[gwnn]

All NV @ MP RHO deals and bids 1S
Kx
KQxxx
Qxx
xxx

(1S)-?

some of the x's might have been as high as 9's.

[MrAce]

Csaba what is with those questions u asking m8 ? Are u reading a new book that suggests opposite of everything that is known to human kind ?

I pass

[Cthulhu D]

2H for me systematically promises 5+ hearts and 10+ points. I'm minimum for the move, but Kx rates to be working if the spade values are on my right, so I' but I wouldn't mind a heart lead so I'll bid I guess.

edit: I'm not what you'd call an expert though.

[aguahombre]

systemically, we know what 2H overcall shows. Then we decide whether we should do it.

[Cthulhu D]

aguahombre, on 2012-January-12, 20:17, said:

systemically, we know what 2H overcall shows. Then we decide whether we should do it.

I guess I don't see why not - though obviously the majority of the poll responders do, so I guess I am alone in this. My rationale is that, I really do not want them to play two spades (which seems likely), I don't mind a heart lead, so I don't see why not to bid? I guess it depends upon RHO's opening tendencies too, but if he has a system card marked 11+, I don't even know who's hand it is yet.

So why not bid? To much infomation disclosed for when you end up on the defence?

[daveharty]

Cthulhu D, on 2012-January-12, 20:27, said:

My rationale is that, I really do not want them to play two spades (which seems likely)...

You might very well succeed in keeping the opponents from playing in a spade partial--they might instead opt to collect the many +300s and +500s you will be offering up by overcalling this kind of hand.

[aguahombre]

I am still trying to figure out how the 2H overcall prevents them from bidding 2S.

[Statto]

aguahombre, on 2012-January-12, 22:11, said:

I am still trying to figure out how the 2H overcall prevents them from bidding 2S.

It doesn't, but it still cuts away at their bidding space. And W v W are the auctions to compete on.

[ggwhiz]

aguahombre, on 2012-January-12, 22:11, said:

I am still trying to figure out how the 2H overcall prevents them from bidding 2S.

I'm still trying to figure out why I need to put my neck on the line to tell MYSELF what to lead when they do.

[quiddity]

aguahombre, on 2012-January-12, 22:11, said:

I am still trying to figure out how the 2H overcall prevents them from bidding 2S.

It may prevent them from playing 2S if partner can raise..

[Cthulhu D]

ggwhiz, on 2012-January-12, 22:35, said:

I'm still trying to figure out why I need to put my neck on the line to tell MYSELF what to lead when they do.

Quote

I am still trying to figure out how the 2H overcall prevents them from bidding 2S.

Yeah, I'm thinking upside, I want partner to compete to 3H with a heart fit, and if they play a contract other than 2S I want a heart lead.

I guess it's a matter of more experince to be had, I'm fairly new (only playing about 60 boards a week), so I've only gone for 300 once and I routinely overcall here. The only time it happened they could make 3NT (not everyone bid it though, at butler IMPs), so I was only 2 IMPs out. If I had had my fingers burnt, I might be a bit more cautious. And indeed, if they bid to 3NT rather than converting the takeout double I wanted partner to lead a heart. So with that background, I'm feeling pushy, but maybe I need to get my fingers burnt! That would certainly give me some perspective that I don't have.

Edit: Would people bid 2H if it was NV vs V?

[aguahombre]

The thing is that if it goes 1S 2s p p back to you....then, you have a 3H balance...much safer, because they have established a spade fit. So, the goal of not letting them play 2S is still met, but without nearly as much danger of walking into a buzzsaw. Further, you don't have center opponent to worry about.

[the hog]

Pretty obvious pass. I too am surprised at this question, Csaba.

[cherdano]

MrAce, on 2012-January-12, 18:48, said:

Csaba what is with those questions u asking m8 ? Are u reading a new book that suggests opposite of everything that is known to human kind ?

At least he didn't post a completely obvious question in the A/E forum

[MrAce]

cherdano, on 2012-January-13, 00:21, said:

At least he didn't post a completely obvious question in the A/E forum

And of course u didnt do anything to make it so obvious in that thread

Cheater

[gwnn]

Well this wasn't that interesting. I tried double for a change in pace. Partner bid 3♣ over their 2♠ and we got a big fat 0 because the field was in 2 or 3 hearts. My partner told me that he had 3 hearts only so we missed hearts because of my double - I tried to explain that double was probably bad but I would definitely not bid 2♥ (so we would miss hearts anyway) because 5332, weakish suit, inadequate values... The table nodded with an air of "poor guy, looking for excuses for his erroneous decision".

[whereagles]

While 2H is a very obstructive bid here, the hand is very defensive. Pass.

[Statto]

Cthulhu D, on 2012-January-12, 22:51, said:

Edit: Would people bid 2H if it was NV vs V?

I doubt anyone passing white v white would be bidding white v red. Paradoxically, it is better to compete white v white than it is white v red. The reason is the case where we would defeat 2♠ by one trick, or make 3♥. Competing to 3♥ white v red would gain just 1 IMP whereas white v white it would gain 3 IMPs. Or put another way, we have more to gain by defending when they are vul.

[fromageGB]

I guess I am old-fashioned. This is a minimum 2♥ for me, so I bid it. I see no reason to suspect it is their hand, and if I don't bid now we will never find the heart contract. OK, if doubled it can go off 300, but in my experience a 2M contract is rarely doubled, and I am taking that risk for a small percentage of the time, where for a much larger percentage of the time I have increased our chances of finding a heart contract, and impeded their chances of a minor contract, getting the desired lead if they find one. So it seems right to me. "Percentage of time" is more important than "size of negative" - this is matchpoints.

And I don't go along with the idea of passing then coming in with 3♥, as I reckon X is more likely.

If they do end up in 2♠ and I lead a heart, I have given absolutely nothing away with my bid. Indeed, they may be influenced to take a 2-way finesse into my partner's hand.