Test your knowledge
Overcalls, in a suit, over a suit
- Question 1
(of 13 on this page)
Your Right Hand Opponent (RHO) bid 1 Heart. You have this 7-loser 9-HCP hand
A Q 9 8 7
3 2
Q J 10
6 3 2
What should you bid ?1. pass
2. double
3. 1 Spade
4. 1 NT
5. 2 Clubs
6. 2 Diamonds
7. 2 Hearts
8. 2 Spades
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- Answer 1
(of 13 on this page)
Your Right Hand Opponent (RHO) bid 1 Heart. You have this 7-loser 9-HCP hand
( 3 ). 1 Spade A Q 9 8 7 3 2 Q J 10 6 3 2
What should you bid ?
Even though you only have 9 points, it's enough to overcall at the one level.
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- Question 2
(of 13 on this page)
Your Right Hand Opponent (RHO) bid 1 Heart. You have this 11-HCP 8-loser hand
A Q 9 8 4 3 2 A J 10 6 3 2
What should you bid ?1. pass
2. double
3. 1 Spade
4. 1 NT
5. 2 Clubs
6. 2 Diamonds
7. 2 Hearts
8. 2 Spades
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- Answer 2
(of 13 on this page)
Your Right Hand Opponent (RHO) bid 1 Heart. You have this 11-HCP 8-loser hand
( 1 ). pass A Q 9 8 4 3 2 A J 10 6 3 2
What should you bid ?
With no 5-card suit you cannot overcall in a suit. With 11 HCP you are too weak to overcall 1NT, which requires 16-18. And you are too weak to double for takeout, with only 2 suits and 11 HCP. Perhaps your partner will bid a protective double if there are two passes ?
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- Question 3
(of 13 on this page)
Your LHO opened bidding 1 Heart. This was followed by two passes. You have this same 11-HCP 8-loser hand as in the last question (Quiz no. B 0101 question 2)
A Q 9 8 4 3 2 A J 10 6 3 2
What should you bid ?1. pass
2. double
3. 1 Spade
4. 1 NT
5. 2 Clubs
6. 2 Diamonds
7. 2 Hearts
8. 2 Spades
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- Answer 3
(of 13 on this page)
Your LHO opened bidding 1 Heart. This was followed by two passes. You have this same 11-HCP 8-loser hand as in the last question (Quiz no. B 0101 question 2)
( 2 ). double A Q 9 8 4 3 2 A J 10 6 3 2
What should you bid ?
In the 4th seat, after two passes, "double" a suit bid if you are weak in the opponents suit. You can do it with as few as 8 HCP, known as "borrowing a king". Partner probably has some strength, and we should be in there. Partner will pass for penalties, or bid his own suit, remembering that you borrowed 3 points of course.
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- Question 4
(of 13 on this page)
Your Right Hand Opponent (RHO) bid 1 Heart. You have this 10-HCP 8-loser hand
A Q 2 5 4 3 K 10 8 7 6 J 2
What should you bid ?1. pass
2. double
3. 1 Spade
4. 1 NT
5. 2 Clubs
6. 2 Diamonds
7. 2 Hearts
8. 2 Spades
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- Answer 4
(of 13 on this page)
Your Right Hand Opponent (RHO) bid 1 Heart. You have this 10-HCP 8-loser hand
( 1 ). pass A Q 2 5 4 3 K 10 8 7 6 J 2
What should you bid ?
You have all the ingredients for a 2-level overcall except suit quality, perhaps. Your diamonds are not that strong and you are on the limit with only 10 HCP
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- Question 5
(of 13 on this page)
You are in the 4th seat and everyone has bid! LHO opened with 1 Club. Partner overcalled with 1 Diamond. RHO raised to 2 Clubs. You have this 7-HCP 8-loser hand
J 8 7 6 9 8 7 6 Q 10 9 8 A
What should you bid ?1. pass
2. double
3. 2 Diamonds
4. 2 Hearts
5. 2 Spades
6. 2 NT
7. 3 Diamonds
8. 3 Hearts
9. 3 Spades
10. 3 NT
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- Answer 5
(of 13 on this page)
You are in the 4th seat and everyone has bid! LHO opened with 1 Club. Partner overcalled with 1 Diamond. RHO raised to 2 Clubs. You have this 7-HCP 8-loser hand
( 7 ). 3 Diamonds J 8 7 6 9 8 7 6 Q 10 9 8 A
What should you bid ?
