OVERCALLS

Before Overcall - check vulnerability      

MUST HAVE

• 5 cards in suit
• 2 of top 3 Honours (3 of top 5 Honours - limit to level 1 overcall)
• 10-15 HCPs at 2 level (if have 8/9 points limit overcall to 1 level MUST HAVE GOOD SHAPE)
• OR if you have a long suit, count your losers and overcall at the 2 level if a 7 losers hand with less than 10HCPs

IF HAVE >16 HCPs, do a strength double.

Do not overcall at the 3 level without 16 HCPs and 6 cards

SUIT QUALITY TEST:

 Add the number of cards in the suit you wish to bid to the number of honours in that suit. The total should equal or exceed the number of tricks for which you are bidding.  Also, do not count the jack and ten as honours unless accompanied by another honour or honours, queen or higher. 

BEST TO HAVE

• 2 (5/4) suited hand >10HCPs - BID MAJOR
• Quality 6 suited hand (KJTxxx, x Axx, xxx) >8 HCPs
• DOUBLE if have a 1NT

Or could use a system

 weaker hand, MUST HAVE:

• 6+ cards - if 7 cards go to at least 3 level, 8 cards go to 4 level
• 2 of top 3 honours (or 3 of top 5), lead directing
• 6-10HCPs  (if more HCPs or strong in other suits, do a normal overcall)
• No void
• good vulnerability
• not over 1NT
• Must be a jump - no jump shows >10 HCPs
• don't jump over another weak hand (bid is 2H and you have AKJxxx in spades bid 2S)
• 2/3/4D should not have 4+ cards in either major
• 2/3/4H or 2/3/4S should not have 4 cards in other major

 MUST HAVE:

• 15-18 HCP 
• Stopper in openers suit (if no stopper, strength double if >16 points)

To overcall a pre-empt, you must have enough points to bid at the level required

Doubles may be more penalty orientated and more likely to be left in, especially at the 4 level

NOTE: Pre-empts give away the distribution of opponents hands. See Youtube video below from Keith Kat Bridge

Think about the card distribution and opponents hand shape. 

TYPES

• TAKEOUT DOUBLE

                            12-15 HCPs, other 3 suits

• STRENGTH DOUBLE 

                            >16 HCPs DBL and then bid your suit

• NEGATIVE DOUBLE
• SUPPORT DOUBLE

                    5+cards in each suit-  See Michael’s Cue bid and Unusual No Trump

 Opponents have bid 1 of a suit - and you are in pass out seat

You should have an agreement to play this, and also discuss a maxi-mini agreement (ie only play if <10HCPs or >15HCPs). If in 10-15 range then make an overcall in higher ranking of your two suits and hope to get a chance to bid the other one later. Also discuss HCPs values if vulnerable.

Allows you to show that you have a 2 suited (5+ in each) hand, no matter the point count. 

These hands are useless in defence, so better to play offence.

Joan Butts says only do with 11+ points needed if vulnerable.

 A bid of opponents suit after they have bid only one suit. If opponents have bid 2 suits a cue bid is natural meaning you have length in the suit you just bid

• 1 CLUBS -  2 CLUBS shows spades and hearts
• 1 DIAMONDS -  2 DIAMONDS shows spades and hearts
• 1 HEARTS -  2 HEARTS shows spades and a minor
• 1 SPADES -  2 SPADES shows hearts and a minor

Partners Response

With a fit raise partners hand, presume that partner has minimal points. 

RESPONSES

• A preference bid
• A jump preference bid (usually preemptive)
• A cue bid of openers suit, which is a game or slam try
• A new suit, non-forcing
• 2NT - when the cue is in a major suit, this asks partner to name the minor suit
• 3NT to play
• 4C serves the same as 2NT when 2NT is not available 
• 4NT is same as 2NT and 4C if they are not available 

If have a longer minor and some tolerance for the major bid the minor. Opener can bid the other minor if it is the wrong one. Responder can then bid the major if that minor is not suitable

OPENERS RESPONSE

When there is a fit, if maxi (>15HCPs) raise the responders suit but if mini pass

 If it is not a jump (eg over a weak 2 bid) then it is a strong no trump opener

However 2NT over 2C opener is an unusual 2NT

• 1 CLUBS -   2NT, shows hearts and diamonds
• 1 DIAMONDS - 2NT, shows hearts and clubs
• 1 HEARTS -  2NT, shows both minors
• 1 SPADES -  2NT, shows both minors

NOTE:  If partner bids 3H over LHO 1H, partner is asking if you have a stopper in hearts because partner has everything else covered.

Again only with mini or maxi hands

If intermediate hands make an overcall and then bid the other suit

With a strong hand, start with the unusual 2NT and bid again after partner takes her choice of suits, usually by raising the suit??

If hand is exceptionally strong can bid 4NT

RESPONSES

• A preference bid (bid cheapest suit first if have support and equal length)
• A jump preference bid (usually preemptive - 4 card support)
• A cuebid of openers suit which is a game or slam try (asks partner to her cheapest suit at the cheapest level with a weak hand, or jump with a strong hand)
• A new suit non- forcing
• 3NT to play
• 4NT Blackwood 

In the balancing seat:

A Michael’s cuebid can be used to tell partner you have 5/5 in majors

2NT shows 19-21 HCPs

Yes - if you have the right shape. 

In the direct seat you need:

• 6+ HCPs
• Mel's rule of 8 - Add up the number of cards in 2 longest suit then add the and the number of losers in your hand and subtract - if is is less than 2 PASS, otherwise bid

In the balancing seat:

• Mel's rule of 2 - bid if you have 2 shortage points and opener is about to be left in 1NT - Partner has points but could not bid and RH Opponent has nothing.

NEVER BID WITH 4-4-3-2, 5-3-3-2, 4-3-3-3 SHAPE

Video on YouTube by Red Dirt Bridge

• Have a good 5 card or 6 card suit? BID IT

• DOUBLE - any one suit (6+ cards) relay to 2C
• 2C - clubs and a higher suit (5/4 or 4/5)
• 2D - diamonds and a higher suit (5/4 or 4/5)
• 2H - hearts and spades (5/4 or 4/5)
• 2S - 6+ cards, weaker than double followed by 2S bid

• DBL:

                - usually strong balanced hand 19+

may also be:

                  - 4 card major and 5+ card minor

                  - 6 card minor

                  - 5 card major (no 4 card suit)

• 2C - shows you have both majors 5:5 (can be 5:4, rarely 4:4, depends on vulnerability and hand). Do not use if HCPs are in outside suits
• 2D - 6 hearts (or spades) without a side suit
• 2H - 5 hearts and a 4 card minor
• 2S - 5 spades and a 4 card minor
• 2NT - both minors

RESPONDING TO THE DOUBLE

• leave it in unless you are weak (0-3 HCPs)
• 2C - tolerance for the minors
• 2D - tolerance for both majors
• 2H -natural 6 hearts, non forcing
• 2S - natural 6 spades, non forcing
• 2NT - ?partnership agreement
• 3C -natural 6 clubs, non forcing
• 3D - natural 6 diamonds, non forcing 

RESPONDING TO 2C:

• PASS with 6 clubs
• Bid longest major
• 2D (relay) with equal length in the minors
• 2NT ?
• 3C/3D - 6 cards in a minor, if vulnerable need 2 of top 3 honors

RESPONDING TO 2D:

• 2H - pass or correct, if you have less hearts than spades and low points
• 4H - pass or correct with a strong hand and longer hearts

RESPONDING TO 2H:

• Pass to play
• 2S - 6+ spades, no heart support, nonforcing
• 2NT - artificial, no heart support, asks partner to bid minor
• 3C - 6+ clubs, no heart support, nonforcing
• 3D - 6+ diamonds, no heart support, nonforcing
• 3H - preemptive, 3+ hearts, nonforcing
• 3S - natural, 6+ good spades, no heart support, nonforcing
• 3NT/4H/4S - to play

RESPONDING TO 2S:

• Pass to play
• 2NT - artificial, no spade support, asks partner to bid minor
• 3C - 6+ clubs, no spade support, nonforcing
• 3D - 6+ diamonds, no spade support, nonforcing
• 3H - 6+ hearts, no spade support, nonforcing
• 3S - preemptive, 3+ spades, nonforcing
• 3NT/4H/4S - to play
• 
  

RESPONDING TO 2NT

• 3C - to play
• 3D - denies clubs
• 3H - 6+ hearts, no minor support, nonforcing
• 3S - 6+ spades, no minor support, nonforcing
• Can bid 3NT with hearts and spades and strong - to play
• 4C - 3+ clubs invitational to 5C
• 4D - 3+ diamonds, invitation to 5D
• 4H/4S - to play

