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Detail specifications 31BA - Level 1 ★

Overcalls after a 1NT opening

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The main overcalls after a 1NT opening are:
  • a suit normally with 6 cards
  • 2 clubs (Landy convention) with the majors at least 5-4
  • 2NT calling for the minors with preferably 6-5
  • Double showing a long minor and a major of at least 4 cards
  • Preempts with suits of 7 or 8 cards.

 
To overcall in a suit you need
  • a 6-card suit
  • and an unbalanced distribution.

The hand's distribution is more important than the number of points HCP.
SWNE
1NT
Pass
A
J
9
3
2
K
Q
9
7
6
4
Q
J
Problem E31484 PASS Your 13HCP are hardly worth anything!
 
 
2 clubs Landy
This is a very efficient and economic overcall promising
  • at least 5-4 in the majors
  • and opening points
The bidding after 2 clubs:
  • 2 diamonds shows a weak hand asking Partner to choose his best major
  • 3 hearts or 3 spades proposes game
SWNE
1NT
2
A
J
10
8
K
10
9
8
6
2
K
9
8
Problem E31504 2 clubs Landy to announce your 2 major suits
 
 
2NT calling for the minors
2NT shows a hand with 10 or so HCP and, preferably, 6-5 in the minors (the 1NT opener is more likely to have strong minors than majors...)
In response to this overcall, Partner bids his best minor.
DOUBLE : showing a long minor and a major of at least 4 cards. This overcall is much more frequent than the Landy or 2NT. See the corresponding information note.
SWNE
1NT
2NT
2
4
A
J
10
9
7
6
K
Q
10
9
8
Problem E1493 2NT showing a minort 2-suiter at least 5-5
 
SWNE
1NT
X
4
A
K
9
7
A
9
4
Q
J
10
9
7
Problem E5611 X showing a long minor and a major at least 4th
 
 
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