"Get it Right the First Time" Overcalls by Marti Ronemus

So you're feeling a little down about that last hand you flubbed? Worried you aren't playing up to snuff? Relax. You aren't the only one who didn't get it right the first time. How about these false starts?
Nintendo started out making ornate playing cards used among organized crime gangs in the gambling halls of old Japan.
Ikea originated as a little mail order business selling stockings, pens, watches and Christmas decorations out of a kitchen workshop.
Nike began as Blue Ribbon Sports, selling Tiger Running Shoes out of the back of a station wagon at Oregon University track meets.
And look how THEY ended up!
Let's prepare for OUR future with these looks at No-trump overcalls.

Question 1

Your Hand
♠ K 9 8 7
♥ A Q 8 7
♦ K Q 7
♣ K 7

Q: 1 - South:

South	West	North	East
-	-	-	1♠
?

A: 1 No-trump: Classic, perfect. We're telling Pard we've got No-trump opening points AND!! Stopper(s) in the opponent's suit.

Your result so far:

Open Question

Question 2

Your Hand
♠ K 9 8 7
♥ A Q 8 7
♦ K Q 7
♣ K 7

Q: 2 - South:

South	West	North	East
-	-	-	1♣
?

A: Double: The 1♣ opening makes all the difference. We've got the point count. We have a sort-of stopper, but it is very vulnerable to attack. We're better off telling Pard about our majors and making OUR problem HIS problem, always an important goal.

Your result so far:

Open Question

Question 3

Your Hand
♠ K 9 8 7
♥ K J 8 7
♦ K 10 7
♣ A 7

Q: 3 - South:

South	West	North	East
-	-	-	1♣
?

A: Double: This time we're doubling because of our point count. We've got the Clubs stopped, but we don't have the cash. If we were to bid No-trump, we wouldn't be doing it right the first time. We have the shape, everything is perfect for the Takeout Double.

Your result so far:

Open Question

Question 4

Your Hand
♠ K 9 8 7
♥ K J 8 7
♦ K 6
♣ A 10 7

Q: 4 - South:

South	West	North	East
-	1♣	Pass	Pass
?

A: 1 No-trump: What you say? We don't have the point count? You are right! BUT!! There's a critical difference. We are now in the BALANCING seat rather than the DIRECT seat. In the balancing seat, we "borrow" three points from our Pard, and bid what we'd bid if we had another King tucked away in our hand. That would give us enough to open 1 No-trump, and we've got a sound Club stopper.
There is a little catch to this. If Pard wants to advance our overcall, he's gotta subtract three points from his hand.

Your result so far:

Open Question

Question 5

Your Hand
♠ K Q 8 7
♥ K Q 8 7
♦ K 10 7
♣ A 7

Q: 5 - South:

South	West	North	East
-	1♣	Pass	Pass
?

A: Double: This is the hardest, and the most likely to go wrong the first time we look at it. We've got the perfect No-trump overcall... points, shape, stopper. BUT!! We are in the balancing seat, not the direct seat. That means our hand is valued at 3 pts. more than it actually has. So, what do we do when we have a hand too big for an overcall? We double first, THEN bid. On our next bid, we will bid No-trump, and Pard will understand.

And now a hand to get right the first time. We are primed and ready!

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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