[Fluffy]

I normally pass this hands and bid 3♣ next round to avoid encouraging partner. Not sure if it is a great idea.

[SteveMoe]

jogs, on 2012-September-26, 21:45, said:

Having 9 trumps is no guarantee your side has 9 tricks.
Even when your side has 20 points the expected tricks can be
fewer than 9.

4=4=2=3 facing 3=2=2=6 with 20 HCPs
The expected tricks is 8 2/3.

One of the two partners must hold a singleton before the
expected tricks is greater than 9.

Down 1 is good bridge.
They might now stumble about a major fit...

[aguahombre]

Fluffy, on 2012-September-27, 14:39, said:

I normally pass this hands and bid 3♣ next round to avoid encouraging partner. Not sure if it is a great idea.

It would seem not to be. Passing, and then taking a push, has the effect of letting them settle in on a comfortable strain and level from which they can now double or otherwise make a competent decision.

Would much rather put the pressure on the badguys to make their choice and then get out. A stretch at the 3-level by one of them might propel their auction overboard or they might already be overboard in the wrong suit if the neg double was slightly flawed.

Have you ever had the fun of bidding game for them?

1D (2C) X (P)
2H (P) P (3C)
3H (P) 4H! Opener was a bit heavy for the 2H rebid, and responder had a borderline invite.
Or, one of them revalued because of the new information that the other has fewer clubs.

[TimG]

aguahombre, on 2012-September-28, 01:55, said:

Have you ever had the fun of bidding game for them?

1D (2C) X (P)
2H (P) P (3C)
3H (P) 4H! Opener was a bit heavy for the 2H rebid, and responder had a borderline invite.
Or, one of them revalued because of the new information that the other has fewer clubs.

Not often. . .they usually bid on with the borderline invites or heavy 2H bids (because they would have bid 3H over 3C).

One thing that I have not seen mentioned (though I admit to not reading every post in the thread) is that raising with xxx has potential to get partner off to a bad lead. Perhaps it is unlikely on this this auction, but with an honor in partner's suit, there is more potential for us to have 9 running tricks too. It's not always just about whether we can jam their auction. Probably minor considerations once they have made a 2-level negative double.

[dake50]

As Justin suggested, I didn't 2D Q-bid, nor XX, that limits my
hand however those two actions are defined.
..
That seems a good hijack.
What would those two choices show?

[rsteele]

bluecalm, on 2012-September-26, 20:03, said:

---

For what it's worth actual hand was played at matchpoints but I am interested in what you do at IMPs too.
I passed but didn't feel well about it. As it happens raising was winning action. I polled some friends and the opinions are split.
What do you think ? If you think the hand is too weak, what is minimum addition to it to make it 3!C. If you think it's 3!C how much lighter would you go ?

[rsteele]

At imps this is a clear cut 3C call. Pd should have a good hand and a good suit. At MPs this is a matter of style - not that of the advancer but that of the overcaller. I want my pds to bid 2C over 1D with any excuse. It is the most disruptive of the simple overcalls as it occupies the most space. It disrupts natural free bids, interferes with negative doubles and skews natural NT bidding. Therfore when I raise the 2C call to 3C I will have playing strengh and can stand the lead if it should come to that. This style also dismisses the Law of total tricks in this situation as 5 cd club suits (even 4) are as likely as 6. Over 1D bid 2C NV on XXX, X QTXXX, AKQJ