Hi Bobby,Would you overcall one spade(pairs all vul)on this hand(South)109876 Q4 K3 KQ63? I(still old fashion?!)would prefer a suit with an honour or two,to overcall unless the hand has 13/14 in which case its ok to bid 1S..bridge players beg to differ it seems..Well bidding went-W pass N pass E 1D S 1S~ W 2C(?),N 2S E 3D(?) S pass ~Wpass N X(blunder of the worst kind, should have remembered your advice..silence is golden)E pass S pass~W 3H! N X(give me the cold bucket pls)…3H makes +1.Should be just 3H mkg.E KQ43 J53 A8764 A-W 5 A9762 J J98752-N AJ2 K108 Q10952 104(Taxi please or Cab..!)…Regards~Patrick.

Hi Bobby,if non vul against vul or all nv,would you still overcall 1S?

Good morning Mr.Wolff,
A general question about light third-seat openings:
Opening light in a decent Major always seems right, and low-risk, when Partner has Drury available to keep us from overbidding.
But opening light in a Minor seems much riskier, where Partner may have passed with a nice 11 or even an occasional awkward-to-open 12 count, and may be tempted to jump to 2NT to show it.
Should a third-seat opening in a Minor be very close to opening bid strength?
Where there’s a choice, would opening an “OK but not great” four-card Major be the better choice?
What general approach and tactics would you recommend?
Thanks

Hi Patrick,

You appear, or at least it seems, to be often receiving the sermon on the mount in bridge, with your live examples, so let me explain.

No, I would not overcall 1 spade vulnerable in answer to your first question since I do not want a spade lead and, even if no one bothers to double me, I am too likely to go down the kiss of death number -200 in pairs just like they kill elephants (one trick at a time).

However, I, on this hand, have fortunately avoided that consequence, but my partner’s border control instincts have come to light and his riding to the greedy (and unnecessary) double has saved their damsel in distress from which my intervention has help cause, but his action has sadly reversed,

Yes, silence is oft times golden, but follow the success in competitive bridge bidding and just allow it to happen (even though at the time you don’t know it has, but partner with his diamond stack does, or should).

However, since (as usual) your experience seems to prove these important caveats, so let them serve as beacons to all who frequent this site, and let them leave this bridge party with more knowledge than when they came.

Even though your subject hand is a possible overcall while NV, the poor lead directional feature should just say NO to doing it (not unlike smoking, since it may feel good, but certainly, in the long run, not be worth it). And yes, with another 3 or 4 HCPs (especially if those points were the king or ace of spades) I would certainly overcall.

East’s 3 diamond rebid was nothing short of awful, but that usually occurs when one or the other opponent feels frustrated, allowing his judgment to leave the room, but when that happens, the expected IRON discipline of the good guys should reap the harvest instead of the eventual suffering (as you so deftly explained).

Hi Clarksburg,

Yes, your question and proposed answers are both on point.

Opening a 4 card major (in spite of usually 5, but sometimes 4 in 3rd or 4th seat) helps preempt the opponents (often a good idea) so with s. AQJx, h. Jxx, d. K10xx, c. xx and in 3rd chair, after two passes, open 1 spade, not pass or 1 diamond, for both preemption and lead direction. Will it always or almost work and the answer is an unqualified NO!, but, at least to me, it is clearly the percentage action, if for no other reason but making you a tougher opponent than a meek pass (2nd choice) or a wimpy 1 diamond (3rd).

Once you start thinking this way you will not immediately recognize the advantage, but overall, even if it goes an immediate 4 hearts (or something like that) the lead advantage will become significant and while playing pairs sometime you will eventually see the scores (usually a good learning experience) and the spade lead you received (presto, magico) will have secured you an extra trick by the opening lead advantage.

Yes, Drury is an excellent convention to play and I recommend both 3 and 4 card Drury (2 clubs and 2 diamonds), since what a partnership gives away (a natural 2 club or 2 diamond bid) does not occur often enough to be a significant loss.

Keep your questions coming, since they, with your concurrence, seem to be on point and very practical, helping lead the discussion to sometimes oft happening situations which discussion may help others who have not been exposed, nor ever would be, without your help.

Hi Bobby,please get the ice bucket ready,c’est moi doubled three diamonds.

Hi Patrick,

Being unethical at bridge is one awful thing, but not admitting silly bridge guilt instead usually does not bring admonishment, unless partner is also attuned to this site (which is low percentage).

However, I suppose being pure at heart, I’ll have to forgive your admission, but you need to brush up your rules of combat on committing sins, even if they are only restricted to the playing of bridge..

However, since this site goes around the world you have now publicly confessed to thousands of bridge players, leaving you at the mercy of the world’s court.

While I could never forgive your bridge transgression, I will volunteer to defend your character and even more so, your sense of humor.

Cheers! and since I do not speak French, c’est moi does mean my partner, right?

Many thanks.
We had just quite recently adopted two-way reverse Drury (3 and 4 card) to give the accurate trump count.
Based upon your recommendation here, we will certainly retain it.

Hi Bobby, 😉