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              Another Crappy Overcall?

That’s what partners usually have, don’t they? Not vulnerable, anything goes. Well almost…or maybe not quite so true when neither side is vulnerable. So, what would you bid when your partner overcalls 1 and you have the following?

 

 

1 promises at least 3 but probably has a few more in this case. A nice hand but how nice?

This occurred recently and our South contented themselves with a raise to game which should have pretty good chances opposite most overcalls even if North was blessed with three diamond losers. Well, game ended the bidding but the overtricks never stopped coming!

Sometimes your partner does have a decent overcall and it is an opponent who should be taken to task for their opening bid! At the very least, your hand should be worth a 4 splinter bid though you could also take the bidding a little slower.

The splinter would have produced either a 4 cue-bid or a direct key-card ask. Had you replied 4 (cue) to 4, then you are likely to hear the key-card ask. If you have not got a response to key-card that shows a void, then now is the time to agree on one as two key cards, Q and a void would be very welcome news to your partner…as long as that void was not in diamonds! These were the 4 hands:

 

That is a seriously good overcall though with a seemingly wasted QJ, the North hand is really not worth any more than 1. In reality, if one is responding to Key Card and showing the void, it is not common to show more than the number of key cards (e.g., 5NT one and 6 two) though really two key cards and the void is all North needs to know as their extra heart should take care of the Q if it is missing.

From North’s point of view, South could have more high-cards for the game-forcing jump. As it is, they can ruff the club lead, play a spade to the king, a trump to dummy, ruff a spade high, a second trump to dummy and ruff a second spade and claim..all 13 tricks!

The slow 1 or even artificial 2 (showing heart support) routes may make the bidding less certain unless North can be convinced their partner is really short in clubs.

Sometimes, maybe more times than in reality, our partner does/should have a decent overcall. It can be hard to visualise any slam let alone a grand slam for our side after a 1-level opposition opener. In such a case, South needed to show they had a value raise to game and then their partner would be very keen to take up the initiative.

Of course, the deal would be much easier to bid were West to stay silent. Such are the interesting situations which bidding can throw up. Never, ever, say

Apologies to our Panel for not getting them involved. They will, I hope, try the next one.

 

2 is a Weak 2 and 3 is as you may guess pre-emptive not constructive. You have the best hand you have held for many weeks…and this happens to you!

Your partner naturally has nothing to say. What about you…and to have two questions, would your decision be any different playing Pairs or Teams?

Richard Solomon

 

 

 

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