[jillybean]

No, don't answer that but tell me, would you overcall 2♠ , 2nd seat, vulnerable with;

Q987642, xx, Qx, Jx (MP)

[Jlall]

I definitely would not

[Cascade]

over what?

[Jlall]

Cascade, on Apr 11 2010, 11:58 PM, said:

over what?

Does it affect your decision or are you just curious? (just wondering if you would overcall over 1C but not 1H or something).

[jillybean]

Cascade, on Apr 11 2010, 09:58 PM, said:

over what?

good question , 1♥

[Siegmund]

Equal I might try it but probably wish I hadnt afterward. Vul vs not would be a terrible idea.

[jjbrr]

this is the type of garbage i like to overcall 1♠ with but not anything higher.

[jdonn]

No way 2♠. Having a 7th spade doesn't make up for having no top tricks, no shortness, and a bad suit. Just think of how you will feel if you get penalty passed in 2♠.

[P_Marlowe]

Hi,

I think the hand is too weak red vs. green, and is borderline
at equal vul., so the answer is, it depends.

But after 1H, you also have the opportunity to bid 1S.

With kind regards
Marlowe

PS: The above does not really take MP into account, playing MP
it also depends on the field, I think the risk getting Xed in a average
field is low, so ..., but playing in a high end field, the risk is higher,
although than you may be able to get away with it anyway, once in
a while, because they would assume a stronger hand.

[helene_t]

2♠ is OK with me. Would not do it against 1♥ (if they play 5cM) or 1♣ (if they play 4cM), and not red vs white.

Would not bid 1♠ under any circumstances.

[Cascade]

Jlall, on Apr 12 2010, 06:03 PM, said:

Cascade, on Apr 11 2010, 11:58 PM, said:

over what?

Does it affect your decision or are you just curious? (just wondering if you would overcall over 1C but not 1H or something).

Kathryn said overcall rather than jump overcall so I wondered whether this was over 1NT or something at the two-level.

But probably mostly I was curious.

The suit opened makes some difference.

If I was xx in the suit opened then I would be more inclined than when I am Qx in the suit opened. I would also be more inclined over a minor opening which could be short than over a more precisely defined 1♥ showing a five-card suit.

I suspect at MPs where frequency is more important than the size of any potential disaster that this is close depending on whether hearts or a minor is opened and whether or not the opponents are vulnerable.

It may even be ok at any vulnerability. A simulation suggested that there were 7+ tricks more than 55-60% of the time. Given that the opponents will not catch us every time we are wrong that bidding could easily work often enough.

[gwnn]

I will risk 1S. If partner forces to game I will often make it. I am not happy with acting on 0 controls but 2S is disgusting red at MP and so is pass with a 7 card suit..

[vuroth]

Why is passing with 7222, no ace, no king disgusting?

[lmilne]

Would never act unless favourable, might bid 2S or 3S at fav.
Maybe 1S at nil. I don't see what the upshot is though.

[gwnn]

vuroth, on Apr 12 2010, 01:10 PM, said:

Why is passing with 7222, no ace, no king disgusting?

bidding 1S over 1H is the single most profitable action at bridge, it has more upsides than doubling 7NT with AK when you are on lead.

[655321]

Cascade, on Apr 12 2010, 05:46 AM, said:

It may even be ok at any vulnerability.  A simulation suggested that there were 7+ tricks more than 55-60% of the time. Given that the opponents will not catch us every time we are wrong that bidding could easily work often enough.

Not sure that statistic provides enough information to conclude that.

It does seem to argue against bidding at the 2 level (no surprise) because 40-45% of the time we make 6 or fewer tricks, and presumably some of the time we make 7 or 8 tricks partner has raised, and we are making our 7 or 8 tricks in 4♠X.

[655321]

vuroth, on Apr 12 2010, 08:10 AM, said:

Why is passing with 7222, no ace, no king disgusting?

Well, doesn't it depend on your attitude towards bidding? If you feel that passing is always the default action, you only bid when you have a hand that is ideal for bidding. If you want to be bidding as often as possible, you will often bid with hands that have some flaw. And, it is not just a cliche, bridge really is a bidder's game.

On this particular hand, overcalling vulnerable at the 2 level is very risky - with no tricks, you will often go for a number. So if you do want to bid (and you do have seven spades), 1♠ offers a compromise between the friendly pass and the suicidal jump overcall.

[jillybean]

Holding AT, J8, AK754, A853 I bid 3♦ over rho's 2♠.

1♥ (2♠) 3♦ (P)
3♥ (P) 4♥* I need to find a better bid here.

Surprisingly, or not, the 2♠ overcall was made at several (BBO) tables, I think it is horrid.

[helene_t]

I think your 4♥ bid was fine.

[P_Marlowe]

jillybean, on Apr 12 2010, 09:17 AM, said:

Holding AT, J8, AK754, A853 I bid 3♦ over rho's 2♠.

1♥ (2♠) 3♦ (P)
3♥ (P) 4♥* I need to find a better bid here.

Surprisingly, or not, the 2♠ overcall was made at several (BBO) tables, I think it is horrid.

The alternative to 4H is 3S.

You did create a gf with 3D, since you are have a very control rich
hand, you should make a move toward slam.
3S should agree heart, it is not clear, if 3S is already a cue, that
depends partially on the meaning of 4C, if 4C is natural, i.e. showes
a two suiter, than 3S is just a general force, and may not be a cue.

With kind regards
Marlowe