Overcalls.
first bid by your side is an OVERCALL
Overcalls either show a
GOOD SUIT or a STRONG
BALANCED HAND
At the ONE level suit overcalls
can be made on a weak hand but the
SUIT MUST BE GOOD.
[Suit quality
test for overcalls =
number of cards + number of top honours (AKQ ) =
number of tricks required at level at which
you are bidding]
At the TWO
level suit overcalls are always a
GOOD SUIT but the hand
must be stronger.
SUIT OVERCALLS should fulfil at least
two of the following demands
1.
This is the suit that you want partner to lead.
2.
The bid takes up a lot of the opponents bidding
space
3.
You have a reason to believe that your side can win
the auction.
A 1NT OVERCALL is made on a balanced had with
15-17 HCPs and a GUARD in the opponents
suit.
In 4th seat after 2 passes this may be weaker (11-14 HCPs)
If you have a SHORTAGE in the OPPONENTS SUIT
AND you have 12+
HCPs you should
DOUBLE and this ask for
partner’s longest suit.
Partner is the responder
to the overcaller.
With a balanced hand and 12
– 14 HCPs YOU MUST PASS!!!!!!
A bid of the opponents MAJOR suit is an OVERCALL showing a
2 suited hand
(5/5). The suits will be the other MAJOR and a MINOR
2NT overcalls are used to show
a
2 suited hand (5/5) usually
the minor suit.
|
GOOD SUIT 8 – 13 HCPs |
Overcall at
minimum level |
|
GOOD SUIT 14+ HCPs |
Overcall jumping ONE level of bidding (1C – 2H ) ( 1S – 3H ) |
|
GOOD LONG
SUIT (7+) WEAK Hand |
Overcall jumping TWO levels of bidding (1C – 3H ) (1S – 4H ) |
|
0 – 14
points with a balanced hand or only poor long suit |
PASS |
|
12+ points
with a SHORTAGE in suit opened by opponents |
DOUBLE |
|
15 – 17
points and good cards in their suit |
Overcall
1NT |
The suit overcalled will always be a good
suit worthy of an opening lead against NTs regardless of partner’s holdings
in other suits.
Simple overcalls
at the one level will possibly be less than opening values.
Simple overcalls at the 2 level should be near
opening values.
Jump overcalls will
always be opening values (max 7 losers)
Double jump
overcalls will be 6 – 9 points and if only 7 cards will have 2 top Hons.
Any raise is pre-emptive.
A change of suit should be constructive – not a
rescue.
A bid of their suit shows support for the overcalled
suit and a minimum of 11 points
(This is called an Unassuming Cue bid)
Definitions.
Opening
bids
|
Overcalls
|
|
One of a Suit
12 – 19 HCPs |
Lowest level 8 – 14 HCPs |
|
1 No Trump 12 – 14 HCPs |
1No Trump 15 – 17 HCPs |
|
Two of a Suit 20+ HCPs |
Jump level 12 - 15 HCPs |
2NT
20 – 22 Bal |
2NT
2 suited usually 5/5 minors. |
|
Opening bids in
a suit show longest suit, promise generally GOOD HAND |
Overcalls
promise a GOOD SUIT, don’t promise values outside the suit. |
Hints.....
NEVER try to rescue partner UNLESS your suit
is better than partner’s is likely to be.
Consider bidding NTs only
if you have support for partner’s minor suit AND values outside.
RAISE partner’s major suit with as little as
HX
If you have even a weak hand
but have 5 cards in partner’s suit JUMP immediately to game in
THAT suit.
Bidding opposite 1NT overcalls.
When there has been no intervention --
Remember that Systems are “ON”
opposite NT openings – and 1NT overcalls.
i.e.STAYMAN and TRANSFERS apply
A
bid of the opponents MAJOR suit is an OVERCALL showing a
2 suited hand (min(5/5).
The suits will be the other
MAJOR and a MINOR
A bid of 2NT as
an overcall is used to show a
2 suited hand (min 5/5) and
is best used for the minor suits.
E.A.J. June 2015