[Roupoil]

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I had an argument on this deal with a french friend about what non-french bridge players would do after a 1♠ bid by RHO. Everybody nonvulnerable, MP, partner passed in first seat. Of course we both know what a french bridge player would do since anybody not strictly following the recommandations of SEF wouls probably end up in jail here...

[Phil]

Pass seems normal.

[JLOGIC]

Pass. Later you can show the minors. I think this is superior to overcalling Axxxx, at least we get diamonds into play.

[lalldonn]

I will probably be minority but I really believe in overcalling here, especially no one vul at matchpoints when they can steal from me so easily. I just don't like passing over an opening bid when I have values and I can get into the auction. You can show the minors later on some auctions if you pass but not on all, like RHO rebids a (maybe three card) minor over a notrump response, or 1♠ p 2♠ p 3♠ blocking you out (that may not be a big deal since they are at 3♠ anyway but who knows, maybe partner has a singleton spade and a good fit). Also if you do pass and show the minors next it is not clearly safer, since you are a level higher and they have penalty doubles available that they didn't have if you had overcalled right away. I won't try to pretend overcalling is safe but I want to try to compete for the partscore and interfere in their auction while I can.

[aguahombre]

Would prefer the straight flush in clubs, but will try 2C anyway.

[Roupoil]

Seems like we were both partly wrong. Well, suppose you bid 2C. LHO passes, partner bids 2H (normally invitational values and 5 hearts, with a sixth one North would surely have found an opening bid), and RHO takes the push to 2S. What do you do ?

[lalldonn]

I double to show extra values. The bad suit isn't such a concern any more and my top tricks are really good.

[JLOGIC]

lalldonn, on 2013-January-17, 15:26, said:

I double to show extra values. The bad suit isn't such a concern any more and my top tricks are really good.

+1

[gnasher]

Roupoil, on 2013-January-16, 15:30, said:

Of course we both know what a french bridge player would do since anybody not strictly following the recommandations of SEF wouls probably end up in jail here...

What would SEF recommend on this hand?

[PhilKing]

gnasher, on 2013-January-18, 05:58, said:

What would SEF recommend on this hand?

You need at least A7xxx in clubs.

2♣ makes me feel ill, but I can't bring myself to pass, so 2♣ it is.

[Roupoil]

SEF is quite imprecise, but recommends a 6-card suit or a very strong 5-card suit, so I doubt A6432 would be ok. My friend thought that only franch bidders would be capable of passing 1S, when I considered pass to be normal.

Over the 2S rebid, how stupid is it to play a double as really penalty oriented instead of extra values ?

[antonylee]

If double is penalty what do you rebid with ~Axx Qx Axx AKxxx? (slam opposite xx AKJxx xxx Qxx, not to say that I would find it) Here you may see a difference between American style (1N overcall I guess?) and the French style which mandates one and a half stopper for (1M)-1N (at least when I learnt it).

[JLOGIC]

Roupoil, on 2013-January-18, 14:20, said:

Over the 2S rebid, how stupid is it to play a double as really penalty oriented instead of extra values ?

Very