Overcall is a bid following an opposing
bid.
Of course, you must overcall for a good contract. But you can also overcall for,
- Preventing opponents having better idea about their hands.
- Preventing your opponents to get higher scores.
You can use preemptive
bids in a competitive auction if you
have good support (4+ card) |
Takeout doubles and
redoubles and cuebids are important aspects of a competitive auction.. |
When explaining the overcalls, your right hand opponent will be abbreviated as (RHO), and
left hand opponent will be abbreviated as (LHO). Advancer is the partner of the overcaller.

We can collect overcall bids in three main groups:
1) Overcalls and takeout doubles when the opponents opened.
2) Overcalls and takeout doubles when the opponents have overcalled
3) Other Overcalls and Doubles
These materials are used in competitive auction..
6.1 Overcalls and Takeout Doubles When the Opponents Opened.
When an opponent opened the biding, you can make a simple
overcall with 7+ high-card points and a five card suit: If your overcall have to
be at the two level you'd better have 13+ points. Jump overcalls are preemptive. If you have a balanced
hand you can make notrump overcall with 15-18 points. If you have strong hand with shortness in opponents' suit you can make takeout
double.
Overcalls when the opponents opened can be made
in different ways:
1-Suit Overcalls
Simple Suit Overcall
Jump Suit Overcall
2-Notrump Overcalls
Simple Notrump Overcall
Unusual (Jump) Overcall
3-Direct Cuebid Overcalls
4-Notrump Interference Overcalls
5-Takeout Doubles
6.1.1 Suit Overcalls and
Advances
6.1.1.1 Simple Suit Overcalls
Advances of Suit Overcalls
6.1.1.2 Jump Suit Overcalls
Advances of Jump Suit Overcalls
Partner's
Overcall |
Advancing |
Example
(click on the example) |
Weak Jump Overcall |
If your partner overcalls with a jump, he shows a weak hand, but his suit must be strong and
long. If you have aces and kings in other suits, if you have at least
three card
support for partner's suit, you can raise your partner's suit. If you have a strong
hand, it is your choice to bid a game, since you almost know your partner's
hand. |
|
6.1.2 Notrump Overcalls
We can replace Notrump overcalls into two
categories:
- Simple 1NT overcals
- Unusual (Jump) 2NT overcalls
6.1.2.1 Simple 1NT Overcalls
6.1.2.2 Unusual (Jump) 2NT Overcalls
The level of
overcall |
Overcaller's
Points |
Rules for
overcall and advancing |
Example
(click on the example) |
Notrump
overcall at the two level. |
Suitable for
an Overcall |
This
convention is called UNUSAL 2NT. It is used to show two suited (usually
minors) hands and also
prevent opponents having reach a good contract..
When a suit was previously bid by opponent, a jump to 2NT by you is called
"Unusual 2NT, promising 5-5 in lowest two unbid suits:
When
opponent bids 1
or 1 , both minors
are the lowest two unbid suits. Accordingly,
1-
An 2NT overcall by you after opponent's 1
opening, you show 5-5 in hearts and diamonds.
2- An 2NT overcall by you after opponent's 1
opening, you show 5-5 in hearts and clubs.
3- An 2NT overcall by you after opponent's 1
opening, you show 5-5 in diamonds and clubs.
4- An 2NT overcall by you after opponent's 1
opening, you show 5-5 in diamonds and clubs.
Advancer bids one of partner's suit
(bids the longer one ofcourse). Responder's 3NT bid is for playing..
When East opens 1 ,
South bids 2NT showing 5-5 distribution in hearts and diamonds.
Advancer (North) bids 3 .
Note: If
opponent opens the bid and you have a balanced hand with 20-21 points, you
can not jump to 2NT.. Because jumping to 2NT has above meaning. In that
case first make a takeout double, then you can bid your 2NT...
|
|
6.1.3 Direct Cuebid Overcalls
Bidding the same suit as your
is called Cuebid. Direct Cuebids are Michael's Cuebid
which is invented to show two suited hands.
It is a direct cuebid of the opponent's opened suit .
Type
of Overcall |
Overcaller's
Points |
Rules for
overcall and advancing |
Example
(click on the example) |
Michael's
Cuebid |
Suitable for
an Overcall |
A direct cue bid when the
opponents have bid only one suit is Micheals Cue-bid which describe two suited hand to your partner. If
an opponent opens the bidding, you may not find the opportunity to describe your two
suited hand. If you learn Michaels cuebid, you can describe your two
suited hand with one bid:
If you simply bid opponent's opening bid this is Michaels cuebid. If
opponents opens with a minor, your Michaels cuebid shows you have length
in both majors.. If opponents opens with a major, your Michels cuebid
shows you have length in other major and one of the minors..
