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.