What are the objectives of an overcall, a bid after opponent opening?
- competing for a part score;
- to suggest a good lead for partner;
- competing with a hand that double do not apply (shorter in a major);
- to induce the opponents to a higher-level contract;
- to find an effective defense against opponents possible game;
- to disturb the opponents in their bidding ...
So, with an overcall we try to disturb opponents bidding and gives partner a indication to lead - not really an invitation to game - we are just competing for a part score. The deck has 40 hcp and when the opponent opening has 13 hcp reamains only 27 hcp. Considering that to try a game we need 25 hcp, then our chances to game are restricted. But in some cases our partnership have special distribution like singletons in opponent's high cards then with a good fit our chances to have game increase!
Only competing in the bidding we will know our chances - passing waiting for reopen in level 2 or 3 is a poor strategic for brave players.
A important parameter to decide for pass or for an overcall it is vulnerability. If we are nVul and opponents are Vul we can bid more relaxed to disturb opponents but in opposite situation we must be very careful and only when we have a solid suit it is more difficult to opponents punish our overcall.
TYPES OF OVERCALL
There are different characteristics of overcall:
- up the line overcall bid at level 2 - good indication to lead and may show a strong hand 10-18 hcp depending on vulnerability
- two suits overcall - weak or strong => read michaelsBR
- weak overcall - made in jump to show a long suit 6/7 cards up to 10 hcp
- strong overcall - also made in jump - rarely used in present days - 16+ hcp
- overcall against their nt opening => read overcall against their 1nt
- normal overcall after opening at level 1 with undefined strength - maybe range between 8-17 hcp depending on vulnerability - need partnership deal
Here we are analysing the normal overcall made with good 5+ cards suit as indication to lead, that also could be done at level 1, exceptionally, with 4 cards to show the honors concentration (AKQx or KQJ10) in hands that a double is impraticable (we have also Opener's suit or just only 1 or 2 cards in a major unbid suit) then we may overcall with a solid suit, because overcall it is important to inform partner that we are alive.
Examples:
Opener Overcaller our hand - same vulnerability
1
1
AKJ9 72 963
K1092
- you bid only 1 time 1
1
AKJ9642 72 Q6
K2
- you can rebid your suit1
1
AK1082 K72 A963
2
- you can reopen with double1
1
KQ953 72 AKJ3
92
- after you bid 2
if possible
1
2
K103 72 J32
AKJ82
- disturb opponent 1
2
KJ103 72 2
AKJ842
- after you bid 2
if possible1
1
3 AKQ2 A432
J842
- bid only 1 time
- you are alive1
1
KQJ9 2 K32
J9742
- bid for indication of lead1
2
J9 K2 K32
AJ9742
- disturb opponent1
2
J9 K2 K32
KJ9742
- disturb opponent1
2
9 K2 KQ109
AKQJ97
- you may compete until
41
2
9 AQ2 KQ10943
QJ7
- you may compete until
31
2
J943 A2 KQ10943
7
- compete just in 21
2
QJ943 2 KQ10943
7
- compete just in 2
or pass better!1
2
43 AQ109432 KJ43
7
- compete just in 21
2
3 AK10943 K43
K97
- if partner bids 3
go to gameNote: it is not recommend overcalls with Qxxxxx or Jxxxxxx, overcall should have top honors or a consistent suit at least like QJ109x or KJ109x and never a suit like J109876 or Q76543 or A7654 or K9543.
