Keeping Up With Conventions Overcalls - Part II BY DAVID LINDOP If your partnership agreement is Strong Takeout Double This series of articles looks at how to fill that you could overcall 2w with this out the standard convention card. What would you do z A K Q 2 hand to show clubs ... and similarly with this hand if 1y y — Previous articles can be found by bid 2x over 1x to show diamonds visiting the Better Bridge News section is opened on your x AKJ 8 ... you would check the box beside w at www.AudreyGrant.com. right? At one time, it A Q 9 8 3 “Natural” in the column under was popular to bid 2y with this type “Minor.” If you would also bid 2y of hand, showing a hand too strong over an opponent’s 1y opening to for a normal takeout double. If that’s n last month’s article we started show hearts, you would check the to look at the sections on the your style, you check the boxes on the box beside “Natural” in the column line beside “Strong T/O” (strong Iconvention card dealing with under “Major.” partnership agreements on overcalls. TakeOut) under each column for Let’s continue the discussion. It’s unusual to want to play in the which this applies ... over minors, same suit as the opponent. After all, majors, and/or artificial opening bids. The Direct Cuebid a 1y opening usually shows a five- This approach isn’t common today. The opponent on z 9 7 card or longer suit. Even a minor Most players would make a takeout your right opens y 8 6 suit opening shows a three-card suit double on the above hand, planning to 1w and you have x A 7 5 or longer. As a result, the checked show the extra strength by jumping a w this hand. What A K J 10 8 6 boxes for this approach are both level or by cuebidding the opponent’s call do you make? One thing you marked in red. This means you must suit on the next round of the auction. shouldn’t do is think for a long time alert if your partner makes such a and pass. You also shouldn’t ask any call and, likewise, your partner must The Michaels Cuebid questions or pick up the opponent’s alert if you make such a call ... to If the direct cuebid isn’t used as a convention card to look at the area warn the opponents. (This is a natural bid or a strong takeout, what under MINOR OPENING to see recent change to the regulations. is it used for? Many partnerships have how many clubs are promised by a Cuebids are not usually alertable. adopted the Michaels convention. A 1w bid. Such actions are frowned This is an exception.) cuebid of the opponent’s minor shows upon because everyone at the table If most players don’t treat an a distributional hand with at least five cards in both majors. will be aware that you have a fistful direct cuebid of the opponent’s suit of clubs, whether you bid or pass. as a natural bid, what would they do For example, if z K Q 10 9 4 In today’s game, you should be with this hand? Pass. You don’t the opponent on y Q J 10 8 6 3 x aware that a 1w opening can occa- mind if the opponents want to play your right opens 5 w w 3 sionally be made on a three-card in your long suit. If the opponents 1 , you could bid 2w with this hand, asking partner to suit. However, it won’t be fewer start bidding other suits, you can bid a major. If the opening is 1x, you than three clubs unless the opponent overcall in clubs later and this would would bid 2x. Michaels doesn’t on your left alerts the call. So, then be interpreted as a natural bid. promise a strong hand. The advantage there’s no need to inquire. (Some partnerships would use an is that you show two suits at once. That doesn’t solve the dilemma immediate jump to 3w to show What if the opening bid is 1y or of what to do with this hand. You clubs, but that isn’t a standard 1z? Then the cuebid shows five or might still want to overcall 2w. agreement.) more of the other major suit and a Bidding the same suit as your right- If the opponent’s opening bid is hand opponent is called a direct cue- five-card or longer minor suit. For artificial, such as a Precision 1w y bid and is covered in this section: example, over 1 z Q J 10 8 4 which could be made with zero you could cuebid 2y y 7 3 DIRECT CUEBID clubs, many players would treat an with this hand. If x KQJ 8 4 OVER: Minor Major Artif. Bid overcall of the same suit as natural you use Michaels, w 4 Natural and would check the appropriate box: check the appropriate boxes: Strong T/O OVER: Minor Major Artif. Bid OVER: Minor Major Artif. Bid Michaels Natural √ Michaels √√ Notrump Overcalls The reasoning is that partner is 1NT opening with a poor five-card marked with some of the missing suit. Responder on your left is well Suppose you hold this z K 4 strength because the opponents placed to double for penalties with hand and the bidding y KJ 10 stopped in partscore. Holding only 13 some length and strength in your is opened 1y on your x A Q 7 2 points, many players would make a suit and the knowledge that opener right. What call do w K J 8 3 balancing overcall of 1NT at this has a strong balanced hand. you make? The standard agreement point. If this is your agreement, you It is much safer to come in with is that a direct overcall of 1NT might indicate it like this: a good one-suited hand, or with a shows the hand similar to that for an Balancing: 12 to 14 two-suited hand so you have a better opening bid of 1NT. This is entered chance of finding a fit. As a result, in this section: The Unusual Notrump many conventions have been invented NOTRUMP OVERCALLS to show a combination of one- and If a direct overcall of 1NT shows Direct: to Systems on two-suited hands over an opponent’s about the same strength as an opening 1NT opening. The partnership’s Conv. bid of 1NT, why not use a jump to agreement is indicated on this section: Balancing: to 2NT to show the same strength as an DEFENSE VS NOTRUMP Jump to 2NT: Minors 2 Lowest opening bid of 2NT, say 20–21 points? Conv. The reason is simple. You’ll rarely vs: get a hand with that much strength 2w A slight difference is that you after your right-hand opponent 2x want strength in the opponent’s suit, opens the bidding. If you do, you 2y especially if it is a major. Left-hand can start with a takeout double and 2z opponent is likely to lead that suit if then bid or jump in notrump. Dbl: you do win the auction. Another Instead, most partnerships use a Other consideration is to be a little more jump overcall to 2NT over an opening conservative when overcalling 1NT. bid of one of a suit to show a After all, the opponent on your right two-suited hand ... similar to the If your partnership doesn’t have likely has most of the missing Michaels cuebid. This is referred to any conventional agreements on the strength. If your range is 15–17 for as the unusual notrump. Over 1y or meaning of overcalls over an an opening 1NT, you might want to 1z, a jump to 2NT shows at least opponent’s 1NT opening bid ... a 2y overcall simply shows hearts ... use a range of 15+ to 18 ... the + five cards in both minor suits. Over leave this section blank. indicating a hand that includes some an opening bid of 1w or 1x, a jump 10’s and 9’s or a five-card suit. to 2NT shows the two lower unbid There are two columns because some partnerships use different Many partnerships like to use the suits: diamonds and hearts over an defenses depending on the notrump same conventions when advancing opening bid of 1w; clubs and hearts range their opponents are using. (responding to) a 1NT overcall as over an opening bid of 1x. they use after an opening 1NT bid. They might have one agreement if the For example, over an opening 1y For example, 2w would still be opponents are using a range of 15–17 bid on your right, z Stayman. If that’s the case, you 6 3 points and a different agreement if you might make an y — the range is 12–14. would check the box marked x unusual jump over- A J 10 8 5 A relatively simple agreement is “Systems on”: w K J 9 7 6 3 call of 2NT with this the Landy convention. An overcall NOTRUMP OVERCALLS hand, asking partner to bid a minor of 2w shows both majors. Playing Direct: 15+ to 18 Systems on √ suit. If you have this agreement, you this convention, you might overcall would check the appropriate boxes: 2w with this hand if z Q J 10 8 7 Balancing 1NT the opponent on Jump to 2NT: Minors √ 2 Lowest √ y K Q 9 7 3 Suppose you have this z Q 7 5 your right opens x 6 4 hand as South and 1y y AQ 9 Defense Against 1NT 1NT.