[DrTodd13]

(1♦)-X-(1♠)-P-(1N/2♣/2♦)-2♠

Who can make a case for 2♠ being natural? I ran into a hand today where I would have liked it to be the case but didn't want to confuse partner so I passed.

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[blackshoe]

You doubled with one of three hand types:

1. A "classic" takeout double, short in diamonds, roughly opening values or better, support for the unbid suits.
2. A hand too strong for a simple overcall.
3. A "rock crusher" 3 suiter, one with which Goren would have cue bid.

You didn't cue bid diamonds, so you don't have type 3. You did bid a new suit, so you almost certainly have type 2. So 2 spades is natural. With luck, you might even make it. :-)

[Echognome]

I'm a 1♠ overcaller. Yeah it's heavy, but not by a lot. I can then double later confident that partner knows I have spades. Whether 2♠ is natural now, I can see the argument for it to be. But I understand your reluctance to take the chance.

[Free]

I'm also a 1♠ overcaller, the Double will come later...

[hatchett]

A bid of 2♠ by either you now or by your partner on the first round should be natural.

A very strong classic take-out double shape can double a 2♣ rebid for penalties or a 2♦ rebid for more take-out.

[FrancesHinden]

2♠ on the second round is certainly natural, showing a good hand.
On your actual hand I would have overcalled 1♠ on the first round as it happens, but make the hand slightly stronger and that's exactly what this sequence shows - a hand too good to overcall spades on the first round.

[neilkaz]

For me, this hand is 1HCP too good to overcall since due to its potential I fear PD will pass hands where we have game and with this many HCP, I may not be saved by the opps coming back into the auction. There are plenty of random 17 HCP hands where I'll overcall but this is too strong for me.

So 2♠ here is 100% natural and also some prevention from 1♠ being somewhat of a psyche by responder.

If I have a monster 3 suiter I can double again or Q bid ♦ depending on agreement with PD as to which shows a decent hand with really long ♦ and which suits bid by responder where my double may be penalty.

If I have a real good hand with a few ♦'s I may have been able to overcall 1NT.

[pclayton]

I think 2♠ is natural. 2♦ (you can never have ♦'s here) can be the cue.

[cherdano]

Jlall, on Dec 2 2006, 04:03 PM, said:

2S is 100 % natural.

Only? Shows pretty good spades, so I would give it 150%

[MFA]

2♠ is natural of course. What else should it be?

D+♠ and 1♠ overcall are both ok, I think.

My partner and I love to bid the opponents' suits. Try this one from last Sunday:

(1♥) - pass - (1NT) - pass,
(pass) - 2♥! - (pass) - 3♥!!,
all pass.

9 tricks. (No, 1♥ wasn't bluff :-))