Should We Overcall? by Marti Ronemus

The opponents have opened the bidding, and there you are, wondering whether or not to compete. Here's what you need to join the party.

7 to 17 pts. If you're going to overcall at the two-level, you need 10 plus.

A Darn Good Five-card suit. The worse your point count, the better your suit should be.

Why should you look for a reason to overcall? The hand might be yours, either partscore or game. It also gives your partner a lead, and harasses the opponents. Be careful though that you don't overcall just hoping to push the opponents too high. Good players won't let you do that and YOU'LL end up in trouble!

Let's try some.

Question 1

Your Hand
♠ A Q J 10 7
♥ 10 9 6 4
♦ 4
♣ 8 6 3

Q: 1 - You're South. What should you do?

South	West	North	East
-	-	-	1♣
?

A: 1♠: You've only got 7 pts., not counting distribution, but you've got a Darn Good Suit. If you don't win the auction, Pard will have a great lead. "Back in the Day," players wouldn't enter the auction with this hand. What a shame! And, not so coincidentally, please notice how much bidding space you just gobbled up... kind of like Godzilla working his way through Tokyo.

Your result so far:

Open Question

Question 2

Your Hand
♠ J 10 6 3 2
♥ A 8 4
♦ Q 7 4
♣ 8 6

Q: 2 - As South again, what this time?

South	West	North	East
-	-	-	1♣
?

A: Pass: You still have 7 pts., but your suit is hardly a Darn Good Suit. You cannot have a bad suit AND a bad hand! No-trump is not an option either. A No-trump overcall promises a full No-trump opener PLUS a stopper in the opponent's suit.

Your result so far:

Open Question

Question 3

Your Hand
♠ J 10 6 3 2
♥ A K 4
♦ A K 4
♣ 8 6

Q: 3 - And South says?

South	West	North	East
-	-	-	1♣
?

A: 1♠: You would open this hand, wouldn't you? Sure you would. (If not, we'll talk later.) You don't have a Darn Good Suit, but you are loaded with points and a five-card major. By the way, you've got the points and shape for a No-trump bid, but no Club stopper (and many prefer to open the major, anyway).

Your result so far:

Open Question

Question 4

Your Hand
♠ K J 7
♥ A J 10
♦ K Q 7 4
♣ 4 3 2

Q: 4 - As South, would you dare?

South	West	North	East
-	-	-	1♣
?

A: Pass: Feel free to grind your teeth while you pass. You have no bid. You cannot overcall a four-card suit. You cannot bid No-trumps without a Club stopper.

A "Pass" in the overcall seat doesn't say "I have nothing," it says "I don't have a bid." Repeat at least twice.

This is a difference with a HUGE distinction. Your partner will wonder where all the points in the hand are, and should take some kind of action. You'll get to bid later.

Your result so far:

Open Question

Question 5

Your Hand
♠ A K 8 5 4
♥ 6 2
♦ A Q 10 8
♣ 8 6

Q: 5 - One last time... South says:

South	West	North	East
-	-	-	1♣
?

A: 1♠: this time we actually expect this may be our hand. We've got a nice opener with great texture (notice that the honors are all in the long suits and we've got God's own suit - Spades). If Pard has a few scraps, we may have enough to compete for partscore or maybe even game.

Now, let's see what you can do with this hand. Will you win the bid? Will you prevail? Enquiring minds want to know.

Your result so far:

Open Question

Play this Hand

Now that you've bid five hands, let's see how your play goes.

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Overall Results

Your results: out of Average:

What next? You may enjoy playing our prepared hands series.
More informations on our website: www.VuBridge.com

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