[jillybean]

---

IMP

[TylerE]

TBH I probably dodge the whole issue and open 1N on the previous round.

[P_Marlowe]

2S

If they got away, so be it.
If p does not have a penalty pass and a pik single, you still have a good idea,
which contract you want to play.

[mikeh]

Tough hand. At mps, I’d lean towards the underbid of 2S but at imps I’m worried about game. Something innocuous such as Jx Kxx xxx KJxxx makes for a great 4S and we’d have play even if missing both black jacks.

So, at the risk of turning a small plus into a small minus (assuming nothing disastrous) I double. Obviously I’d be delighted if partner passed, but that isn’t what I’m expecting.

I’m not out of the woods….but I’d give up if he bids 2S and would bid 3S over any other call.

[jillybean]

P_Marlowe, on 2026-May-25, 10:23, said:

2S

If they got away, so be it.
If p does not have a penalty pass and a pik single, you still have a good idea,
which contract you want to play.

pik ♠

[WasWinM]

Although it probably shouldn't, the original question gets down to quality of opponent more than anything. The stronger the opps the less likely to have put their foot in it with a shoddy 2-level overcall. Still, I don't need to run out at this point so I still double. RHO's inaction makes me think there is a smattering of cards in partner's hand so if I end up in 3S instead of 2S I still may have a play. Maybe not.

[jillybean]

Perhaps I'm not thinking like an IMP player.

---

[mikeh]

A 2S reopening should get partner bidding 3S imo. You don’t collect 500 so won’t get a great mp score but you’d reach and make game

[jillybean]

Yes, I was surprised with the pass, however I should be making X's in this situation more.
I think East South has a choice between 2♠ and 2nt over X

[WasWinM]

jillybean, on 2026-May-26, 08:22, said:

Yes, I was surprised with the pass, however I should be making X's in this situation more.
I think East has a choice between 2♠ and 2nt over X

It's one of the trade-offs on negative doubles: penalty doubles must first pass and hope partner reopens with a double. Therefore, the reopening double only shows at most a doubletone in the overcalled suit but doesn't mean support for both unbids, just a willingness to defend if the double is converted.

[mikeh]

jillybean, on 2026-May-26, 08:22, said:

Yes, I was surprised with the pass, however I should be making X's in this situation more.
I think East has a choice between 2♠ and 2nt over X

Not sure what you meant by east having a choice. East, having made a bad overcall….the suit is fine but the hand is below strength….has an easy pass. Now, once south converts, west could bid 2N as a scramble to a minor…but from his perspective he could be running to a 4-3 fit…as indeed would happen. A trump lead v 3C x is automatic and east has no entry.

[Cyberyeti]

mikeh, on 2026-May-26, 10:02, said:

Not sure what you meant by east having a choice. East, having made a bad overcall….the suit is fine but the hand is below strength….has an easy pass. Now, once south converts, west could bid 2N as a scramble to a minor…but from his perspective he could be running to a 4-3 fit…as indeed would happen. A trump lead v 3C x is automatic and east has no entry.

Can redouble as the scramble and it goes 2N-3♦ which plays better

[jillybean]

I meant South, I rotated the hands for the forum post.

[mikeh]

jillybean, on 2026-May-26, 13:40, said:

I meant South, I rotated the hands for the forum post.

Anything but pass, by south after a reopening double, is utterly bizarre

[jillybean]

mikeh, on 2026-May-26, 14:11, said:

Anything but pass, by south after a reopening double, is utterly bizarre

NVM, I have this hand totally turned around, over X the pass card is illuminated.

[mycroft]

I have a 10 count (okay, the ♥Q is useless when partner doesn't double) and J8 in partner's "I can't stand to double, but have too much to pass; and probably 6 spades" suit. Oh, I missed my 500 opportunity, so I'm going to sulk and not make the same invitation all those who didn't get the heart overcall would make after 1♠-1NT; 2♠ (and I have every reason to believe opener has a better hand for offence than that auction).

Oops, missed +2 because partner won't coöperate. I'd rather go -6 instead and punish partner rather than try for the push.

I know, I *know* - too many players have blasted 3NT on a hope(less) and a prayer because "partner took away my 500/800, need to get some of it back" and got excoriated for it. And justly so. But that doesn't mean you don't look at your hand and make the call the hand and the auction tells you to make.

IOW, agreeing (as frequently when it's a bidding problem) with Mike.

About the reopening double - well if I'm playing with one ("old-fashioned") partner, "you have an automatic double. You're short in their suit." Granted, he defends better than I do... I would argue that not doing so isn't a crime, but doubling isn't either.

[jillybean]

Here's another one from last night's game

---

[mycroft]

This one, you don't really have to worry too much about "are we missing 500?" unless your opponents are maniacs (I remember being told about someone who raised to 3♣ because "I had clubs and 6-9 points". She was also 3=3=3=4...).

So it's a choice between "do I offer 'can play anywhere if you have your own suit' (and it will play better in the weak hand's suit if she has one), or do I say 'my spades are good enough that I can play them opposite a singleton'."

You can't win this guess, because partner with 2=4=4=3 (which is the expected shape in this auction, to within 1 card) will never be able to determine if you have this hand, or the 5=(43)=1 with a reasonable, but not solid, spade suit. Whatever she guesses will be wrong sometimes if you double, but if you guess spades instead, partner shows up with 1=5=4=3 (or 0=5=5=3!) sometimes, and double would have been (much) better.

And, there will be some hands where your best score is +100 in 3♣x (and, at IMPs, probably better +50 in case of an ohnosecond or a bit of bad luck leading to -530). But I don't think passing and hoping is winning bridge, so I'm not going to consider it.

That's why preemptive bids exist. Good luck.

It shouldn't matter, but it does - one thing you can think about is that when double is right, it is very right, but when double is wrong, it is very wrong. I mean, sure, same with 3♠, but only very rarely spectacularly. But the thing is, when double is very wrong, partner has to play it; when 3♠ is very wrong, you do. And with some partners, this is a real consideration...

[mikeh]

jillybean, on 2026-May-27, 08:33, said:

Here's another one from last night's game

---

I am, as many readers would know, a strong believer in almost unlimited overcalls. I probably double rather than overcall less often than almost anyone here. But…with this hand, I double 1C.

Having overcalled, I now have to double, which prototypically shows this shape but a bit weaker. Take away the spade K or Q and I’d be comfortable. But now I’m going to be guessing what to do over virtually any call by partner other than pass or a jump. Partner should not play me for quite this good a hand so we may miss game if I guess to pass his call or we may reach a hopeless game should I bid. Doubling then spades shows the suit and the hand. Which makes partner’s task easier…something of which one should always be aware when planning an auction. And on this hand one should plan ahead.

[jillybean]

---

I got that one wrong.

OT same mistake, different auction

---