Overcall weak with long suit (6+ cards need 2 top honors):
Opener Overcaller our hand - same vulnerability
1
3
AKJ9432 72 93
92
- destroy oponnent communication 1
2
53 752 AKJ1063
92
- good indication for lead 1
5
5 J752 AKJ106543
-
nVul against Vul after partner pass 1
3
3 9872 J2
AKQ752
- disturb opponent - lead's indication
1
4
3 KQJ65432 32
42
- destroy opponent communication1
2
KQJ954 2 32
J974
- reduce room for communication1
3
Q109 2 32
AKJ9742
- disturb opponent1
3
Ax 2 KQJ10432
742
- disturb opponent1
3
92 52 J93
AKQJ97
- disturb opponent - lead's indication1
3
9432 2 KQ109432
7
- distub
opponent
organization1
3
43 AKQ10943 J43
7
- distub opponent
- lead's indication ==================================================
WHAT ARE THE USUAL AGREEMENTS AFTER PARTNER'S OVERCALL
Supposing we are in same vulnerability - after we overcall and Responder pass, then the usual agreements for partner's bids are:
- pass - means no support for partner suit and probably no strength to bid:
Opener Overcall Responder partner (Advancer)
1
1
pass pass
<=
xx Qxx AJ1087 Jxx- a simple raise in our suit shows 3 cards support with 6-9 hcp:
Opener Overcall Responder Advancer
1
1
pass 2
<=
Jxx Qxx AJ1087 xx
- if partner overcall at level 1 our jump support at level 3 shows 4 cards in his suit and for many partnership is an invitation to game but considering that "The Law of Total Tricks" teach that a fit of 9 cards may be a razonable contract at level 3 this jump became more obstructive than constructive and the partnerships that follow all Bergen-Cohen recommendations use to jump with 2-5 hcp, of course not in 4333 distribution and only in favorable vulnerability.
So this jump with 4 cards support must be discussed by partnership. In fact to be more precise we recommend a support range constructive with 8-9 hcp when we are Vul against nVul, letting a range of 4-7 hcp for level 2 that also may disturb opponent that will count 3 support and a fit or 8 cards to use for avaliation of the hand based in Law of Total Tricks. Of course in a nVul against Vul our jump support could be agreemented to be 2-5 hcp:
Opener Overcall Responder Advancer
1
1
pass 3
<=
Jxxx Qx AJ1087 xx
Vul
- a cuebid by partner shows an invitation to game with 3/4 cards support and good 10-12 hcp, so overcaller having up to 12 hcp in bad distribution like 5332 should not accept the invitation rebidding his suit to sign-off or he can bid "en passant" if possible in a low raking suit as a trial bid asking for support in this suit - this trial bid in negative suit must be alerted:
Opener Overcall Responder Advancer
1
1
pass 2
<=
Jxxx K10x AK108 xx
(invitation)- a 1nt by partner shows only 2 cards support and 9-11 hcp:
Opener Overcall Responder Advancer
1
1
pass 1nt
<=
Jx QJ9x A108 Q109x
- a 2nt by partner shows only 2 cards support and 12-13 hcp:
Opener Overcall Responder Advancer
1
1
pass 2nt
<=
Jx QJ9x AJ10 K109x- if we overcall in a major a jump by partner in a minor suit is "showing fit" invitation with 9-11 hcp and the support with honors in partner's suit showing 5 cards suit with good top honors like AKxxx or AQJxx:
Opener Overcall Responder Advancer
1
1
pass 3
<=
Qxxx xx AKJ108 xx
- if we overcall and partner cuebid in jump at level 3 this is asking to bid 3nt with a stopper in Opener suit. Partner probable has a strong solid minor suit and semi stopper (at least Q10x or J9xx) in the unbided suit.
A GOOD QUESTION ARISE WHEN WE OVERCALL AND AFTER RESPONDER PASS PARTNER BIDS ANOTHER SUIT UP THE LINE
Is this one-round force?
Partnership must discuss this situation to establish agreements.
Mike Lawrence in his classic book "The Complete Book on Overcalls" considers that partner's bids in another suit it is not necessarily one-round force. He says that a cuebid is, for sure, a forcing bid and also a jump in another suit can be forcing, but his opinion aren't universal for many players that just overcall with good hands (12+ hcp) and good suit.
We can assume, after agreement with partner, that when partner bids other suit this has differents meaning if is in a minors or in a major:
- When Advancer bids a minor after we overcall in a major this is not constructive but just showing his long suit as sign-off because he is shorter in our suit. Try game in a minor after opponent opening need very special hand distribution.
Opener Overcaller Responde Advancer Overcaller: AQJ9x
Qx Jx K98x
1
1
pass 2
Advancer:
x J9x KQ10xxx Jxx
pass pass pass
- When Advancer bids a major after we overcall in a minor it is razonable suppose that partner is asking for support and implies in 3 cards support in our minor, so this is constructive but not necessarily one-round force. So having 3 cards support or honor second we should raise to partner's suit as an invitation if we have a good hand to try game, or pass or rebid our strong suit.
