5-4 major: which call, which plan?

From the situation below, make your call and then play the hand, following the advice of Marc Kerlero, accredited teacher of the French Bridge Federation. It’s a great way to test your knowledge!

You are playing IMPs, seated East, with North as dealer and East–West vulnerable.

What is your call?

Here is an extremely common situation. You hold a 5-4 major two-suiter, and your opponent opens 1 of a minor.

Should you double or overcall in your five-card major?

The answer lies in how the auction is likely to continue. Suppose you start with a takeout double.

Everything will go smoothly if your partner bids a major: you simply raise to the appropriate level — even passing if your combined strength is insufficient for game, since partner has already limited their hand.

A quick reminder:
1♥/1♠ shows 0-7 points;
2♥/2♠ shows 8-10 points with four cards;
3♥/3♠ shows 8-10 points with five cards.

So far, so good. But sometimes partner responds in the other minor, bids No Trump, or doesn’t get a chance to respond at all if opener’s partner enters the auction.

Now, sequences such as: