[pilowsky]

Matchpoints.
What should South do?

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[mw64ahw]

2♠-5+♠5+♣ Vun. playing The Overcall Structure

[DavidKok]

1♠, not enough for 2♥ (showing ♠+♣ for me, but ♠+unspecified minor is more common). Lie about strength now so we don't have to later.

[AL78]

I'd make a two suited overcall if I was playing one, otherwise overcall 1♠.

[Cyberyeti]

I play a slightly odd style where 1♠ needs to be better than this, the only candidate bid is 2♥ (5-5 ♠/m) and at any other vul I would do this, at unfav I would think about it and probably do it.

[hrothgar]

(I am presuming that you are playing relatively standard methods)

I personally would pass.
I love the shape, however, your suits are absolutely dreadful.

You don't want to be encouraging a spade lead.
Weak suits make it much easier for the opponents to double (and, given the vulnerability -1 or -2 doubled could easily be absolute bottoms).

If someone put a gun to my head and forced me to bid, I'd bid 2♥

[Winstonm]

My stiff heart argues the opps have a fit so I wii be on lead and that lessens the risk of bidding a bad suit, (i.e., getting partner off to a bad lead) The vulnerability argues against getting too frisky so I content myself with 1S - with a passing partner we will need a spade fit to compete and if partner can't raise I am content to let opps play it.

[nullve]

1♠

[pescetom]

I think this comes down to partnership style. There are good reasons for bidding even at this vulnerability, so long as partner won't automatically assume I have better suit(s): mine would, so I pass.

[jillybean]

Partner knows my overcalls can be as weak as this, I have the boss suit so let's tell partner. 1♠
I'm not going to force to the 3 level with a 2 suit overcall.

[mikeh]

My partners would expect more from me for an adverse vulnerability action. 2H gets us to the 3 level if partner lacks spades and good opps won’t hesitate to wield the axe….plus they might not need to double if we are down 2 opposite no biddable and make able game.

Plus we’re painting a roadmap if they have an 8 or 9 card heart fit….declarer will play me for shortness if I bid 2H.

If I were forced to bid, it would be 1S but I’m not at all sure I want partner leading a spade v notrump….fine if he has the Queen,likely not fine if he has Ax(x) or Kx, etc.

Partners a passed hand, were red v white, both of which tell us that passing rates to be the percentage action.

I recognize that these days passing is considered cowardly.

Bidding could work….I just think it’s poor on the actual hand and even worse in the long run. We are sometimes going to hold a solid 2H or 2S overcall, and we want partner to trust us. I’d bid 2H happily if white v red, but partner knows what to expect then

[LBengtsson]

matchpoints it is only one board so I am going to be coward and say 'pass' or '1♠' could work.. I would need better suits to use michaels cue bid here at this vulnerability, and a king extra (minimum).

if ops reach ♥ contract, you know that ♥ suit will break badly. why give them information in the auction as mikeh said.

[nige1]

Pilowski 'Matchpoints. What should South do?
+++++++++++++++++++
I rank
1. Pass. The hand lacks power, lead value, and suit quality
2. 2♣. Suggest a lead that you can stand.
3. 1♠. Not particularly keen on a ♠ lead.
4. 2♥. IMO, however, Michaels should suggest that partner compete at the 3-level or higher, with primary support for an advertised suit. At the prevailing vulnerability, opposite a passed hand, there's too much danger of a penalty. Even -200 could be a bottom.

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[pilowsky]

Being overly optimistic I of course bid 2♥
The bidding continued:

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[hrothgar]

pilowsky, on 2021-August-11, 14:57, said:

Being overly optimistic I of course bid 2♥
The bidding continued:

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Anything other than pass is an abomination before the lord.

[mw64ahw]

Consider doubling 3♥ when the bid comes round to you again

[gszes]

what are the odds of us having a game or reasonable sac at this vul? quite slim IMHO. I can see no future here even if P shows some life I will most likely keep the bidding low. PASS

[jillybean]

Pass, get out while you still can.

[Cyberyeti]

gszes, on 2021-August-11, 16:50, said:

what are the odds of us having a game or reasonable sac at this vul? quite slim IMHO. I can see no future here even if P shows some life I will most likely keep the bidding low. PASS

You don't rate the chances of KQxx/Ax in the blacks ?

[pilowsky]

At this point, I thought that West was cue-raising my spade/minor bid to show a good hand with heart support.
My partner (so I thought at the time) didn't like my spades and wanted to know about my minor.
I hear the train a-coming - it's rollin' round the bend...

So of course, I bid my clubs.

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