Opener Overcaller Responde Advancer Overcaller:
J9x xx Jxx AKQ98
1
2
pass 2
Advancer:
K10x AQJ9xx xx xx
pass pass pass
- When Advancer bids a major in jump then this is one-round force because in this case Advance should have support to Overcaller's minor suit:
Opener Overcaller Responde Advancer Overcaller:
A9x xx xxx AQ98xx
1
2
pass 3
Advancer:
K10x AQJ9xx - K10xx
pass 4
pass 4pass 4
pass 4nt (1430)pass 5
pass 6and all Pass
Thus after we overcall if partner bids another suit this is not one-round force, because may be a warning of misfit and we are allowed to pass.
RECAPITULATION: If we overcall in a minor suit and partner bids a major it is reasonable that partner is trying to find a fit in a major suit with a minimum of 10 hcp, of course thinking in game, so our possible bids are:
- pass with 2/3 cards support and limited in 10 hcp (very weak overcall);
- rebidding our suit (6+ cards) if we are shorter in partner's suit;
- bidding another suit - with 11-13 hcp (if he is bidding our singleton);
- bidding nt with good stopper and 11-13 hcp (we have 5332);
- support our partner with 3 cards and 11-13 hcp;
- cuebid to show support and shorter in Opener suit with 11-13 hcp;
- jumping to game in partner's suit with good hand and 13+ hcp.
If we overcall in a major and partner bids a minor - by bridge logic:
- we should pass without support or less than 13 hcp;
- support with 13+ hcp and honor third when shorter in opener's suit;
- rebid our suit only in very special cases (our suit = KQJ109x or better);
- bid nt with honor in partner suit and 14+ hcp with good stopper.
Suppose you have:
AJ10xx
x
Kxx
K109x and the auction goes:Opener You Responder partner (advancer)
1
1 pass 2
<= invitation 11-12+ hcppass 3
* pass 3
<= denies Clubs honors - shows honors in
pass ?
* 3
is a trial bid asking for honors in Clubs and partner denies
with 3.What should you bid now?
If you bid 3
this will be a sign-off
but considering that 3 is a
good information you may bid 3 showing a possible
singleton and then partner may reevaluate his hand to bid 4
having a good honor in our suit tinking in lose only 1
and 2? So 3
is a good bid and if partner has Hxx
and dubleton in Clubs, like this hand: K9x xxxx
AQJx
xx he could jump to game after 3.Thus after an overcall a partnership, if possible, may start a conversation before decide to jump in game or just pass.
CONCLUSION
Our suggestion is to considers a new suit by Advancer (overcaller's partner) as an alert that he is shorter in our suit and his suit is 6+ cards in weak hand.
Example:
you:
AJ10xx
Kxx
Axx
xx partner: x
xx
Kxx
KJ9xxxxOpener you (overcaller) Responder partner (advancer)
1
1
pass 2
<= sign-offpass pass pass
you:
Jx
xx
AJx
AQJxxx partner: Qxx
AQ10765
8xx
xOpener you (overcaller) Responder partner (advancer)
1
2
pass 2
<= sign-offpass pass pass
After our overcall in a major if partner jumps in a minor suit we should consider that this is a Fit Showing Jump or a special support where partner shows support in our suit with honors in his jump bided suit.
Example:
you:
AJ10xx
Kx
Axx
xxx partner: Qxxx
xx
xx
AKJ10xOpener you (overcaller) Responder partner (advancer)
1
1
pass 3
<= Fit Showing - invitation pass 4
all
pass you:
AQ109x
Kx
xx
Qxx partner: Jxx
xx
AKQxx
xxxOpener you (overcaller) Responder partner (advancer)
1
1 pass 3
<= Fit Showing - invitation pass 3
all pass When after our overcall in a minor partner jumps in a major suit this is one-round force and shows a good 6+ cards and support to our minor.
you:
x
Qxx
AQJ10x
Qxx partner: KQ10xxx
x
Kxx
AKxOpener you (overcaller) Responder partner (advancer)
1
2
pass 3
<= one-round force pass 4
pass 5all pass
/ / /