ACBL10ROV – Bidding: Responses to Ward Trumbull
Partner’s Overcalls Nov 20, 2011
Page 1 of 5
When the opponents open the bidding, your partner may pass, make an overcall bid, make a takeout double or make a cue bid of the opener’s suit. These bids are all explained in:
ACBL10 – Overcalls, Takeout Doubles and Cue Bids
The responses to takeout doubles and cue bids are explained in:
ACBL10RTO – Responses to Partner’s Takeout Doubles
and Cue Bids
This handout covers the response options you have when partner makes
one of the 7 possible types of overcalls.
1. Response to Partner’s 1 Level Overcall
A 1 level overcall tells partner you have a good 5+ card suit you wouldn’t mind partner leading on defense. It should be from 6 HCP to12 HCP maximum and have at least two honors. Many players pass this type hand all the time. Remember partner’s overcall has not asked you to bid. That’s what Takeout Doubles and Cue Bids are for.
The partner of the overcaller has the following options:
Pass With 2 cards in partner’s suit and less
than 12 HCP.
Support Partner’s Suit With 3+ cards in partner’s suit and 6-10
HCP bid partner’s suit; but with12+
points (HCP and distribution), jump in
partner’s suit.
This is a game invitation, and partner
should recount the hand adding dist-
ribution points. With 12+ bid game.
ACBL10ROV – Bidding: Responses to Nov 20, 2011
Partner’s Overcalls Page 2 of 5
1. Response to Partner’s 1 Level Overcall (continued)
Bid your suit With 0 or 1 card in partner’s suit, bid your
own 5+ card suit. This alerts partner to a
chance for you to ruff his/her suit on
defense. He is not obligated now to bid.
Cue Bid Their Suit With 12+ HCP this is like a takeout double
to see if partner has a second suit and/or
an opening hand. If no second suit,
he/she can bid notrump or rebid that 5+
card suit.
Jump to game This can be one of three hands:
(a closeout bid) 1. You have the points (16+ HCP) and
support for partner’s suit. Bid game
in partner’s suit.
hand with GOOD support for
partner’s suit. Bid game in partner’s
suit. You are taking a save.
2. Response to Partner’s 1 Notrump Overcall
Treat this bid the same way as an opening 1 notrump bid. You have
the options of pass, Stayman, transfers, 2 notrump, 3 notrump and even
Gerber. See ACBL04 for a complete explanation of these options.
3. Response to Partner’s 2 Level Overcall Without a Skip
This is the same type hand that would be overcalled at the 1 level, except the range is 8-12 HCP. The response options are the same as for
the 1 level overcall (listed above).
ACBL10ROV – Bidding: Responses to Nov 20, 2011
Partner’s Overcalls Page 3 of 5
4. Response to Partner’s 2 Level Overcall With a Skip
Partner has a preemptive weak 2 type hand with 6+ cards and 5-10
HCP. Your options are:
Pass With 0 or 1 card in partner’s suit and no 6+
card suit of your own to bid.
Redouble If RHO doubles (possibly negative), redouble
to warn partner of your shortage in his suit.
Bid Your Suit With 0 or 1 card in partner’s suit and a 6+
card suit of your own to bid.
Support Partner’s With 2+ cards in partner’s suit and 6-14 HCP,
Suit bid partner’s suit at the 3 level.
2 Notrump (Ogust) This is a partnership agreement with a weak 2
hearts or 2 spades bid. With 2+ cards in
partner’s suit and 15+ HCP bid 2 notrump to
invoke Ogust.
If you have 15+ HCP without that that agree-
ment, there is no way to know if the weak 2
hand HCP is a minimum (5-7) or maximum
(8-10). So flip a coin and support at either
the 3 or 4 level.
3 Notrump This is used when it is a weak 2 diamonds
bid. Your hand should have stoppers in the
other suits and:
3 diamonds with 2 of the top 3.
4 diamonds with 1 of the top 2
You’re taking a gamble. So What.
ACBL10ROV – Bidding: Responses to Nov 20, 2011
Partner’s Overcalls Page 4 of 5
5. Response to Partner’s 2 Notrump Overcall With a Skip
This is an Unusual Notrump bid. It indicates partner has 5+ cards in the two lower unbid suits. This is consistent with playing Michaels cue bids. Your response options to the Unusual Notrump are:
a. Bid either of the 2 suits that has 4+ cards. If both, bid the
stronger.
b. If none, with 3 cards in one of the 2 suits, bid 3 of that suit. If
3 of both, bid the stronger of the two.
c. If none, bid your stronger 2 card suit of the pair.
d. If none, pass the 2 notrump.
6. Response to Partner’s 3 Level Preempt Overcall
Partner’s 3 level preempt bid offers length (7+ cards) but few points. It should have 0-10 HCP non-vulnerable or 8-10 vulnerable. It is a nuisance bid. Your options are:
Pass Hope that it has disrupted the opponent’s
bidding.
Support Bid Make sure the bidding has been disrupted.
Your hand should be distributional with suit
support and a singleton or void.
ACBL10ROV – Bidding: Responses to Nov 20, 2011
Partner’s Overcalls Page 5 of 5
7. Response to Partner’s 4/5 Level Preempt Overcall
Partner’s 4/5 level preempt bid offers length (7/8/9 cards) but few points. It should have 5-10 HCP non-vulnerable. You should not make this kind of preempt bid when you are vulnerable. Partner’s 4/5 level preempt is a nuisance bid. You should pass. :
The Last Word
When your partner overcalls, you should try not to compete with him/her by bidding other suits. You’ll likely get passed. To get partner to bid again, you have to use the cue bid technique. But that of course requires 12+ HCP. Learn to pass partner’s overcalls when no game is in sight. Show some restraint.