[Frank_lol_]

Hand Editor doesn't load, so I'll do it in the ugly way:
P P 1S ?
IMPs, both vul
5 AQT85 A942 AQ9

[mw64ahw]

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Neither because I play a Power X

[Frank_lol_]

mw64ahw, on 2023-January-21, 11:54, said:

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Neither because I play a Power X

A power double is also a part of takeout double afaik.
But yeah, I meant takeout as in short spade and good support for the other suits.
I would power X with a jack more, but not realy with this, although this is definitely the maximum of a overcall.

[smerriman]

According to Mike Lawrence, don't double with a 5 card major unless you're strong enough to bid it next time around.

[Cyberyeti]

smerriman, on 2023-January-21, 13:46, said:

According to Mike Lawrence, don't double with a 5 card major unless you're strong enough to bid it next time around.

Or it's so bad you want to treat it as 4

[akwoo]

Maybe I'm crazy, but vul at IMPs I'm willing to double and bid 3H if it goes (1S)-X-(2S)-P-(P) back to me.

At MPs, I'm a little more scared of the -200 and less interested in hoping for +620

[Cyberyeti]

akwoo, on 2023-January-21, 14:17, said:

Maybe I'm crazy, but vul at IMPs I'm willing to double and bid 3H if it goes (1S)-X-(2S)-P-(P) back to me.

At MPs, I'm a little more scared of the -200 and less interested in hoping for +620

We have a higher minimum than most for 2♥ and respond fairly liberally, if we're making 4♥ partner will bid, the danger is the game we're making is 5m.

My question would be "Are you happier with the auction going 1♠-2♥-2♠-P-P-X or 1♠-X-2♠-P-P-3♥ ?"

If you're making game in a minor either should suffice but if partner has say a 4144 3 count I think I'd prefer the former unless you expect him to bid over 2♠ after your double with that. Also if he has a good 4 card spade holding, pass could be a big winner after the bid then double auction.

[pescetom]

It's very close, but I'm slightly in favour of double.

[mw64ahw]

Frank_lol_, on 2023-January-21, 13:06, said:

A power double is also a part of takeout double afaik.

Not if you play a NT takeout

[mikeh]

It’s not close for me. This is an easy 2H and not even a maximum. I’m a believer in my fellow-countryman’s belief in very wide range overcalls (Kokish)

For me, double then hearts is at least a trick stronger…make it x AQJxxx Axx AQx and I double then hearts


As it is, I’m very happy to bid 2H. If it goes, for example, 2S P P to me, a trivial reopening double.

Btw, in both my partnerships we have transfer advances such that if LHO cooperates by passing or doubling, partner can bid 3D with a good raise to 3H and 3H with a weaker. Over the former, I bid game.

[sfi]

I really dislike 5-card overcalls at the two-level, but I'll still do it on this hand. We're too likely to lose a heart fit if I start with double.

[thepossum]

2S perhaps - a bit offshape - appreciate a bit risky if we don't have hearts or diamonds - but if partner has clubs they would bid that
- probably 2H so as not to upset people

[LBengtsson]

I actually think this is a great hand to post as it is between strong and weak, at equal red vulnerability, partner has already passed, there is the likely situation as the opps. have bid ♠ that they would outbid you, and table position, etc.

A couple of commentators have indicated what happens when the opps. raise to 2♠, but I am more worried what happens if they bid 3♠ as a weak call over a TOX. That said, a TOX should show, but does not necessarily infer, tolerance for three suits here, whereas an overcall of 2♥ is likely to lose the other suits in the bidding. Partner could well be holding a reasonable 6m suit in his hand but due to the vulnerability could not open.

I agree with pescetom that it is close, and on the day either bid might be the right one. I am not even going to vote! The state of the match at IMPs or how our partnership were doing in a MP event might be a deciding factor.

If I were to spin a coin, I prefer very slightly 2♥ as there is less chance the opps. will bounce you with a 3♠ bid. I am actually more worried what I would lead if the opps. land in a ♠ contract with this hand

[apollo1201]

Overcalls at the 2-level with 5-cd suits are more common with H (find fit to potentially play game at the 4 level and use ruffing power to take tricks than with minors (the game in minors is 9 tricks as you all know😁😁and you need a long suit to develop them). The quality of the suit is well enough to be bid.

As MikeH says (as always), I’ll describe my hand much better with bidding H and X than the reverse which would overstate my strength.

I’ll X with x Axxxx AQx AQxx but that is not what I have today so 2H for me.

Which doesn’t mean I’m not signing in for 8 or 1100 when partner is broke and KJ97x are sitting over me (these things happen) - if that was what triggered the question!

[mw64ahw]

My preference for playing a Power X and NT takeout is specifically a hand like this where with a 1NT bid you would be expected to have a ♠ stopper to be able to show this strength.
Partner with the ♠ stopper/length can then bid 1NT/2NT/3NT with the requisite strength or have a better idea of what other contract and level works.
Playing a standard approach leaves a wider strength range.
In this case it is a takeout shape and I double as this provides the highest probability of finding and eight card fit from the off

[mycroft]

Playing standard? 2♥. I have nothing to add to MikeH's explanation or Cyberyeti's "what would you prefer..." line.

Playing Power doubles? 2♥. While I have no qualms making a takeout NT bid with a 5 card major, I'm not going to do it with this strong a hand/suit. And I'm not anywhere near strong enough to double when partner's going to pass with J9xx and a card - they're making overtricks unless both kings are in the pocket. Yes, double starts at 15+, but "with a minimum, partner's going to have at least ♠xx."

But nobody but us two and Jeff Goldsmith's partners play Power Doubles, so...