Cue bids of
preemptive openings are also Michaels.
Advances to Michaels:
Advancing |
Meaning
of Advancer's
bid |
One
of partner's two suits |
Prefer one of
partner's suit.. A
jump in partner's preference suit is preemptive. |
Opponent's
suit |
A cue bid of
opner's suit is game or slam try.. |
2NT |
Asks partner's minor
suit. |
3NT |
To Play |
Here is an example of Michael's Cuebid:
When East opens 1 ,
South's 2 bid
is Michaels cuebid showing both majors. Advancer (North) must bid
2S..
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|
|
6.1.4 Notrump
Interference Overcalls
If opponents opened
1NT, you may want to show your very unbalanced (mostly two suited) hand with
some values. Natural calls don't allow you to show your two suited hands.
Because, the bidding goes higher levels when you are ready to bid your second
suit.. Cappelletti convention shows two
suited hands...
Cappelletti conventions
is notrump interference bid:
Cappelletti
convention used for competing against opponents opening NT bid.
6.1.4.1 Cappelletti
Convention Overcalls
Opening Bid
|
Overcall
(CAPP) |
Meaning of Overcall
|
Example
(click on the example) |
1NT |
Double |
Balanced hand with 16-18
points. |
|
2
|
Promises 1 suited
hand. Responder responds with 2D as a relay. |
2
|
Promises both majors.
Responder bids major of preference.. |
2
|
Promises hearts and an unspecified
minor.
If responder likes hearts he can pass, otherwise bid 2NT to ask
partner to bid her minor . |
2
|
Promises spades and an unspecified
minor.
If responder likes spades he can pass, otherwise bid 2NT to ask
partner to bid her minor . |
Click
here to learn Cappelletti to compete better if opponents open 1NT
6.1.5 Takeout Doubles
Doubles of suit bids are for takeout over
opening partscore bids and penalty over opening bids at the game level. Direct
doubles of 1NT are penalty oriented.
Takeout double is a bid that can be made over an opponent's bid. If an
opponent opens, you can double if you also have enough points for
opening (13+ points). A takeout double requests partner to declare
his longest unbid suit. Takeout double describes your hand to your partner as:
At least 3 cards length at every unbid suit, shortness in opponent's suit.
A double of 1NT is not a takeout double: It is penalty double.
So, advancer can pass doubled opponent's notrump bid.
But,
It is mandatory to advance partner's takeout double.
6.1.5.1 Making Takeout Doubles
Opponents
oppening bid |
Your bid |
Your
point
|
Conditions
for takeout doubles |
Example
(click on the example)
|
Any
suit |
Takeout
Double |
10+ |
Opponent's suit in your hand must be short
(singleton or doubleton). You must support the other suits (other than
your opponent's suit) with at least three cards, so as to find a fit, if
partner bids one of these suits.
Make a takeout double in below cases:
1) If you have 10+ points and support for
the unbid suits..
2)If you have 17+ points and a strong
suit and you are afraid of advancer's "pass" call when you overcalled
in your strong suit.. Your rebid of course will be your strong suit.
3) If you have a balanced hand with 19+
points which is too strong for 1NT overcall..You rebid can be 2NT...
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|
6.1.5.2 Advancing to Takeout Doubles
You can not pass your partner's takeout
double.
If your left hand opponent (LHO) opens in a
suit, and your partner doubles (takeout double) advancer must bid his longest
suit..
Doubler already informded advancer that she has support for any of
advancer's suits other
than opponent's suit.. Advancer must revalute her hand by dummy points
(shortness points). Because the suit chosen by advancer usually becomes the
trump suit.
Partner's Bid |
Advancer's
Points |
Advancer's Bids |
Example
(click on the example) |
Takeout double |
Any |
Pass!
Advancer can pass if right hand opponents bids after
Doubler's takeout double,
If opponent's suit is very long in your
hand, and you want to convert your partner's takeout double into penalty
double you are allowed to pass..
|
|
Takeout double |
0-9 |
Bid your longest suit (preferably your
major) in cheapest way. If you have two suits with same length, bid
the higher ranked one.
If opponent’s suit is well stopped
without a 4-card major suit you can bid 1NT with 7-9 points..
|
|
Takeout double |
10-12 |
Bid your longest suit by jumping one
level. If you have two suits with same length, bid the higher ranked one.
A jump response is not forcing.
If opponent’s suit is well stopped without a 4-card major suit you
can bid 2NT.. |
|
Takeout double |
13+ |
You can bid a game in your longest suit.
Cuebidding is forcing. Use it when you have 13+ points
If opponent’s suit is strong (if you have stoppers) without a 4-card major suit you can bid
3NT.. |
|
6.1.5.3 Doubler's Rebids
Advancer's Bid |
Doubler's Rebids |
Example
(click on the example) |
A suit without Jump |
A new suit by doubler is not forcing.