• DOUBLE for penalty with 15+ HCPs
• 2C - one suited hand (6 cards) 11-14 HCPs 
• 2D - 5-4 or 4-5 in hearts and spades asking partner to correct 
• 2H - 5/5 in hearts and a minor
• 2S - 5/5 in spades and a minor
• 2NT - 5/5 in diamonds and clubs

RESPONSES TO DOUBLE:

• PASS unless have a 5+ card suit and a very weak hand

RESPONSES to 2C OVERCALL:

• PASS - 6+ clubs
• 2D - Artificial relay, asking partner to pass with diamonds or to bid 2H/2S/2C depending on which suit they have
• 2H - 6+ hearts, non-forcing
• 2S - 6+ spades, non-forcing
• 2NT - 10+ points, balanced and forcing for 1 round. Partner  can raise to 3NT, or bid own suit at 3 level

RESPONSES TO 2D OVERCALL

• PASS - a weak hand with tolerance for hearts
• 2S - Promises 6 spades, no heart support, non-forcing
• 2NT - Artificial, no heart support, asking partner to bid his minor suit at the 3 level
• 3C - promises 6+ good clubs, no heart support, non-forcing
• 3D - promises 6+ good diamonds, no heart support, non-forcing
• 3H - promises 3+ hearts, non-forcing

RESPONSES TO 2S OVERCALL

• PASS - a weak hand with tolerance for spades
• 2NT - artificial, no spade support, non-forcing, asking partner to bid his minor suit at the 3 level
• 3C - 6+ good clubs, no spade support, non-forcing
• 3D - 6+ good diamonds, no support, non-forcing
• 3H - 6+ good hearts, no spade support, non-forcing
• 3S - promises 3+ spades, non-forcing

RESPONSES TO 2NT OVERCALL

• 3C - a weak hand tolerance for clubs
• 2D - a weak hand tolerance for diamonds. No club support
• 3H - 6+ good hearts, no support for either minor, non-forcing
• 3S - 6+ good spades, no support for either minor, non-forcing
• 3NT - to play
• 4C - 3+ clubs, non-forcing
• 4D - 3+ diamonds, non-forcing

If partner has 16 HCPs they should have doubled and then bid their suit.

YOUR RESPONSE:

If you have:

• No fit and no chance of game - PASS, never rescue partner.  You are not required to bid on 6 points
• >3 cards in partners suit and fit  -  Raise partners suit, Jump if you have points or can cue bid showing 10 HCP and >3 cards
• If playing (partnership agreement) limit raises jump one level with 3 cards, 2 levels with 4 cards, and 3 levels with 5 cards (this shows a low point count)
• Stopper in opener’s suit and enough HCPs -  bid NT (For 1NT need 8-11 HCPs)
• 5+ suit and 10+ HCPs -  Change suit is forcing and suggests looking for game (partnership agreement)
• singleton in partner's suit and do not have enough points to bid own suit at the 2 level, if you have a good 7 card suit consider a weak jump shift

REMEMBER: In a competitive auction a jump with a change of suit shows a weak hand 

If partner has 16 HCPs they should have doubled and then bid their suit.

YOUR RESPONSE:

If you have:

• No fit and no chance of game - PASS, never rescue partner.  You are not required to bid on 6 points
• 3 cards in partners suit and 6-9 TPs -  Raise partners suit one level
• 4 card support and 4-6 TPs - jump a level (in competitive auctions jumps are weak)
• 5 card support and 4-6 TPs - jump to game
• 3+ card support an 10+ TPs - cue bid openers suit
• Stopper in opener’s suit and enough HCPs -  bid NT (For 1NT need 8-11 HCPs)
• 5+ suit and 10+ HCPs -  Change suit is non-forcing and asks partner  to consider which suit to play in (partnership agreement)

YOUR RESPONSE:

If you have

• <9 HCPs support partner if you can 
•  >8 HCPs look for game.

YOUR RESPONSE - NEW METHOD:

If you have

• 6-10 points, 3 trumps - raise to the 2 level
• 6-10 points, 4 trumps - raise to the 3 level
• 6-10 points, 5 trumps - raise to the 4 level
• 11+ points, 3+ trumps - cue bid opponents suit

YOUR RESPONSE - TRADITIONAL

• 6-10 points, 3+ trumps - raise one level
• 11-14 points, 4+ trumps - jump raise
• 15+ points, 3+ trumps - raise to game or cue bid, then raise to game
• 6-10 points ,5+ trumps - raise to game pre-empively