Responding To A 1NT Overcall by David Bird

A: 2♣. Much of the time, you should bid in the same way opposite a 1NT overcall as you do when partner opens 1NT. He has shown the same values, around 15-17 points.

Partner may occasionally have a well-placed 14-count (A Q x in the opener's suit is likely to be worth the same as A K x, for example.) Sometimes, he will downgrade an 18-count (only one stopper, few middle cards such as 10s and 9s.)

So, here you will bid a Stayman 2♣, looking for a spade fit. If partner responds 2♦, denying four spades, you will bid 3NT next.

Your result so far:

A: 3NT. There is no reason to think that 4♥ will be better than 3NT, even if Stayman would elicit a 4-4 fit in that suit. Also, your ♦J 9 4 might assist partner's guard in the opener's suit, perhaps promoting a single stopper into a double stopper.

You should therefore raise directly to 3NT, just as you would if partner had opened 1NT.

Your result so far:

A: 2♦. With 9 HCP, a five-card suit and two 10s, you will carry the bidding to game on this hand. To show your five-card heart suit, you begin with 2♦. It makes no difference whether the opening bid was in diamonds or not. This response will be a transfer into hearts.

The only exception would be the unlikely case where West had opened 1♥. You would then raise to 3NT instead. (Timid souls might bid only 2NT, knowing that the hearts were breaking badly.)

Your result so far:

A: 2♣. Some 9-counts are worth insisting on a game contract. Here, you have no 10s and only one 9. You start with 2♣, looking for a spade fit. If partner denies a major with 2♦, you will bid just 2NT next.

If instead partner bids 2♠, uncovering a 4-4 fit, it will be a close decision whether you continue with 3♠ or 4♠. If you are vulnerable, you would be pushed towards 4♠ because of the more valuable game bonus.

Your result so far:

A: 2♦. You start with 2♦, a transfer response to show your heart length. When partner rebids 2♥, remember that this does not necessarily show a heart fit. He would have to bid 2♥ with only two hearts.

You should continue with 3♦ (forcing to game), showing your second suit. Partner can then show heart support with three or more cards in the suit. If his spade stopper is insecure, he is at liberty to move towards a diamond game, rather than reverting to no-trumps.

Your result so far:

A: 2♦. There are two ways of showing your shape here. One is to start with 2♦, showing (at least) five hearts. When partner rebids 2♥, as requested, you continue with 2♠, showing your second suit. Partner can then show support for either major or revert to no-trumps.

A second, more complicated method, is to play the Smolen convention (as you would when facing a 1NT opening from your partner.) This involves starting with Stayman. If partner rebids 2♥ or 2♠, you have found a fit. If instead he rebids 2♦, you jump to three of the major where you hold just FOUR cards. This will allow partner to play the heart game if he does have a fit for you in that suit. You already know that there is no 4-4 spade fit.

Your result so far: