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Detail specifications 31DA - Level 2 ★
Overcalls after a weak 2 opening
Overcalls after a weak 2 opening
The various overcalls are:
Careful! You can only use a Michael after a one level opening.
The various overcalls are:
- With an unbalanced hand call your long suit or double.
- With a balanced hand call 2NT but you also need between 15 and 17HCP and two stoppers in the opening suit!
Careful! You can only use a Michael after a one level opening.
| S | W | N | E |
|---|---|---|---|
2 |
|||
Pass |
K
9
7
4
Q
J
K
7
6
K
8
4
2
Problem E1257 PASS. Your hand is too weak to double. No aces and the hearts honors are worthless!
| S | W | N | E |
|---|---|---|---|
2 |
|||
2NT |
9
4
K
Q
9
J
10
4
A
K
Q
10
9
Problem E1270 2NTThe important thing here is to have heart stoppers. It doesn't matter if you don't have a spade stopper. Your Partner will usually take care of that!
Double
To double you need:
An overcall in a suit needs:
To double you need:
- a three-suited distribution,
- with your high cards in those suits!
An overcall in a suit needs:
- a strong suit of at least 5 cards at the two level (ie 2 spades over a 2 heart opening), and more like 6 cards at the three level.
- One exception to keep in mind : after a 2♥ opening, the bid of 3♠ is propositional game - you have to have a strong ♠ with 6 cards and a 2nd zone hand..
| S | W | N | E |
|---|---|---|---|
2 |
|||
3 |
K
10
7
4
7
6
2
A
K
Q
10
8
6
Problem E1253 3 ♣ Don't double with a diamond void in spite of the 4 spades. Bid your strong 6-card suit.
| S | W | N | E |
|---|---|---|---|
2 |
|||
X |
A
K
10
7
4
2
K
8
7
6
A
10
4
Problem E1256 A nearly perfect takeout double for the other 3 suits!
With two-suiters (2 suits of at least 5 cards with the high cards concentrated in those suits):
- 4 clubs = the other major and clubs
- 4 diamonds = the other major and diamonds
- Cue bid = the minors at least 5-4
- 4NT = the minors at least 6-5
| S | W | N | E |
|---|---|---|---|
2 |
|||
4 |
K
Q
10
8
7
J
9
4
A
K
Q
10
9
Problem E1278 4 diamondsIt's up to your Partner to choose between spades and hearts.
| S | W | N | E |
|---|---|---|---|
2 |
|||
4NT |
2
4
A
Q
10
8
5
A
Q
10
9
8
7
Problem E5145 4NT with a violent minor two suiter. If your side goes down at the 5 level, you will often notice that your opponents would have won game in a major suit...
The NT overcall
- 2NT shows 15-17HCP and two stoppers in the opening suit. (At level one we recommend 16-18HCP). If you only have 15HCP you need extra value, for example high cards backed up by solid intermediate cards.
- 3NT indicates:
- either a strong balanced hand with solid stoppers
- or an independent minor suit with a strong stopper.
| S | W | N | E |
|---|---|---|---|
2 |
|||
2NT |
9
4
K
Q
9
J
10
4
A
K
Q
10
9
Problem E1270 2NTThe important thing here is to have heart stoppers. It doesn't matter if you don't have a spade stopper. Your Partner will usually take care of that!
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