Guidance for Overcalls in Bridge
Overcalls
Guidance for overcalls.
Overcalls are to compete for the contract, or to
suggest a lead, or interrupt the opponents bidding
sequence. Range is normally 8-17pts.
Overcalls are based on a 5 card suit (or longer),
but maybe made on a 4 card suit at the 1 level for
lead directing.
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Have a reason to overcall
If you are NOT going to win the contract then overcall because
you wish to partner to lead that suit OR
you want to disrupt the opponent’s bidding by removing their
bidding space
K3
Q982
78
AKJ93
Overcall 1
with
2
for a lead
86
AK9
Q97532
AQ
Overcall 1
with 2
because you may
win the contract
8
A852
K10542
Q87
Overcall 1
with
2
to make a
fit difficult to find
The suit quality test
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Add the length of your suit + the number of honours in that suit
If it equals the number of tricks for the level then it is safe to
overcall so for an overcall at the 1 level the suit quality (SQ)
should equal 7 or more and for an overcall at the 2 level a SQ of
8 is desirable. You may want to overcall for a lead at the 1 level
with fewer values but with a good suit. Non-vulnerable you may
take more chances
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Determining the suit quality value
Count Ace, King and Queen as honours
Count Jack and 10 as honours if the are backing a higher
honour. Suit quality values of the following combinations
Q
Q10
10
KJ7643 = 8
This test is to show if the suit is good enough, NOT
whether the hand is good enough!
Repeat: do not overcall with a bad suit unless you
will win the contract
Suit Quality examples
1
.
♠
K
8
5
♥
Q
J
6
5
3
♦
3
♣
A
K
8
4
S
Q
=
5
+
2
=
7
So overcall 1
♦
with 1
♥ ,
but not 1 ♠ with
2
♥
(
especially vulnerable)
2
. ♠ 9
♥
AJ543
♦
Q 32 ♣
AK94 SQ = 5+2 = 7
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. ♠ 9
♥
AJ5432
♦
Q 3 ♣
AK94 SQ = 6+2 =8
So overcall 1♠ with 2
♥
In 4
th
position I would overall examples 1 and 2
Responding to partner’s overcall
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Bid no trumps with a clear stop in the opponent’s suit and 6-9 pts, at the same
level, and support for partner’s suit
Raise partner’s suit, either pre-emptively or to win the contract with 3 or more
cards
The unassuming cue bid
A useful convention, whereby an
immediate
bid of opponent’s suit shows high
card support for partner’s suit and clear values to go to the next level
This can be confused with an asking bid seeking a stop in opponent’s suit to
play in no-trumps. Normally your side would have bid 2 suits before asking for
a stop in opponent’s suit.
FOR VERY EXPERIENCED PLAYERS ONLY
The big problem is the wide pts. range of overcalls, so bid if you’ve 8pts or more
,
Examples: opener bids 1
partner overcalls 2
Q J 9 73
A J 5
K 3
J 4 2
Q 9 3
A 8 7 5 2
9
9 7 5 3
K Q 8 5
Q
7 5
6 3
10 4
1
Bid 2
because you are strong and have support fo
r
s
2. Bid 3
pre-emptively
3. Pass
What to bid if partner’s opening bid is overcalled
3
.
I
f you have a bid you would have made without the
overcall, then bid
4.With 9 + pts and the other 2 suits, DOUBLE for take-
out
2. With support for partner’s suit, raise it
1.With fewer than 8 pts and no support for partner PASS
Examples: partner bids 1
and next player overcalls 2
Q J 9 73
A J 5
K 3
J 4 2
Q 9 3
A 8 7 5 2
9
9 7 5 3
K Q 8 5
Q
7 5 4
Q 3
10
1
Bid 2
because you are strong and have a 5 card suit
2. Pass and hope partner can re-open the bidding
3. Double, you have the other 2 suits and 9pts. Partner
may have one of them
Doubles for penalties?
Treat doubles of an immediate overcall and of opponent’s
agreed suits for take-out, below game. A second double of
the same suit later in the auction should be for penalties. If
your side has not bid any suit then it should be regarded as a
take-out double
Overcalls in bridge are made to compete for the contract, suggest a lead, or disrupt opponents' bidding. Overcalls are typically based on a 5+ card suit and carry a range of 8-17 points. The decision to overcall should be based on suit quality and the desire to lead a specific suit or obstruct opponent bidding space. Understanding suit quality, points range, and responses to partner's overcall are crucial aspects of effective overcalls in bridge.
