Let us now return to the deal I showed in our previous issue
Dealer East NS Vul
The bidding was not the same every time, even though to me there is only one sensible sequence: After two passes, 1H from West and a 1S overcall from North. But... How many Norths might not overcall because they have been taught that a vulnerable overcall should have a better suit than that? But passing with such a hand is unimaginable to me, and bidding also serves other purposes. The old school will teach us that you should only overcall if you want partner to lead your suit. What poppycock! You overcall so you can compete if possible, and that generally requires help from partner. As for being ‘lead directional’, North is the one likely to be on lead because a heart contract is (after West’s opening bid) the most likely, and North will be on lead. I put this bidding question to a panel of reasonably experienced players, expecting only two answers, 1S and PASS. I was stunned when there were so many who would DOUBLE, something that had not even occurred to me. As far as I am concerned, DOUBLE is for FOUR card suits and OVERCALL is for 5+ card suits. How is DOUBLE going to elicit any support for your spades when partner is most likely to have only three of them. That is why the rules for overcalls are that you should have five or more cards in the suit, and a takeout double will have only four cards in any suit unless the doubler has a very strong hand. And if you’re seriously worried that you might get into trouble with such a weak suit if you overcall (and this overcall is only at the ONE level) then think again: what could partner have that could possibly get you in trouble?
Only good can come of a 1S overcall, as in this deal. What good, you may ask? When you get round to defending with the North hand, after the bidding goes 1H-1S-2H-PASS-PASS you will ask yourself about the bidding and your partner’s silence, when the bidding, if it is to be trusted, tells you that partner should have about 8 or 9 points. Like Sherlock Holmes’ dog that did not bark, partner said nothing! Partner will have a doubleton spade at best, and you should look for a possible spade ruff. You can hope to get in early with the king of hearts, so another lead of spades should be possible. As it happens, South has the ace and returns the five, and the rest of the defence is completely obvious.
There are more reasons than just one for both overcalls and takeout doubles!
J7432
KT
A65
K84