Overcalls

         An overcall is a bid you make after the opponents have opened. For a suit overcall, the most important requirement is that you have a good suit. Points are secondary: with a good suit, you may overcall with as few as 8 points.

 

         The 1-level Overcall.      A 1-level overcall can be made with very few points, but it shows a good suit.

Requirements for a 1-level Overcall:
        1.     A 5-card suit headed by two honors.
        2.     At least 8 points.

With a stronger hand, it is acceptable to have a weaker suit.
        EXAMPLE:     If your opponent opens 1, you should say 1 with:

KQ853     K6     832     T64

 

         The 2-level Overcall (Non-jump).      An overcall at the 2-level requires a better hand and a better suit.

Requirements for a 2-level Overcall:
        1.     A 6-card suit headed by two honors,
                          or a 5-card suit headed by three honors.
        2.     At least 10 points.

With a strong hand, you may overcall with a slightly weaker suit.
         EXAMPLE:    If your opponent opens 1, you should say 2 with:

8     K64     542     AQ8764

 

         The Weak Jump Overcall.      A jump-overcall is weak (similar to a preemptive opening):

(1) — 2:     6 spades and less than opening strength.
  3: 7 spades and less than opening strength.
  4: 8 spades and less than opening strength.

        EXAMPLE:     If your opponent opens 1, you should say 2 with:

AQ9542     53     K63     97

 

         The 1NT Overcall.      A 1NT overcall is similar to a 1NT opening:

Requirements for a 1NT Overcall:
        1.     15-17 HCP,
        2.     A balanced hand, and
        3.     A stopper in the opponents' suit(s).

After you overcall 1NT, your partner should use Stayman (2) and Jacoby transfers (2 and 2) to describe their hand.

        NOTE:     A stopper is a holding in a suit which makes it unlikely that the opponents will be able to run the suit immediately. For example:

A8   K3   QT4   98632

are all stoppers.

 

         Very Strong Hands.      Some hands are too strong for a simple overcall. With 16 or more points, you should begin with a strong double.


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