[kidburla]

Hi, I'm pretty new here, but play ACOL Duplicate Bridge regularly at a small bridge club in York, England.

A couple of nights ago I had the following hand (as North, neither side vulnerable):
2♣ 3♣ 5♣ 7♣
J♦
2♥ J♥
2♠ 3♠ 5♠ J♠ Q♠ K♠

East passes, Partner passes, West bids 1♣, indicating 15-19 points balanced. What's my action here?

I ended up passing, though wasn't sure if it was the right move. The contract ended up 3NT to the opposition, which they made exactly. Post-hand analysis with my partner seemed to indicate that passing was the right thing to do, but I'm still not sure. 3NT was a horrible contract for us, especially as I had a singleton and a doubleton. My normal opener with this hand would have been 2♠, indicating 6-10 points with 6 spades, however my 2-bid would have indicated a strong hand when following West's 1-bid.

[Robert]

Hi everyone

Welcome to the forum.

The modern style is to use weak jump overcalls rather than strong jump overcalls.

Some players use strong jump overcalls when they are vulnerable. I use them at any vulnerablity. A slightly more cautious approach is needed when vulnerable.

You might want to ask yourself whether you hold more hands with 6-10HCP or a stronger range 'after' someone opens the bidding.

Whatever works best for you should be your choice. I like weak jump overcalls and use double followed by a new suit to show a strong one suited hand.

There is a warning sign here with you holding the four small clubs. However, the possible spade fit and club shortage in partners hand is a bright spot.

Holding a fairly solid spade suit I would use a weak jump overcall in my methods.

Regards,
Robert

[neilkaz]

I would also make a WJO to 2♠ here (Weak Jump Overcall) to disrupt the opposing bidding to some extent to to make sure that PD leads a ♠.

If vulnerable with this hand opposite a passed PD with the opposition known to have one strong balanced hand, this is rather risky, but here, I think it is worth the risk since my suit is good enough to make a weak 2 opening.

Sometime this style gets hammered and you go for a telephone number, but more often the opps don't find the right contract and/or your defence is improved or they double you but would score higher if they played the hand.

.. neilkaz ..

[paulg]

My summary is that holding ♠KQJxxx I'd like to find a bid.

Playing strong jump overcalls I think the choice should be between 1♠ and 3♠. I expect that many club players would think me crazy to be considering 3♠ but it would put the opponents under pressure.

If this is not your style, then I don't think much can go wrong with a simple 1♠ overcall, especially opposite a passed hand. You may only have 6 working points but the hand has a lot of playing strength and it is the suit that you'd prefer partner to lead. Partner is not going to raise you recklessly when passed unless he has long spades too, and then you will find a good sacrifice.

Even if partner has not passed, 1♠ is a good bid. Simple overcalls can be lighter when they consume space and this is something to discuss in a partnership.

p

[Gerben42]

I wouldn't think 3♠ is crazy NV. Agressive sure, crazy no.
Under the given conditions I overcall 1♠.
About jump overcalls I only play intermediate if red vs white, weak otherwise.

[Cascade]

I am happy overcalling 1♠ with this hand playing your methods (and mine as it happens - I don't play weak jump overcalls).

I wouldn't pass as the hand has too much potential. Bidding 3♠ would be ok too.

Actually opposite a passed hand there is a case for going quietly since you are likely to be out bid (although with the boss suit you might win the auction) and bidding will just give information to the opponents. Against this you give some information to your partner which might be useful for your side to compete or if partner is on lead etc

[P_Marlowe]

Hi,

depending on your agreements, bid
1S / 2S / 3S.

You have the spades, tell it partner.
I would bid 3S.

Lets see how good their agreements
are, the 3S bid is a little bit better in case
you are playing IMP's, but even MP, the
bid will work out more often than not.

With kind regards
Marlowe