The rule of thumb is that the weaker a hand is in high card points, the better the bid suit should be (i.e., longer or with stronger honours).

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Esmond Quinn
5 years ago
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1 Page of 8 Simple Overcall Reasons for Overcalling Competing (High-card-point strength) Sacrificing (Long suit in a shapely hand) 3 Disrupting (Taking up bidding space- spades/spades/spades) 4 Asking for a lead (Good suit) Bidding level: generally, the higher the call, the more the strength required, since the danger of going down is greater. Usually 6-5 pts (Double with 6+ pts) General rules for overcalling in suits A good five-card or any longer suit; the features that qualify a suit as 'good' are subject to partnership agreement. 6-5 high-card points (HCP) for an overcall at the one-level or suit quality 0-5+ HCP for an overcall at the two-level- or suit quality A higher level overcall (e.g., after an opponent's pre-empt) requires at least opening-bid strength. The rule of thumb is that the weaker a hand is in high card points, the better the bid suit should be (i.e., longer or with stronger honours). Vulnerability: Vulnerable overcalls need to be stronger (8-5pts) because the penalties are bigger. Spades: the most powerful suit because it is the highest-ranking. If both sides can make eight tricks, then the side with the spade suit wins; also, if you hold spades you can make sacrifice bids at lower levels. Whenever you hold a five card spade suit you should seriously consider an overcall. Suit Quality Test Rule of thumb Add the number of cards in the suit to the number of honours (AKQJ0) With 7 bid at the level; with 8 bid at the level; with 9 bid up to 3 level. Example hands Over a club or diamond opening bid consider an overcall with the following 63 AKJ for the lead A3 AKJ or over opposing clubs response general strength + lead A3 AK986 K or over opposing clubs response AQ7 94 KJ Maybe over club but never - or never over a L hand opener Over any level opening bid Q0754 KQ cheeky but ok non vulnerable AKQ0 Q only 4 cards but meets the suit quality rule 93 AKJ or for disruption purpose even 3 Non Vuln verses Vuln Stronger hands such as A3 AK986 KQ5 Q4 are considered too strong for an overcall, and should be bid via a takeout double followed by the most economical rebid in hearts. Home work - Would you overcall with the following hands following a opener and WHY J A K K Q 4 A J J A K J A K J 4 3 J KQJ

2 General rules for No Trump overcalls Page of 8 NT Notrump overcalls at the one-level normally indicate 5-8 HCP in a balanced hand, with at least one stopper in opponent's suit. Usually expect all systems on but using a higher point count e.g. Stayman & full Transfers are on but this is partnership agreement. The hand KJ63 AQ A84 Q93 is suitable for a NT overcall over any opening bid, as well as a NT overcall over an opponent's weak two bid. With 9+ it is too strong for NT overcall so double and bid NT at lowest level. DO NOT respond NT at first opportunity without 9+ even if you are fixed for a bid as partner will expect the full 9+ points The hand KJ63 AQJ A84 KQ9 is suitable for a Double and subsequent NT overcall over any opening bid, as well as a 3NT overcall over an opponent's weak two bid. NT this will normally be part of your suited bidding system so we will not include it here. Responses to an suit overcall Response Meaning A simple raise MUST support if possible even with 3 card and no points (law of total tricks) it usually has 5-0 but can have as little as 0 with lots of shape (<0 is insufficient values for a game contract). It is pre-emptive and completely non-forcing. BUT take care vulnerable & may need to up the points to 5. A jump raise A new suit NT - borrowed king theory NT A cuebid of an opposing suit Usually shows a weak, pre-emptive hand (with at least 4-card support). It is also common to make a 4 / jump raise with 5-card support regardless of strength (as you are bidding to be disruptive and use space). However, a major suit jump raise may also be made by a strong hand that believes the game contract will succeed. Natural and non-forcing, typically showing a 6-card suit and denying support for partner's suit. Unless you decide to play them as forcing. If in doubt, trust your partner; you should only change the suit on a weak hand if there is a five-card difference in your holding in the two suits, i.e. if you have a singleton in your partner s suit and a six-card suit of your own and even then your suit should be strong. Remember that you are not responding to an opening bid: the over caller could have as few as 7 or 8 points, must have points yourself to play successfully in no-trumps. Considering that your partner could have about 4 points fewer than an opening bid, your response should show 4 more points. That means that a NT response shows 0-3 points. 3 points is right on the cusp; with a good 3 points or more you can cue-bid the opponents suit. Depends on partnership agreement. It can be played as natural and invitational to 3NT with no fit & stop in opponents suit 4-6 points, OR it can be played as an artificial force, showing any type of good hand. Overcaller can bid a side suit feature (i.e. an ace or king), or simply rebid his suit at the cheapest level showing minimum. Usually played as a forcing raise with interest in game. With a minimum hand, overcaller can rebid his suit at the cheapest level. With a strong hand, over caller can bid game or a side suit ace or king.

3 Hand Examples Page 3 of 8 Hand QJ7 4 J Hand QJ7 4 A Hand 3 QJ76 4 A Weak - An obstructive 3-card raise. Non-forcing. 3 Weak pre-emptive 4-card raise. Non-forcing. 3 Weak pre-emptive 5-card raise. Non-forcing. Hand AKQ9 AJ76 Hand AKQ9 AJ76 pass or NT strong response - totally forcing for round. Minimum 5-9 pass 3NT strong response - totally forcing for round. Maximum -5 with4 Hearts Discussion There is a big difference between a two level vulnerable overcall in a minor suit and a onelevel non-vulnerable overcall in a major. The former is likely to be based on a good opening hand with a strong suit; the latter, however, may just have a strong or long suit (remember spades, spades, spades). Before you get too excited, make sure you try to assess the kind of hand your partner might have. it is important to use good judgement; aggressive overcalls on good suits are wise, but bad suits tend to lead to trouble. The idea holds when responding to overcalls as long as you are aggressive when you have a good fit, but are more staid without support. By taking your time and using the opponents suit when strong, you will see that this system of aggressive overcalling can work for both sides of your partnership! A big fit always makes for a lot of tricks as long as it is accompanied by a little distribution. These first three hands have each bid to the level of their fit, contracting to make the same number of tricks as there are cards in your trump fit. The weak jump overcall has widely replaced the traditional "strong" jump overcall. To show a strong one-suited hand, modern practice is to start with a takeout double and follow up by bidding the strong suit.

4 Page 4 of 8 The higher you pre-empt (both in terms of suit rank and bidding level), the more likely it is that you will play the contract, perhaps doubled. A 3 jump overcall, for example, robs the opponents of much more bidding space than a 3 jump overcall - Tip of the day remember not to use a jump to 3 if it is part of your modified ghestem system Many players consider intermediate jump overcalls to be more effective against good opponents, whereas weak jump overcalls may be more useful against bad ones. As a middle-of-the-road approach, expert Marshall Miles has noted in his book "Competitive Bidding in the st Century" that he prefers intermediate jump overcalls only when vulnerable. Thus, weak jump overcalls can still be played in the safer waters of white-onwhite or white-on red vulnerability.

