Introduction
In any Bridge contract, there is only one opener, the player making the first bid. The opposing team are overcallers. The opener’s partner is a responder. This page explains overcalling conventions and constraints.
When an overcaller makes a bid, the overcaller interferes with the normal bidding conversation between the opener and the responder. This page provides the opener and responder with some bidding conventions to deal with the interfering overcall bids.
The Double and Redouble
The double is a bid that can be made only if the opposing team has made the last bid. The double claims that the bidder will not make the contract. If the opposing team does not make their contract the doubling team gets bonus points for each undertrick beyond the 50 or 100 points when not doubled. If the opposing team makes the contract, then their contract points are double, so they could make game points without a game bid. Doubling can be risky.
While the double has scoring implications that are described on the overcalling page, it is also used in unusual circumstances to give a partner more information or to enable a partner’s rebid.
Cue Bidding
A cue bid occurs when your right-hand opponent bids a suit, and you follow by bidding the same suit. You would not normally bid a suit that the opponents just bid, because, at best, you have an unfavorable trump split. Therefore, a cue bid is used to relay a message to your partner based on the context of the bidding at the time of the cue bid.
Partner Opens with 1-Suit Bid
Partner has opened 1-suit and the opponents have made an overcall. The following bidding rules are for weak hands in which the overcall interferes with your normal bid. If the overcall doesn’t prevent your normal bid, then make the normal bid.
Responders Bids with Overcall Interference
|
1-suit bid shows 8+ points and a 4-card suit. 1 NT shows 8-10 points and stoppers in opponent’s bid suit. 2-suit bid shows 10+ points and an interest in a game contract. Pass shows that your hand is not strong enough to make one of these bids. |
Partner has opened 1-suit, and the opponent overcalls with your best suit. The following rules provide alternative bids.
|
1 NT shows 8-10 points and stoppers in opponent’s suit. 2 NT shows 12-15 points. stoppers in unbid suits and stoppers in opponent’s suit. Double for penalties shows 11+ points and 5-cards in opponent’s suit. Note that you need an understanding on this double convention. If your hand doesn’t have another normal bid or a bid in another suit that meets interference rules, pass. |
Opener response to 1-Suit Interference
The opener needs to understand how interference changes partner’s response. The following considerations should be made.
|
Partner’s bid shows a little more strength with a minimum hand raised from 6 to 8 points. The opener’s partner may choose a 1-suit bid instead of 1 NT when partner doesn’t have a stopper in the opponent’s suit. Be cautious about supporting partner’s suit unless you have a 4-card suit. If partner doubles the interfering bid, the odds favor a set contract, so pass. A pass from your partner doesn’t necessarily mean a busted hand. If the bidding indicates that partner is forced to bid at the 2-level. then partner’s pass shows less than 10 points. There might have been a good bid without the interference. You may rebid with a 6-card suit and 17+ points. |
Partner Opens with 1-NT Bid – 5-Card Major
Partner has opened 1-NT and the opponents have made an overcall. The responder wants to bid a 5-card suit, asking partner for 3-card support. The responder has at least 8 HCP. The following bidding rules show how the responder bids the 5-card suit after a 2-level overcall.
|
If the overcaller bids responder’s 5-card suit, the responder may double with 8+ points or bid No Trump. If the overcall allows for a 2-suit bid, then the responder can bid as if there were no overcall. |
The following rules apply when the overcall forces the responder to make a 3-bid.
|
3-minor suit shows 13+ points, and is game forcing. 3-major suit shows 10+ points, and is game forcing. Otherwise the responder should bid 2-NT. |
Opener Response to Interference
The opener proceeds with normal No Trump bidding except when partner responnds with 3-suit bid. The following rules apply:
|
A game bid by opener in partner’s suit shows 3-card support. A 3-NT bid shows only 2-card support. Partner’s raise to game in parrtner’s suit shows a 6-card suit. |
Partner Opens with 1-NT Bid – Stayman
Partner has opened 1-NT and the opponents have made an overcall. The responder wants to make a Stayman bid of 2 ♣ asking for the opener’s 4-card major. The responder has at least 8 HCP. The following bidding rules show how the responder asks for a 4-card major suit in spite of the interference.
