NT. Who would have guessed?

[dake50]

I've already opened 1H so rebid 1N.

[Cascade]

My intention was not to suggest that 10 HCP was under strength for a 1NT bid but that in combination with light overcalls the combined strength of this hand and partner's might be insufficient for a successful 1NT contract. And that this combined with not having a stopper in the opponent's suit is too many flaws.

I am fully aware that PASS risks over problems when partner is maximum for the overcall.

[hanp]

While it is true that partner might have a 7-count or sometimes even less, when RHO passes it is usually not the case that partner is very light. It could be, but I think the upsides of bidding (reaching game, and putting partner in a better competitive position by describing our hand) considerably outweigh the downsides.