Even though you might have as few as 17 HCP between you, don't let the enemy have the contact. You have a 9 diamond fit at least. Since the opposition are still bidding, you should bid to the limit of the fit. In this case it's probably quite safe....you can assume 7-losers from partner when he overcalls at the two level, or 3 honours and 5 card (the "suit qiuality overcall test" - SQOT), with 10+HCP. Your 8-loser hand suggests it's to bid to a limit of 3 diamonds. If the bidding continues, it might be worth going to 4 and sacrificing one trick rather than see them make 4 Clubs.
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- Question 6
(of 13 on this page)
RHO opened with 1 Club, and you overcalled with 1 Diamonds (but having 6 of them, you might have considered 2 Diamonds - a "weak jump-overcall"). Anyway, LHO raised to 3 Clubs. Your partner raised you to 3 Diamonds, and the opposition bid 4 clubs. You have this 6-card 10-HCP 7-loser hand.
Q 3 2 10 5 A K J 4 3 2 10 9
What should you bid ?1. pass
2. double
3. 4 Diamonds
4. 4 Hearts
5. 4 Spades
6. 4 NT
7. 5 Diamonds
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- Answer 6
(of 13 on this page)
RHO opened with 1 Club, and you overcalled with 1 Diamonds (but having 6 of them, you might have considered 2 Diamonds - a "weak jump-overcall"). Anyway, LHO raised to 3 Clubs. Your partner raised you to 3 Diamonds, and the opposition bid 4 clubs. You have this 6-card 10-HCP 7-loser hand.
( 3 ). 4 Diamonds Q 3 2 10 5 A K J 4 3 2 10 9
What should you bid ?
As we are still competing, you can bid to the limit of the fit. You promised your partner 5 diamonds on your first bid (you could have promised 6 if you'd used the more advanced "weak jump-overcall"). Anyway, he based his fit calculations on the wrong data, and so he must have 4 of those diamonds. Time to upgrade, and you too bid to the limit of the fit. You'll most likely go down one, as you could have very few points, but probably no more than one down, and with luck none down at all. Either way it's certainly better than the enemy making 4 clubs. Of course, if one of you were bidding in a Major, it would be much more exciting!
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- Question 7
(of 13 on this page)
You are in the 4th seat and everyone has bid! LHO opened with 1 Club. Partner overcalled with 1 Diamond. RHO raised to 2 Clubs. You have this 10-HCP 8-loser hand
Q 8 A J 10 9 8 Q 3 2 8 7 6
What should you bid ?1. pass
2. double
3. 2 Diamonds
4. 2 Hearts
5. 2 Spades
6. 2 NT
7. 3 Clubs
8. 3 Diamonds
9. 3 Hearts
10. 3 NT
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- Answer 7
(of 13 on this page)
You are in the 4th seat and everyone has bid! LHO opened with 1 Club. Partner overcalled with 1 Diamond. RHO raised to 2 Clubs. You have this 10-HCP 8-loser hand
( 2 ). double Q 8 A J 10 9 8 Q 3 2 8 7 6
What should you bid ?
You could support your partner's diamond to the 2 level - the limit of the fit. You know he has at least two honours in diamonds (the SQOT suit quality test).
But with you own 5-card suit (which with 3 honours plus great xx support is stronger than his minimum diamond suit) you could perhaps overcall in your own suit. It's also a Major, which is tempting. To what level? Partner promised 8-losers or better with his 1-level overcall. You've got 8 losers. 8+8=16, so 2 seems safe - but only if you have an 8-card fit in Hearts - which you can't be sure of. Safer to stay in diamonds. Maybe your partner can raise further if he has more than 5 of them?
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- Question 8
(of 13 on this page)
You are in the 4th seat and everyone before you has bid. LHO opened with 1 Club. Partner overcalled with 1 Diamond. RHO raised to 2 Clubs. You have this 16-HCP 6-loser hand
A K 8 2 A J 10 9 8 K J 3 8
What should you bid ?1. pass
2. double
3. 2 Diamonds
4. 2 Hearts
5. 2 Spades
6. 2 NT
7. 3 Clubs
8. 3 Diamonds
9. 3 Hearts
10. 2 or 3 of the above!
