[jillybean]

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If partner doubles, I can pass in tempo.

If partner bids a suit, what do I do?

[mike777]

Find a new partner

[Cyberyeti]

mike777, on 2026-August-11, 10:31, said:

Find a new partner

Nah, you didn't kick him hard enough (or cough loud enough)

[jillybean]

Let me guess,
Bidding your actual suit is what beginners do.
Real players just protect with a double, and hope partner can sort it out.

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X and correct ♦ or ♠ to hearts? (this is a real question)

What is your minimum for a double here?

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1♥?

[mikeh]

What do you think a takeout double in balancing seat shows?

Reopening with a double IS NOT automatic.

1. Classic or near-classic takeout shape…at least three cards in all side suits, or

2. A hand too strong to bid a suit and lacking the requirements (usually suit length and/or texture) for a jump overcall, which is typically a sound opening bid with a decent to good 6 card suit

3. A strong balanced hand too strong for a balancing 1N and not in range for a balancing 2N, which is typically played as about 20 hcp…so a 16-18 notrump hand starts with double

4. A hand too strong for either a non jump or a jump bid with a long suit…the balancing jump bid tops out at around 15 hcp…it’s a style issue, not a fixed number so you’ll find differing opinions on the precise upper limit for a jump overcall


What should you bid, in balancing seat, with AQxxx xx Kxx xxx? Can’t double…pulling 1H or 2H to spades shows a much better hand. Can’t pass.


As for what you bid over his balancing 1S, I’d be worried about the heart suit but maybe partner’s lack of shape for a double is because of diamond shortness. Anyway, I need to bid something and my hand, other than the heart issue, looks like notrump so 2N it is.


Btw, it is increasingly common, amongst stronger players, to bid 2C, natural, over 1C. These days many good pairs open 1C on 2+, and even those who don’t will often hold only three (at least outside of the ever diminishing number of four card majorites).

You needn’t give up Michaels…you just give up a natural 2D bid, using 2D as Michaels. With long diamonds and a weak hand, pass or bid 3D, depending on vulnerability.

[Cyberyeti]

YOu need to agree what 1♣-P-P-2♥ is, whether it's int or strong for the first of those

[mikeh]

Cyberyeti, on 2026-August-11, 13:19, said:

YOu need to agree what 1♣-P-P-2♥ is, whether it's int or strong for the first of those

It’s universal, in my experience….and I’ve played a lot of bridge at every level of the game, to play it as intermediate. At least in NA, I wouldn’t even feel the need to discuss it, when filling out a convention card, if my partner was beyond the beginner stage.

[jillybean]

I'm unsure of the jump and non jump.

This hand, (Q7, AKJ964, KJ5, 84) would be a 2♥ bid in balancing seat.

and the second hand (Q74, AQJ96, KJ5, 84) 1♥ in both direct and balancing seat?


What should you bid, in balancing seat, with AQxxx xx Kxx xxx? Can’t double…pulling 1H or 2H to spades shows a much better hand. Can’t pass.

1♠

I am so messed up on these doubles & overcalls

[mikeh]

jillybean, on 2026-August-11, 14:00, said:

I'm unsure of the jump and non jump.

This hand, (Q7, AKJ964, KJ5, 84) would be a 2♥ bid in balancing seat.

and the second hand (Q74, AQJ96, KJ5, 84) 1♥ in both direct and balancing seat?


What should you bid, in balancing seat, with AQxxx xx Kxx xxx? Can’t double…pulling 1H or 2H to spades shows a much better hand. Can’t pass.

1♠

I am so messed up on these doubles & overcalls

It’s close but imo I think the first hand is strong enough to double then bid hearts…partner shouldn’t play me for quite this much if I bid 2H. The requirements in balancing seat are always a bit lower, at both ends of a range, than in direct seat. In direct seat this is a routine, though close to a maximum, 1H. And of course most people, including me, play a direct 2H as ‘weak’. Many years ago I did play a bit with Lawrence Betts, who I think is in your team games and, iirc, we played intermediate jump vercalls at unfavourable vul, but those hands just don’t arise frequently enough to justify giving up on the normal weak jump.


Your second hand is also close, but this time between 1H and double. I’d double…but I wouldn’t say 1H was a mistake. Make my spades Qx and I’d overcall

[P_Marlowe]

Hi,

your first hand, p overcall happened in the passout seat, your semi bal., you have a stopper
in their suit, you bid either 1NT or 2NT, 2NT in the given seq. would approx. show 12-14HCP
give / take.

With both hands that have a 5 card heart suit, I would overcall 1H, bid your suit, find a fit,
worry about combined strength later.

With kind regards
Marlowe