Doubler's single jump in a new suit is forcing.
Doubler double jump to the four level
means acceptance of the suit as trump and showing her singleton or void (controls
for slam)..
|
|
A suit with Jump |
A new suit by doubler is forcing to
game. |
|
Cuebid of the opponent's suit |
Advancer has 13+ points.. |
|
6.2 Overcalls and Takeout Doubles
When the Opponents Have Overcalled
If opponent's make an overcall after your partner's opening bid your responses
may carry some different meanining according to your partner's opening bid and
overcaller's bid.
6.2.1 If Opponents Intervene Over Partner's
Suit Opening
6.2.1.1 Handling Opponent's Takeout Doubles
6.2.1.2 Handling Opponent's Suit
Overcalls
6.2.1.2.1 Negative Double
If your partner opens in a suit
and the opponents overcall in an another suit, your double is negative double:
Negative double shows the unbid suits
Negative Doubles are employed through 3
.
You
need 6+ points to double at the 1-level |
You
need 8+ points to double at the 2-level |
Rebids by Opener:
13-15 Points: Any bid at possible lowest level,
Non-forcing
16-18 Points: Any jump bid, invitational
19+ Cue bid,
If opener passes that means he wants to convert
negative double into penalty
Rebids by Negative Doubler:
Up to 10 points: 1NT or new suit, non forcing
11-12 Ponits: 2NT or raising partner's suit, invitational
13+ Points: Cue-bid, forcing
If negative doubler bids a game, it is sign-off
6.2.1.2.2 Cuebidding
6.2.2 If Opponents Intervene Over Partner's
NT Opening
Stayman and transfers are on
over opponents double. After interference of 2D and higher cuebids take the
place of Stayman.
Partner's bid |
RHO |
Responder |
Meaning of
your response |
1NT |
Double |
2C |
Stayman |
2D |
Jacoby |
2H |
Jacoby |
2S |
Transfer to 3C |
2C |
Double |
Stayman |
2D |
Jacoby |
2H |
Jacoby |
2S |
Transfer to 3C |
2D |
3D |
Stayman |
Other
Bids are natural |
2H |
3H |
Stayman |
Other
bids are natural |
2S |
3S |
Stayman |
Other
bids are natural |
Other
bids are natural.
Natural bids at the two level are not
forcing. NAtural bids at the three level are forcing.
Also, 1NT-2H-3S is forcing. Responder
asks 1NT opener to choose between 3NT and 4S.. |
6.3 Other Overcalls, Doubles and Redoubles
6.3.1 Reopening Double
Reopening double can be made by opener with
18-21 Points.. Let us start with an example:
Above table shows an example of reopening by
West.. West has very strong hand and wants responder to find a suit.
6.3.2 SOS Redouble
In our system you can open1C or 1D as low as
three cards. When oppenents double for penalty your opening bid, you may request
partner to bid her best suit outside of your opening bid.
Above table shows an example of SOS Redouble.. West has
few clubs, North doubles as takeout, partnerr passs and South converts TO double
to Penalty..Now, A Redouble from opener is SOS double, ask partner select a new
suit..
6.3.3 Penalty Doubles
Takeout double presents one of three unbid suits..
Negative double presents one of two unbid suits
Penalty double presents nothing...
In order to make a penalty double you must be sure that opponents can not
make their contract: For example, your double after your partner describes the
shape of his hand is a penalty double..
Doubles are takeout through the game (except,
your direct double to a 1NT opening bid is a penalty double)
Negative Doubles are employed through 3S..
Above table shows an example of penalty Double..
Responder's double can not be negative double because 4S is above 3S...
6.3.4 Lightner Slam Double
You can make a double for
opponents slam (Lightner Slam Double) to ask partner to make a lead for your
void. If your partner can not guess in which suit you are void, he leads in
dummy's first bid suit.
here is a Lightner slam double from 1996 World
Bridge Team Championship, Rhodes, Greece, bul.3, P.9:
W |
N |
E |
S |
|
|
1 D |
Pass |
2 H |
4 S |
Pass |
Pass |
6 D |
Double! |
|
|
North's double to West's 6D is lightner slam
double: Asks partner to lead Dummy's first bid suit: Heart!
6.3.5 Lead Directing Double
Lead-directing doubl is a double of opponents' conventional bid
which shows strength in that suit.
In above table 2C is Stayman. It is an
artificial bid. 2C is neither opponents' suit, nor you want to play in clubs. You just inform partner that club suit
in your hand is strong and long.. If opponents play for a NT contract,
partner will lead clubs for you...