PLAY BRIDGE PLAY can’t raise you, at least he will have a better idea of what to do on defense. Beside guiding the opening lead, he is more likely to figure out your distribution if you overcall. Example #2 Overcalls — part 1 What about this hand: K Q 3 10 7 6 5 3 A 6 3 5 2 The term overcall refers to any J 7 5 K J 9 5 4 K J 4 3 7? Answer: You should pass. You bid by your side after an opponent Most players would overcall 1 have a bad suit and only 9 HCP. If has opened the bidding. Overcalls at the one level. With the 9, your you pass, perhaps partner can act occur frequently, making them an suit is strong enough. You have and then you’ll have a better idea important topic to discuss with your support for spades or diamonds if how to proceed. partners. Many new players have partner introduces either of those Example #3 misconceptions about overcalls, suits. If you defend, partner will be K Q 3 J 7 6 5 3 A 6 3 K 2 however. Following are some better placed. This is an example of Answer: This one is a toss-up. guidelines on how to approach this a suit that is safe to overcall at the Some players would overcall 1, topic. one level, but would be dangerous even with a bad suit. You have 12 Why overcall? to bid at the two level after, for HCP and a well-placed K. Purists Overcalling offers several example, a 1 bid by RHO. would pass, however, because of the advantages. Bidding your suit A myth suit quality. You and your partner interferes with the opponents’ Many players have the mistaken should decide which camp you are exchange of information. Often idea that an overcall always shows in. Are the advantages of getting it locates a fit and partner can less than an opening bid. These in the bidding worth the downside continue the obstruction. Even if same players thus double with an of bidding a bad suit? The most your suit doesn’t fit partner, he opening hand, even if they do not important thing is that the two of is now invited into the bidding have support for all three unbid you are on the same wavelength. to name his suit if he has an suits. Most good players do not Example #4 appropriate hand. Even if partner subscribe to this thinking, however, K Q 3 A K 7 6 5 A 6 3 4 2 can’t respond after you overcall, he and overcall with fairly good hands Answer: Bid 1. Yes, you have a has a better idea of what to lead if as well as those that are less than good hand. Yes, you have secondary your side defends. opening strength. support for spades and diamonds. Factors to consider Suppose you hold: If you double, however, and partner Some points to consider before A K J 6 3 K 2 K 10 3 5 3 bids 1, you will want to bid 2, making an overcall are your: (1) suit and hear your right-hand opponent and that shows a stronger hand than length, (2) suit strength, (3) general open 1. You should overcall 1. this one. Doubling and bidding your hand strength, (4) vulnerability and Yes, you have an opening hand, own suit should be reserved for a (5) level. but 1 does not deny that. If you powerhouse. An overcall at the one level is double and partner responds 1, Example #5 usually based on a five-card (or you will now bid 1 and that K 4 3 A 4 K Q J 9 6 7 4 2 longer) suit and doesn’t promise or shows a stronger hand. Doubling Answer: Bid 1 — this is a deny an opening hand in high-card and bidding your own suit typically classic overcall. Even though strength. After a 1 opening, most shows 18 or more HCP. you have 13 HCP, do not double. players would overcall 1 holding: Questions and answers Remember the myth discussed A Q 10 7 4 8 6 3 K 7 3 5 3. Suppose your right-hand opponent above. You have only two cards in You only have 9 HCP, but the suit opens 1 and you hold these the heart suit and a double promises is strong enough to qualify. hands. Would you overcall? better support than that. Your Suppose your suit is not as strong. Example #1 diamond suit is strong. Go ahead With Q 7 3 K Q 6 5 3 7 6 3 K 2 and bid it. J 7 6 5 4 8 6 A K 3 6 5 3, Answer: Bid 1. You have a Overcalling at the two level and most players would pass. Your suit fairly good five-card suit and a how to respond to overcalls will be is weak and you only have 8 HCP. smattering of values. If partner covered next month. Stay tuned. r 44 Bridge Bulletin PLAY BRIDGE PLAY Overcalls – part 2 West North East South Rebid 4. Partner has a limit Overcalls at the one-level were 1 1 Pass ? raise (or better) so you accept his discussed last month. An overcall Again cuebid 2. This promises invitation. interferes with your opponents’ a limit raise, but may be better. Example #3: bidding, invites partner into the Example #4: A Q 10 4 3 5 3 A 8 4 K 10 4 auction and helps your partner on What if you have good support, Rebid 2. The message this sends defense. but you are weak? You hold, to partner is that you do not have Responding with support K 10 4 2 4 2 10 4 Q 7 5 4 2. enough to go directly to game as in Your partner overcalls and you have Bid 3. This is preemptive and example #2, but you do not have a at least three-card support — how weak. You have the requisite four weak overcall as in example #1. If should you proceed? Raising partner trumps. Your hand is weak in terms partner has a minimum limit raise, is the first priority. Here are some of HCP (and defense), but you have he can sign off in 2 and you guidelines: distributional values. The 3 bid can pass. If partner has more than 1. Make a simple raise with 6 to 10 sends that message to partner, and invitational values, he can bid 4. support points. Support points refer obstructs the opponents. Notice that you only have a three- to high-card points plus points Rebidding after overcalling card diamond suit. This will often be added for distribution. After you overcall, partner should the case. You have a known spade 2. With11-plus support points, cuebid let you know if he has support. Your fit, so you are not trying to play the suit the opponent opened. overcall may be based on a wide diamonds. 3. With 4 to 6 support points and four range in terms of strength. After a Responses when you don’t or more trumps, make a preemptive cuebid, therefore, you have to tell have support jump raise. partner how strong you are. If you Often you will not have support Example #1: are strong enough to make game for partner after he overcalls. If you Suppose you hold: opposite a limit raise, you should bid have a stopper in the opponent’s K 5 2 10 6 5 A 10 4 2 J 4 3 it. If you have a weak overcall (less suit, you can bid notrump with 7 to and it’s your turn to bid: than an opening bid), you should 10 (or 11) HCP. If you have a good West North East South repeat your suit. If you have a hand suit of your own, you can bid it. 1 1 Pass ? that is in between, you should make Here are two examples. In both You have support for partner, so bid a bid in a new suit, one that may be cases the auction has proceeded: 2. It’s true that you have diamonds only three-cards long. West North East South stopped, but don’t bid 1NT. It’s Here are some examples. In each 1 1 Pass ? more important to show partner your case, the bidding has proceeded Example #1: support. West North East South J 3 K J 4 3 K 10 3 J 10 8 4 Example #2: 1 1 Bid 1NT. You enough HCP to act, You hold, Pass 2 Pass ? you have a stopper and a balanced K 6 4 2 K 10 6 A 9 4 2 4 3, Example #1: hand. West North East South A Q 10 4 3 4 3 K 8 4 10 5 3. Example #2: 1 1 Pass ? Rebid 2. Your hand is too 8 3 K Q 3 J 3 K Q 9 8 4 2 Bid 2. You have 10 HCP plus one weak to make game if partner has Bid 2. You have 11 HCP and a point for your doubleton club. Your 11 only limit-raise strength. If he has good suit. support points is a limit raise. enough to make game opposite this In both examples, if you pass 1, Example #3: hand, he will bid again. you may miss game if partner has Suppose your hand is stronger: Example #2: a good overcall.