[Fluffy]

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Natural overcalls, and penalty double. What is the best action?

Does anyone have some statistics for similar situations at high level?

You can see the full hand here: http://www.bridgegod...id=486&setid=20

[Cyberyeti]

This is a hand that's much easier to bid to the right spot if your NT range is such that don't open 1N.

[Zelandakh]

You need to change the displayed hand to be South, Gonzalo.

[the_clown]

I would pass now and compete in diamonds if they stop in 2M.

[Phil]

the_clown, on 2015-March-23, 07:07, said:

I would pass now and compete in diamonds if they stop in 2M.

This is the standard strategy with a solid suit and I don't have any reason to feel its incorrect.

Assuming the points around the table are 16-12-6-6, we rate to take 8 tricks versus 1N, for +100, but taking nine tricks in diamonds seems very uncertain. OTOH, -50 or -100 versus them making 2M is also a plus position for us.

If we had a way to bid a natural 2♦, should we? I think thats dubious, since now they might be able to find their 4-4 fit which wasn't going to happen if we passed.

[mikeh]

I think that if we were going to bid, I'd want to bid 3♦ rather than 2♦, even if the latter were available to me, which it usually isn't.

I don't want LHO to be able to bid a non-forcing 2M or to be able to distinguish between invitational or forcing major suit bid, so a 2 level overcall just doesn't do enough to disrupt them. Basically all it does is remove stayman and it doesn't even really do that if they play negative doubles.

However, with all this defence against 1N, I opt to pass for now.

[P_Marlowe]

Pass, maybe they will end up in 1NT.
I will get in later, if they try to play 2M.

[ggwhiz]

I would double with my partnership understanding that it is (usually) a one-suiter that prefers to defend.

If partner has to pull, they bid 2♣ as it most definitely has a landing spot available. Knowing the nature of the "penalty" double and continuations being played would seem to be an important consideration.