Draw your own path

Teams. You are south, vulnerable against not. In fourth position, you pick up the following hand:

You are about to bid 1NT but East opens 1♠ in third position.

Which overcall do you choose?

You can hesitate between three bids (well, calls actually):

• 1SA : after all, this is the bid you would have made without the 1♠ opening and you do stop the Spades. Disadvantage: you only have one stopper.
• 2♣ : an overcall at the two-level often comes with a six-card suit, but it is tolerated with a very good five-card suit. Disadvantage: because of the balanced distribution, your hand is a priori more adapted to a No-trump contract than a Trump contract.
•  Double: it is preferable to have four Hearts for a Double, but the presence of only three cards is not prohibitive when you have added values. Disadvantage: you risk playing Two Hearts or Two Diamonds in a 4-3 fit.

None of these calls is shocking but my preference goes to the 1NT bid, which has the merit of allowing you to play a good part-score contract in One No-Trump or Two Hearts (if North makes a transfer), but also of immediately establishing the distribution and strength of the hand and thus facilitating subsequent developments.

• 1NT : 20 points.
• Double : 14 points.
• 2♣ : 10 points.

After your 1NT overcall West raises his partner to 2♠, and your partner bids 3♦.

How do you interpret the 3♦ bid?