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Changing Times?

Back when I learnt the game, if you had 16 or more high card points and a 5-card or longer suit, you doubled the opponent’s 1 of a suit opening bid because you were strong enough to bid again however the bidding developed, within reason. An overcall was 8-15 hcp (10 to 15 at the 2-level).

I would say that the point count for such an overcall may have been increased by 1 hcp over the years but how strong can one’s overcalls be?

 

 

The game is Pairs and we have a decent, very decent hand. Thus, I was a bit surprised by these answers:

Stephen Blackstock “2: Some will say that in their methods this hand is too strong to overcall, so they have no choice but to double. I think it is likely that spades will be raised or rebid; then I have an easy takeout double that provides a good picture of my hand. If the opponents bid 3/4 over an initial double, the position is immediately difficult - not enough hearts to bid at a high level, and double again won't show the heart length. 

What if 2 ends the auction? Then partner has spade length and a poor hand and/or short hearts, so we may well be quite high enough.”

Peter Newell “2: Double is the only other option.  At first glance Double seems normal as the hand is too strong for an overcall. 4 would be a favourite to make if partner has as little as Qxxx, a doubleton diamond and a few hearts. Bidding 2 could also mean we miss a good 3NT when partner is weak but has a good spade stopper and some cards/length in hearts and diamonds. 

However, I lean towards 2.  Firstly partner is a passed hand so can't have too much. Playing Pairs, it is food to get your 5 card major suit bid at a low level rather than doubling and the 5th heart getting "lost" in the auction.

Unless 2 is passed out and that is wrong, we are better placed by bidding 2.  Typically, if we double the first time, West will often bid 2/3 and then I'll be faced with the decision about whether to double or bid hearts or pass.  If we bid 2 first and the opponents bid spades and we double again, then this is likely to be showing this type of hand and we are likely to get to our best fit, and if 2 is not passed out, more likely to get to the right level.”

There is a big “if” in these answers, that we might miss game opposite a few values opposite. Yet, the overcall does address the situation where West raises spades to an uncomfortably high level. Will we compete over 3? What happens when they bid to 4? The opposition seem to be quite aggressive these days with good shape and few high cards.

There may be a few misgivings among the doublers but they cannot bring themselves to overcall:

Michael Cornell “ Double: I am happy to make strong overcalls but this is just too strong. Furthermore, the hand does not have to be played in hearts.  Even slam is possible in a minor.”

Leon Meier “Double: This is a hand which can double and then rebid, or can overcall 2 with the plan to double when they likely bid spades again. The problem with doubling then bidding again is you're in a poor spot compared to 2 bidders if it goes (3) p (p) but most other auctions you are okay. The problem with 2 is it is possible to miss game if it gets passed out and partner does not have a heart fit but has a spade stopper and an okay hand. Overall, I think double edges it out.”

Nigel Kearney “Double: Certainly, it is a myth that hands with 16+ HCP and a five card suit are "too strong to overcall". If I knew LHO was about to raise to 3 or 4, then I would complete a better description by starting with 2 and then doubling next time. Or if my hand was unsuitable for a take-out double by being short in an unbid major, then it would be much better to overcall almost regardless of strength. But this hand is a perfectly good double. If I get a chance to bid 2 or 3 next time, I will do that. If not, I can always double again.”

Others are happy to double:

Kris Wooles “Double: And if possible would later bid hearts. Despite North’s pass with as little as Axxxxx ( for example,) slam could be on with a working heart finesse.”

Lysandra Zheng “Double: Double seems clear, intending to show hearts later. I don't like it on the 5-card suit but the hand seems too strong to risk passing out 2 with 4 or 3NT cold on not much from partner.”

Bruce Anderson “Double: I would like a better heart suit to double then bid hearts over a minimum response from partner, but I think the overcall of two hearts, which is the only alternative, is an even greater distortion of this hand.”

Anthony Ker “Double: I'm a doubler. Too good for 2, which could even be passed out when partner holds xx x Qxxxx Qxxxx and game in clubs is very good. If there is a pass and partner responds 2, I will risk 2. If it goes spade raise pass pass I will double again. We may miss our 5-3 heart contract but this hand feels more like a 3-suiter than a one-suiter.”

Good shape for any of 3 suits from partner would seem to sway the majority in favour of double, with the risk of pre-emption.

So, you think “Double” wins easily? In the final of the recent South Island Pairs, 15 Souths had this problem. 11 chose double after which the majority reached 3NT. 4 chose 2. 2 were “saved” by East reopening but failed to reach game while the other two were left to play for overtricks:

 

 

A majority therefore for the traditional action though a significant minority sided with Stephen and Peter in overcalling. The obvious response this time was 1NT by North. Some South players then offered a choice of games by bidding a forcing 3 while others went straight for the no-trump game.

The play at 3 tables was identical after Q lead. The declarers won, not to lead hearts but to play a low club. East won and exited with a low diamond won in dummy. The declarers then cashed K on which all 3 Easts unblocked Q trying to avoid an end-play, leaving the West players to be on lead with J. They could have saved the second overtrick by leading a club into the KJ in dummy (a heart trick for the defence), as unpalatable as that might have seemed. Instead, they played a spade and the declarers made the rest via a successful heart finesse.

 + 660 was a very good result. The pairs in a heart partial were left to rue their ultra-strong overcall. There will be times when the overcall gains…and North being a passed hand is significant. Yet, perhaps, this time, the hand was just too strong/ had too much potential to risk possible opposition pre-emption at a high level from vulnerable opponents.

Richard Solomon

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