Main
Detail specifications 41DA - Level 2 ★
Responding to level 1 overcalls
Your partner has overcalled a suit at level 1
He may have 8 to 17 HCP (with 18 HCP or above, he would have doubled).
You must pay attention to :
1) Principles :
- Raise bid is preemptive
- Raise bid is non forcing
- With 11 HCP and above, a cue-bid is asking for more information
- Level 1 shift bid is forcing
- Level 2 shift bid shows a rather weak hand with a nice suit. It is not forcing.
He may have 8 to 17 HCP (with 18 HCP or above, he would have doubled).
You must pay attention to :
- his strength. He may have less HCP than if he had opened
- the opener's position, right after you...this downgrades your honors that might be captured !
- the forcing/ non forcing rules...very different when you respond to the overcaller.
1) Principles :
- Raise bid is preemptive
- Raise bid is non forcing
- With 11 HCP and above, a cue-bid is asking for more information
- Level 1 shift bid is forcing
- Level 2 shift bid shows a rather weak hand with a nice suit. It is not forcing.
2) Applications
Less than 7-8HCP : PASS
With a support, follow the law of total tricks
With 11-12 and above: cue bid the opener's suit
Less than 7-8HCP : PASS
With a support, follow the law of total tricks
- With 8 nice HCP and 3 trump cards : raise at the lowest level
- With more than 8 and 4 trump cards :preempt with a jump raise
- With 11 HCP and 4 or 5 trump cards : game
With 11-12 and above: cue bid the opener's suit
| S | W | N | E |
|---|---|---|---|
1 |
1 |
Pass |
|
2 |
J
9
3
2
A
J
8
3
2
K
7
6
5
Exercise E5587 Law of total tricks : at least 8 trumps in your line, you can go for 8 tricks.
| S | W | N | E |
|---|---|---|---|
1 |
1 |
1 |
|
3 |
Q
J
5
2
10
9
4
2
8
K
Q
8
6
Exercise E4858 Jump raise with 4 trumps and more than 8 HCP.
Cue-bids
- Forcing : they tend to find a major fit or a NT contract.
- With a jump : Splinter, showing a shortage in the opening suit and a nice partner support.
| S | W | N | E |
|---|---|---|---|
1 |
1 |
1 |
|
2 |
A
J
8
7
6
5
A
10
6
2
K
10
8
Exercise E5301 2 ♣ Cue-bid : investigation bid. That is the only possible bid to show your strength. You are too strong for a ♦ support, and you can't bid NT because of your ♥.
The jump fit response to overcalls
The jump shift by the overcaller's Partner shows:
The well-informed overcaller can now decide to go to game, part game or pass.
The jump shift by the overcaller's Partner shows:
- a four-card fit
- five cards in the named suit
- ten or so HCP.
The well-informed overcaller can now decide to go to game, part game or pass.
| S | W | N | E |
|---|---|---|---|
1 |
1 |
Pass |
|
2 |
A
Q
J
9
5
7
5
6
3
Q
J
8
6
Problem 20757 2 ♠ In response to an overcall, the jump shift shows a four-card fit, a strong five-card suit and ten or so HCP.
A
K
9
5
4
Q
J
6
5
4
A
8
7
| S | W | N | E |
|---|---|---|---|
Pass |
1 |
1 |
Pass |
3 |
Q
8
7
6
A
K
10
7
5
3
2
9
4
Problem E4954 3 ♥ In response to an overcall, the jump shift shows a four-card fit, a strong five-card suit and ten or so HCP. The well-informed overcaller can now decide what to do next.
FR version