<p>As pointed out in the comments, the range 12-18 is a double range for which both sides must be looked at separately.</p>

<p>With the lower half, 12 to a bad 15, just pass. <strong><em>Don't hesitate</em></strong>; just pass in your normal tempo. Trust partner to balance when necessary, or find a partner who will. Any hesitation with this hand gives partner an ethical problem that will prevent a reopening call.</p>

<p>With the upper half, a good 15 to 18, just bid 1NT in tempo. </p>

CC BY-SA 4.0
2018-07-12T22:32:01.903Z
2018-07-12T22:32:01.903Z
Forget I was ever here
<p>A bid of 1 NT over an opening bid of 1 of a suit holding 15-18, a balanced hand, <strong>and a stopper</strong> in the bid suit seems reasonable.  If the suit bid by the opponent was one in which the overcaller holds 3 small cards, I would favor a double, despite a 2-card club suit. It is a risk, as partner might bid the short suit, but the likelihood of the NT bid winding up in a 3NT contract where the opponents lead and run the Heart suit in the case described seems much more serious. </p>

<p>Given the pressure to respond in a major if possible, the risk of a club mis-fit seems tolerable to em, as no bid is perfect in this situation, and a good fifteen is too strong to make pass attractive.</p>

CC BY-SA 4.0
2019-03-05T02:54:47.863Z
Would the down voter care to explain the perceived problem with this answer? I am growing more and more convinced that unexplained down-votes should be removed from the SE model. I am not an expert, but i am a fairly experienced tournament and club player, approaching life Master status in the ACBL
David Siegel
CC BY-SA 4.0
2019-03-04T01:27:59.783Z
2019-03-04T01:27:59.783Z
David Siegel
<p>Let's say I have a 4S-3H-4D-2C distribution and 12-18 points. One of the opponents has already opened and they didn't bid clubs but one of the other suits (S, H or D). Now what can I bid? I cannot overcall because that requires a strong suit. I cannot double because that promises at least a 3 carder of all the unbid suits including clubs. What do I bid in this case?   </p>

<p>I play Standard American 5 card major or 2/1</p>

CC BY-SA 4.0
2018-07-12T09:19:48.917Z
"can't double" depends on what you've agreed on with your partner. With this had, I'd overcall with 1NT if the hand was 15+ points.
steenbergh
CC BY-SA 4.0
2018-07-12T10:24:25.827Z
Yup, "12-18" is too wide a range to be covered by a single bid. The strong end (however your partrnership defines that) is 1NT, the weak probably Pass.
Tim Lymington
<bridge><bidding>
Is there a correct overcall or double in this case?
user93353
# Is there a correct overcall or double in this case?

(Asked by: username_0 on 2018-07-12)

Let's say I have a 4S-3H-4D-2C distribution and 12-18 points. One of the opponents has already opened and they didn't bid clubs but one of the other suits (S, H or D). Now what can I bid? I cannot overcall because that requires a strong suit. I cannot double because that promises at least a 3 carder of all the unbid suits including clubs. What do I bid in this case?

I play Standard American 5 card major or 2/1

**Tags:** bridge, bidding

> **Comments:**
> **username_1**: "can't double" depends on what you've agreed on with your partner. With this had, I'd overcall with 1NT if the hand was 15+ points.  
> **username_2**: Yup, "12-18" is too wide a range to be covered by a single bid. The strong end (however your partrnership defines that) is 1NT, the weak probably Pass.  

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## 2 answers

### Answer by username_3 on 2018-07-12. Score: 2 | Accepted answer

As pointed out in the comments, the range 12-18 is a double range for which both sides must be looked at separately.

With the lower half, 12 to a bad 15, just pass. ***Don't hesitate***; just pass in your normal tempo. Trust partner to balance when necessary, or find a partner who will. Any hesitation with this hand gives partner an ethical problem that will prevent a reopening call.

With the upper half, a good 15 to 18, just bid 1NT in tempo.


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### Answer by username_4 on 2019-03-04. Score: -1

A bid of 1 NT over an opening bid of 1 of a suit holding 15-18, a balanced hand, **and a stopper** in the bid suit seems reasonable. If the suit bid by the opponent was one in which the overcaller holds 3 small cards, I would favor a double, despite a 2-card club suit. It is a risk, as partner might bid the short suit, but the likelihood of the NT bid winding up in a 3NT contract where the opponents lead and run the Heart suit in the case described seems much more serious.

Given the pressure to respond in a major if possible, the risk of a club mis-fit seems tolerable to em, as no bid is perfect in this situation, and a good fifteen is too strong to make pass attractive.

> **Comments:**
> **username_4**: Would the down voter care to explain the perceived problem with this answer? I am growing more and more convinced that unexplained down-votes should be removed from the SE model. I am not an expert, but i am a fairly experienced tournament and club player, approaching life Master status in the ACBL  

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