[maggieb]

We had a wonderful time in cold and rainy Boston. Here is a hand from the national swiss that I kibitzed:

♠KQxxxx
♥Qxx
♦Qx
♣Ax

RHO opened 1C, strong. You are red against white, would you overcall 1S or 2S?

Apparantly the player who held this hand thought two spades was a bit too much at these colors because he bid only one spade. Now LHO passed (showing 0-5 or a penalty pass) partner raised to 2S and RHO bid 3H. Bidding repeated for your convenience:

(1C) - 1S - (p) - 2S
(3H) - ??

What oh what would you do now?

[rogerclee]

Agree with 1♠, now 3♠.

[blackshoe]

Possibly he didn't bid 2♠ because that would show some other hand type.

But yeah, if 1♠ is the bid on the first round, I'll bid 3 now.

[benlessard]

Tough hand but a pass for me.

I dont have shortness and partner may not have short hearts so bidding on is too dangerous.

[awm]

I think this is very similar to the auction:

1♥ - 1♠ - P - 2♠
3♥ - ???

Perhaps opener's hand is slightly better on average and responder's hand is slightly worse.

Obviously at IMPs red vs. white this is not a "non-problem" (at MPs I think bidding 3♠ is pretty clear-cut) but I would pretty routinely bid 3♠ here.

[jdonn]

I actually like 2♠ to begin with. It's more likely their hand than ours, he might misguess the queens if he plays it, and it is probably a reasonable contract if it gets passed out (although I wouldn't expect to make in that case.)

[han]

I think I would also bid 2S immediately.

[skjaeran]

At unfavourable I might have chosen 2♠, but I'd most probably have overcalled 1♠ even at that vulerability.

Now it's close, but I'll venture 3♠.

[han]

Even at that vulnerability? Isn't it clear to bid 2S when white?

[Apollo81]

I like 2♠ initially, but I do think it's dangerous. The strong clubbers will have a much harder time with that then they will with 1♠.

[nige1]

maggieb, on Dec 1 2008, 07:41 PM, said:

We had a wonderful time in cold and rainy Boston. Here is a hand from the national swiss that I kibitzed:
♠KQxxxx
♥Qxx
♦Qx
♣Ax
RHO opened 1C, strong. You are red against white, would you overcall 1S or 2S?

Apparantly the player who held this hand thought two spades was a bit too much at these colors because he bid only one spade. Now LHO passed (showing 0-5 or a penalty pass) partner raised to 2S and RHO bid 3H. Bidding repeated for your convenience:

(1C) - 1S - (p) - 2S
(3H) - ??

What oh what would you do now?

IMO it depends on your methods. Here we play 2♠ as intermediate (6 card suit or excellent five card suit with at least opening values, so...

• Over (1♣), 2♠ = 10, 1♠ = 5, _P = 2.
  
• After (1♣) 1♠ (_P) 2♠ (3♥), X(Game try) = 10, 3♠ = 7, _P = 6.

[P_Marlowe]

Pass.

I think 1S is fine.

With kind regards
Marlowe

[hotShot]

I'd bid 2♠.

If the strong clubber open 16+ HCP and I have 13 HCP, there are 11 HCP left for the other 2 players.

If I open 2♠ opps have the problem, that they did not show a suit up to now, and don't know anything about their fit. Additionally they will more often have 16 +5(6) HCP as sufficient strength for game. Openers partner will usually have to pass, giving little information to his partner. This will make it harder for opener to find a fit or a penalty dbl.

If I open 1♠ opps can find their fit at the 2 level and are in a better position to reevaluate their hands knowing about their fit. This might allow them to compete at the 3 level or find their rare games.