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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 :
  • 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 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
SWNE
1 Trefle 1 Coeur Pass
2 Coeur
Jack Spades
9 Spades
3 Spades
2 Spades
Ace Hearts
Jack Hearts
8 Hearts
3 Clubs
2 Clubs
King Diamonds
7 Diamonds
6 Diamonds
5 Diamonds
Exercise E5587 Law of total tricks : at least 8 trumps in your line, you can go for 8 tricks.
 
SWNE
1 Trefle 1 Coeur 1 Pique
3 Coeur
Queen Spades
Jack Spades
5 Spades
2 Spades
10 Hearts
9 Hearts
4 Hearts
2 Hearts
8 Clubs
King Diamonds
Queen Diamonds
8 Diamonds
6 Diamonds
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.
SWNE
1 Trefle 1 Carreau 1 Coeur
2 Trefle
Ace Spades
Jack Spades
8 Spades
7 Hearts
6 Hearts
5 Hearts
Ace Clubs
10 Clubs
6 Clubs
2 Clubs
King Diamonds
10 Diamonds
8 Diamonds
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:
  • 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.
SWNE
1 Trefle 1 Carreau Pass
2 Pique
Ace Spades
Queen Spades
Jack Spades
9 Spades
5 Spades
7 Hearts
5 Hearts
6 Clubs
3 Clubs
Queen Diamonds
Jack Diamonds
8 Diamonds
6 Diamonds
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.
 
Ace Spades
King Spades
9 Spades
5 Spades
4 Spades
Queen Hearts
Jack Hearts
6 Clubs
5 Clubs
4 Clubs
Ace Diamonds
8 Diamonds
7 Diamonds
SWNE
Pass 1 Carreau 1 Pique Pass
3 Coeur
Queen Spades
8 Spades
7 Spades
6 Spades
Ace Hearts
King Hearts
10 Hearts
7 Hearts
5 Hearts
3 Clubs
2 Clubs
9 Diamonds
4 Diamonds
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.