Thursday, April 29 and Monday, May 3

OVERCALLS

We discussed SIMPLE OVERCALLS - that is, bidding a new suit that is not a jump after the opponents have opened.

Simple overcalls show 7(or 8 or whatever you and your partner agree to) to 17 points and are usually made for one (or several) of three reasons:

1.  I think this is actually our hand even though the opponents opened.  Here's my suit.

2.  If you wind up on lead partner, please lead this suit.

3.  I just want to get in their way.  (More common for JUMP OVERCALLS, similar to preempts.)

Simple overcalls at the 1-level could indeed be on as few as 7 points, but should consider vulnerability.  Simple overcalls at the two level should be much closer to actual opening strength hands.

In general, partner should respond to your overcall as though you actually have an opening hand.  However, partner should be very careful jumping around.  If partner has a LIMIT RAISE or better, he should show it by CUEBIDDING the opponents' suit.

ex:  (1D) - 1H - (1S) - 2D = I have Heart support for you and AT LEAST Limit Raise values (10-11 or + pts)

If you have a hand that's too big to make a simple overcall, then you X first and then bid your suit.  Partner will initially think this is a takeout double, but you'll prove otherwise when you bid another suit.

:)