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Presentation Transcript
Overcalls Guidance for overcalls. Overcalls are to compete for the contract, or to suggest a lead, or interrupt the opponents bidding sequence. Range is normally 8-17pts. Overcalls are based on a 5 card suit (or longer), but maybe made on a 4 card suit at the 1 level for lead directing. Do NOT overcall on a suit you do not want partner to lead, unless you expect to win the contract. Suit quality is important
Have a reason to overcall If you are NOT going to win the contract then overcall because you wish to partner to lead that suit OR you want to disrupt the opponent s bidding by removing their bidding space K3 Q982 78 AKJ93 Overcall 1 with 2 for a lead 2 to make a fit difficult to find 86 AK9 Q97532 AQ Overcall 1 with 2 because you may win the contract 8 A852 K10542 Q87 Overcall 1 with
The suit quality test This is about the suit, not about whether you should overcall This is a good way to see whether you should overcall an opponent s suit bid by bidding your suit in marginal situations. Add the length of your suit + the number of honours in that suit If it equals the number of tricks for the level then it is safe to overcall so for an overcall at the 1 level the suit quality (SQ) should equal 7 or more and for an overcall at the 2 level a SQ of 8 is desirable. You may want to overcall for a lead at the 1 level with fewer values but with a good suit. Non-vulnerable you may take more chances
Determining the suit quality value Count Ace, King and Queen as honours Count Jack and 10 as honours if the are backing a higher honour. Suit quality values of the following combinations Q = = Q10 = = 10 = KJ7643 = 8 This test is to show if the suit is good enough, NOT whether the hand is good enough! Repeat: do not overcall with a bad suit unless you will win the contract
Suit Quality examples 1. K85QJ6533AK84 SQ = 5+2 =7 So overcall 1 with 1 , but not 1 with 2 (especially vulnerable) 2. 9 AJ543 Q 32 AK94 SQ = 5+2 = 7 Again overcall 1with 1 1but not 1 with 2 ; you could double 3. 9 AJ5432 Q 3 AK94 SQ = 6+2 =8 So overcall 1 with 2 In 4 position I would overall examples 1 and 2
Responding to partners overcall The big problem is the wide pts. range of overcalls, so bid if you ve 8pts or more, Only change suit if you have a good hand enough with a 5 card suit and/or can tolerate your partner re-bidding the same suit at a higher level Bid no trumps with a clear stop in the opponent s suit and 6-9 pts, at the same level, and support for partner s suit Raise partner s suit, either pre-emptively or to win the contract with 3 or more cards The unassuming cue bid A useful convention, whereby an immediatebid of opponent s suit shows high card support for partner s suit and clear values to go to the next level This can be confused with an asking bid seeking a stop in opponent s suit to play in no-trumps. Normally your side would have bid 2 suits before asking for a stop in opponent s suit. FOR VERY EXPERIENCED PLAYERS ONLY
Examples: opener bids 1 partner overcalls 2 Q J 9 73 A J 5 K 3 J 4 2 1Bid 2 because you are strong and have support for s Q 9 3 A 8 7 5 2 9 9 7 5 3 K Q 8 5 Q 7 5 6 3 10 4 2. Bid 3 pre-emptively 3. Pass
What to bid if partners opening bid is overcalled 1.With fewer than 8 pts and no support for partner PASS 2. With support for partner s suit, raise it 3.If you have a bid you would have made without the overcall, then bid 4.With 9 + pts and the other 2 suits, DOUBLE for take- out
Examples: partner bids 1 and next player overcalls 2 Q J 9 73 A J 5 K 3 J 4 2 1Bid 2 because you are strong and have a 5 card suit Q 9 3 A 8 7 5 2 9 9 7 5 3 K Q 8 5 Q 7 5 4 Q 3 10 2. Pass and hope partner can re-open the bidding 3. Double, you have the other 2 suits and 9pts. Partner may have one of them
Doubles for penalties? Treat doubles of an immediate overcall and of opponent s agreed suits for take-out, below game. A second double of the same suit later in the auction should be for penalties. If your side has not bid any suit then it should be regarded as a take-out double
