(1C)-2C when 1C could be short

[dfm]

How do you play a 2C overcall over a 1C opening when the 1C is announced as "could be short"?

[Lorne Anderson]

Post by dfm
How do you play a 2C overcall over a 1C opening when the 1C is announced as "could be short"?

Michaels for me. Even when it could be short they usually have 4 or 5
of them so I find a 2-suited call is better (and 2N = red suits). Also
when it is short and we can win the auction you usually get a second
chance as 2C or 3C is natural if you previously passed over 1C.

[Adam Lea]

Post by dfm
How do you play a 2C overcall over a 1C opening when the 1C is announced as "could be short"?

With my partners, the 1C opening is treated as natural (it is a genuine
suit most of the time), so 2C would be whatever two-suited overcall we
have agreed to play.

[Steve Willner]

Post by dfm
How do you play a 2C overcall over a 1C opening when the 1C is
announced as "could be short"?

My partner and I play it as natural, giving up Michaels. Everything
else is as over a natural 1C except that takeout doubles don't promise
diamond length.

As others have written, treating "could be short" 1C as natural (keeping
Michaels or your other two-suited bid) is reasonable.

The frequencies to compare are: 1) holding a natural 2C overcall, or 2)
holding a hand you would want to use Michaels (or whatever). You should
also compare the cost if you hold a hand suitable for whichever one
meaning you can't use.

[Eddie Grove]

Post by Steve Willner

Post by dfm
How do you play a 2C overcall over a 1C opening when the 1C is
announced as "could be short"?

My partner and I play it as natural, giving up Michaels. Everything
else is as over a natural 1C except that takeout doubles don't promise
diamond length.
As others have written, treating "could be short" 1C as natural
(keeping Michaels or your other two-suited bid) is reasonable.
The frequencies to compare are: 1) holding a natural 2C overcall, or
2) holding a hand you would want to use Michaels (or whatever). You
should also compare the cost if you hold a hand suitable for whichever
one meaning you can't use.

What is analogous to 2D in the example (1D) - 2C - P - 2D
when your auction starts (1C) - 2C - P - ?


Eddie

[Steve Willner]

Post by Eddie Grove
What is analogous to 2D in the example (1D) - 2C - P - 2D
when your auction starts (1C) - 2C - P - ?

There's no direct analog, but new suits by advancer are forcing. As
others have explained in justifying 2C as artificial, it's unlikely for
advancer to have club support with no other suit. If dealt such a hand,
I suppose we'd bid 2D and hope to sort it out later or ignore the club
support and bid notrump.

[Player]

Post by dfm
How do you play a 2C overcall over a 1C opening when the 1C is announced as "could be short"?

Clubs for me.

[Player]

Post by Player

Post by dfm
How do you play a 2C overcall over a 1C opening when the 1C is announced as "could be short"?

Clubs for me.

I should also mention that we used to play the Warsaw 1D overcall. (At least 4-4 Majors 9-12 points.)

[Douglas Newlands]

Post by dfm
How do you play a 2C overcall over a 1C opening when the 1C is announced as "could be short"?

I play (1C)-2D as majors (Michaels) with one partner so (1C)-2C is natural.
With all others (1C)-2C is Michaels.

In Australia, the announcement over 1C is
a) the minimum length if it is a naturalish system so "2" and "3"
are common, "4" less so since there are few Acol types and
"1" is rather rarer (for those playing a 5551 system).
b) "strong" if a strong club system is played
c) "unusual" for Polish type systems where it is clubs or weak NT or 19+
(or the like).

doug