why are we even bidding at all over 2H? We have exactly what p should read us for after the overcall, and he chose not to bid.

you don't X for takeout here white on white?

Edit: Also I would rather defend, here, if the overcaller were to my right. I think I can tolerate 2s or a 3-level minor suit contract if p's hand warrants it, and I expect we'll do better than +50 in whatever contract p sets us in.

I think the opening 1N shows your hand, and your partner (I'm assuming you're not playing Lebensohl) passed, so I'd pass here too. I can see the argument for the takeout double, since you're not vulnerable, but still I don't mind defending with this hand at all.

I don't know why I can't edit posts, for for my above post:

I don't want my partner to play the hand. Then RHO leads a heart through my K. That's another reason for not doubling.

RHO has entries on this auction. You're getting a heart through the king whether it's the opening lead or not (you probably don't have pitches).

I am trying to put together a hand with P where we don't have 5 losers, and most of those hands I'd rather defend against 2h. I stand corrected.

Hi, I'm a long-time bridge player (27 years) who just stumbled on this forum and thread.

On this hand we aer missing some vital pieces of information:
(1) Vulnerability
(2) Form of scoring

If the form of scoring is IMPs, Total points or Butler, I'm passing this at any vulnerability: there is no game for us and partner has a weak hand -- he knows I have 15-17 and yet has not been able to compete over 2H. This indicates he probably has 5 HCP at most. I have no good length and any bid by me now has little upside -- the most I can win is a partscore swing -- and a huge downside: we could get doubled for a fortune.
This downside is extra strong of we're vulnerable.

If the scoring is Matchpoint pairs, there is more of an incentive to bid, since you never get rich in matchpoints from defending a suit contract at the two-level.
There it would be nice to give a re-opening double here indicating shortness in hearts and asking partner to bid his best suit.
I still would probably only do this when non-vulnerable because of the danger of getting doubled for the disastrous -200 score.

OK, What would you do in this situation? Both sides Vulnerable, and you and your partner are playing SAYC on BBO.

RHO deals, and opens 1D.

KQJT65
KT62
7
J4

I doubled, just to see if we had a 4-4 heart fit (I'd rather play with that as the trump suit, and be able to run my spades). But what about overcalling 1S or 2S?

I'd normally just overcall 1s but i'm a donk

I bid 2D. Michaels showing the majors. It is kind of a lie, since you are 1 heart short.

Pleeeeeaase bid 1S

Pretty solid suit, no idea who's going to declare, 6-2 spade fit may be better than 4-4 heart fit, may still find heart fit after 1S
Michaels also may get us to an inferior heart contract.
1d-x-P-1h-P-1s should be stronger than this imo. 1d-x-p-2c-p- icky 2S bid
1d-x-3d-p-p-? 3S now?
If it had gone P-1D I could see a weak 2S with this hand.

FCBL, no michaels with 6-4. You shouldn't even do it with 5-4

hey, if someone plays bridge with me tonight i promise not to michaels without at least 5-5 in the unbid major(s) and another suit. aim=bobman5352

Double is really awful, that is for hands where you like partner to determine the trump suit. Here you want to play spades even if partner has a singleton spades and something like 9743 in hearts. Spades is where you live, so tell partner about that by bidding 1S. 2S is acceptable, both if you play it as intermediate (11-16) or weak (5-11).
The advantage of 1S is that it allows you to find the heart fit if partner has a good 5-card suit in hearts.

Another interference question, myself and partner both playing SAYC, opponents (playing precision if relevant) vulnerable:

QJ983
KQ86
AT
63

LHO passes, partner bids 2, RHO overcalls 3, we? We're likely looking towards slam, but how best to go about deciding which one?

I'm not really sure what X means, but it seems like a good bid. Either it's penalty-oriented, showing a good hand with spades, or it's negative, showing a good hand with 4+ hearts, which are both things we have.

3NT and 4H are both conceivable, but partner might pass, which is not good. 4D is a bit of a lie, but maybe OK.

Actually, now that I think about it, 3Sx might be the best spot. Declarer can't have more than an A/K, and even if he has 7 spades, that's only 4 tricks. 5 vulnerable undertricks is 1400 points, and he could go for as many as 7 or even 8.