5 Weak jump overcalls Weak Jump Overcalls are pre-emptive jump overcalls intended to obstruct the opponents' bidding. A weak jump overcall typically promises: a 6-card suit at the -level (identical to a Weak Two opening bid) a 7-card suit at the 3-level Page 5 of 8 These guidelines are subject to partnership agreement and vulnerability. Aggressive pairs may pre-empt with shorter suits, especially when not vulnerable. A weak jump overcall shows 5-0 high card points, although vulnerability too is a consideration. For instance, it may be advisable to pass rather than pre-empt at unfavourable vulnerability with only 5 points. Examples of weak jump overcalls AKT98 5 T9 J3 A weak jump overcall, showing 5-0 points and a 6-card spade suit. 5 KJT973 A J3 Showing 5-0 points and a 7-card heart suit. 3 Responses to a weak jump overcall Response A simple raise A jump raise A new suit NT A cuebid of an opposing suit Meaning Shows 3 or 4-card support and approximately 6-3 points (insufficient values for a game contract). It is pre-emptive and completely non-forcing. Usually shows a weak, pre-emptive hand (with at least 4-card support). It is also common to make a 4 / jump raise with 5-card support regardless of strength. However, a major suit jump raise may also be made by a strong hand that believes the game contract will succeed. Natural and non-forcing, typically showing a 6-card suit and denying support for partner's suit. Depends on partnership agreement. It can be played as natural and invitational to 3NT, or it can be played as an artificial force, showing any type of good hand. Overcaller can bid a side suit feature (i.e. an ace or king), or simply rebid his suit at the cheapest level. Usually played as a forcing raise with interest in game. With a minimum hand, overcaller can rebid his suit at the cheapest level. With a strong hand, over caller can bid game or a side suit ace or king.

6 Hand Examples Hand AJ3 5 T94 K54 Weak. An obstructive 3-card raise. Non-forcing. 3 Page 6 of 8 Hand 9 JT53 T9 AQT Hand 3 AKJ93 AT3 T9 4 Weak. A 5-card raise. Maybe it's a good sacrifice. Maybe partner might even make it. 3 3 Weak. Natural and non-forcing. Strongly implies a lack of club support. Hand 4 AKJ KQJ5 6 K743 Weak. A strong raise to game. 4

7 Page 7 of 8 Intermediate Intermediate jump overcalls are more constructive than weak jump overcalls. A jump overcall at the -level shows a 6-card suit and -5 points. A jump overcall at the 3-level shows a 7-card suit and -5 points. Many players consider intermediate jump overcalls to be more effective against good opponents, whereas weak jump overcalls may be more useful against bad ones. As a middle-of-the-road approach, expert Marshall Miles has noted in his book "Competitive Bidding in the st Century" that he prefers intermediate jump overcalls only when vulnerable. Thus, weak jump overcalls can still be played in the safer waters of white-on-white or white-on red vulnerability. Examples of intermediate jump overcalls: QJ T98 AKJ86 Q7 Bid with a 6-card suit and 3 HCP. 5 KQT543 AT9 A63 Bid. It does not matter if one or both opponents have bid AK Bid 3 with a 7-card suit. AQJ875 AQ KQ7 K8 Jump overcalls in the balancing seat need partnership discussion. Most players agree that they show a 6-card suit and a good hand. Bidding seems pretty sensible here. However, exact point ranges vary by agreement. KJ85 9 Q763 A54 Double Intermediate jump overcalls are off if partner has bid. Opposite a takeout double, bid to show 4+ spades and 0+ points.

8 The responses to an intermediate jump overcall are as follows. Page 8 of 8 Response NT New suit Single raise Double raise Meaning In response to a -level jump overcall, NT is artificial and forcing with 0+ points and game interest. (See below). Natural, nonforcing. Usually denies + card support. Preemptive. Partner is expected to pass. Natural, signoff. May be strong or preemptive. The responses to the artificial NT query depend on a partnership's agreements. The Ogust set of conventional responses works well. If not playing Ogust, however, a three-level new suit can show a control (ace or king). Hand K84 Q AQT94 K85 A T8 K97 All pass () Intermediate jump overcall. A non-forcing raise. Double 3 () Hand KQJ73 AT6 53 KJ4 AKJ KJ7 All pass () 3 (3) NT () 4 Intermediate jump overcall. Artificial inquiry. Playing Ogust responses, this shows a maximum hand with of the top 3 spade honours

Lesson 7: More Competitive Auctions and Slam Bidding

Lesson 7: More Competitive Auctions and Slam Bidding Overcalling in NT Balanced hands can overcall NT, however there are some requirements As the opponents know what to lead, we will need a stop in the