Responder’s bids after a 2 ♣ overcall.
Double shows 8 HCP and at least one 4-card major.
Responder’s bids after a 2 ♦ overcall.
2 NT shows 8 HCP. The interference bid prevents the Stayman convention.
Cue bid with 3 ♦ shows 10 HCP and at least one 4-card major. This bid is game forcing.
Responder’s bids after a 2-major suit overcall.
2 NT shows 8 HCP. The interference bid prevents the Stayman convention.
Cue bid with 3-major suit shows 10 HCP and 4-cards in the unbid major suit. This bid is game forcing.
You Open 1-NT and Partner Responds – Stayman
Partner responds to your 1-NT bid and your right-hand opponent bids a major suit. Partner has shown at least 8 HCP, so your partnership has at least 23 HCP.
Opener’s bids after a 2-major suit overcall.
Double shows 4 or more cards in the opponent’s bid suit with 1 or 2 key honors.
A normal response shows that you don’t have a strong enough hand for a double or you want to pursue a game contract.
An Example with Interference
|
| West ♠ A, 10, 3 ♥ Q, J, 9, 7, 4 ♦ 9, 5 ♣ K, 9, 7 |
East ♠ J, 8, 5 ♥ 8, 5, 3, 2 ♦ Q, 10, 4 ♣ A, 4, 2 |
|
South opens with 1 ♠. West has 11 points and 5 ♥. An overcall of 2 ♥. is reasonable but aggressive. Without interference, North would respond with 1 NT showing less than 10 points. With the 2 ♥ overcall, North should pass. West should pass. East might raise the ♥ bid, and South would pass. If South passes, East/West will probably fail. With 15 HCP, South can open 1-NT. With only 11 points, West should pass. North can respond 2-NT, with 8 points. With only 15 points, South would pass. Can North/South make 3-NT? |
Review Questions
Some questions may have more than one correct answer.
|
| West ♠ 8, 5 ♥ A, 9 ♦ J, 10, 5, 4 ♣ K, Q, 10, 4, 3 |
East ♠ K, 7, 6, 4 ♥K, 8, 4 ♦ 9, 2 ♣ A, 9, 8, 2 |
The North hand is dealer and opens 1 ♥ with 13 points.
South, with 8 points, can respond 2 ♥.
How do North and South respond to overcalls?
1. East overcalls 2 ♣. What is South’s response to North’s opening bid?
2. West answers East’s bid with 3 ♣. What is North’s next bid?
|
| West ♠ A, 10, 9, 2 ♥ A, 8, 7 ♦ 10, 8, 2 ♣ 8, 7, 3 |
East ♠ 6, 3 ♥ Q, 10, 9 ♦ A, 7, 5 ♣ K, Q, 6, 4, 2 |
The South hand is dealer and opens 1 ♠ with 13 points.
North makes a 1 NT response with 9 points.
How do North and South respond to overcalls?
3. How does South respond to West’s 2 ♣ overcall bid?
|
| West ♠ A, 10, 3 ♥ Q, J, 9, 7, 4 ♦ 9, 5 ♣ K, 9, 7 |
East ♠ J, 8, 5 ♥ 8, 5, 3, 2 ♦ Q, J, 4 ♣ A, 4, 2 |
The South hand is dealer and opens 1 ♠ with 14 HCP and 15 points.
North, with 10 points, can respond 2 ♦.
4. West overcalls with 3 ♥. How should North respond?
If you have any comments or suggestions please send them to peterkonieczko76@gmail.com
Click for Next Lesson: 2-NT Opening Bid – Part 1
♠ ♥ ♦ ♣