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- Answer 8
(of 13 on this page)
You are in the 4th seat and everyone before you has bid. LHO opened with 1 Club. Partner overcalled with 1 Diamond. RHO raised to 2 Clubs. You have this 16-HCP 6-loser hand
( 10 ). 2 or 3 of the above! A K 8 2 A J 10 9 8 K J 3 8
What should you bid ?
You could support your partner's 5-card diamond overcall, since you've got an 8-card fit. With your wonderfully strong hand, dare you go to the level of 5 diamonds? Your partner could of course be weak. With you own strong 5-card Major suit you might be tempted to overcall Hearts, since a bid of only 4 is needed to get to game. Partner promised 8-losers with his 1-level overcall. You've got 6 losers. That all suggests a game call of 4 Hearts - but only if your partner has a heart fit - and we just don't know. He might have no Hearts!
Here's where advanced players in your position, having a strong hand and an 8-card fit, use something called the "unassuming Cue bid", page 173. They bid the enemy suit, telling their partner that game is on if partner's overcall was stronger than the minimum 8 points / 8 losers. The other option would be a "maximal double", page 132, revealing strength and fit, and encouraging your partner to raise if he's above minimum. It could be mistaken by your partner as a double for take-out, p121. Either way, that's not too misleading, since you happen to have a splinter in clubs.
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- Question 9
(of 13 on this page)
You are in the 2nd seat. RHO opened with 1 Club. You have this 17-HCP 5-loser hand.
A K 8 A Q 10 9 8 7 K J 3 8
What should you bid ?1. pass
2. double
3. 1 Heart
4. 2 Hearts
5. 3 Hearts
6. 4 Hearts
7. 1 NT
8. 2 NT
9. 3 NT
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- Answer 9
(of 13 on this page)
You are in the 2nd seat. RHO opened with 1 Club. You have this 17-HCP 5-loser hand.
( 2 ). double A K 8 A Q 10 9 8 7 K J 3 8
What should you bid ?
With 16+ HCP you are too strong to overcall in Hearts. Tell your partner this is the case by first doubling, a forcing bid, and then bidding your Hearts next time round. If after the initial double partner bids at the lowest level, them game is probably off, since he's got 0-8 HCP. If he jump bids, promising 9+, then game should be on.
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- Question 10
(of 13 on this page)
You are in the 2nd seat. RHO opened with 1 Club. You have this 16-HCP 6-loser hand, same as the hand for Quiz no. B 0101 question 8.
A K 8 2 A J 10 9 8 K J 3 8
What should you bid ?1. pass
2. double
3. 1 Heart
4. 2 Hearts
5. 3 Hearts
6. 4 Hearts
7. 1 NT
8. 2 NT
9. 3 NT
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- Answer 10
(of 13 on this page)
You are in the 2nd seat. RHO opened with 1 Club. You have this 16-HCP 6-loser hand, same as the hand for Quiz no. B 0101 question 8.
( 3 ). 1 Heart A K 8 2 A J 10 9 8 K J 3 8
What should you bid ?
With only 5-cards you cannot double then rebid Hearts, since this bid promises 6 cards. A simple overcall will do. (If you'd had 18 HCP, that would enough to make up for the shorter suit, and you could then double and rebid the Hearts).
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- Question 11
(of 13 on this page)
You are in the 4th suit and everyone has bid! LHO opened with 1 Club. Partner overcalled with 1 Diamond. RHO raised to 2 Clubs. You have this 15-HCP 7-loser hand
Q J 8 7 A J 10 9 3 2 A K 4 3
What should you bid ?1. pass
2. double
3. 1 Heart
4. 2 Hearts
5. 3 Hearts
6. 4 Hearts
7. 1 NT
8. 2 NT
9. 3 NT
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- Answer 11
(of 13 on this page)
You are in the 4th suit and everyone has bid! LHO opened with 1 Club. Partner overcalled with 1 Diamond. RHO raised to 2 Clubs. You have this 15-HCP 7-loser hand
( 8 ). 2 NT Q J 8 7 A J 10 9 3 2 A K 4 3
What should you bid ?
With good stoppers in the enemy suit, and all the other suits covered, you can bid NT. But how many ? Partner promised 8 losers / 8HCP. In No Trumps losing trick count is no use. You need brute HCP - of which you have 23+ between you. With no long suit, bid 2NT to invite your partner to bid 3 if he has one more trick than he promised.
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- Question 12
(of 13 on this page)
You are South at the table to the side, shown again below to focus your attention !
Q 8 5 3 10 5 8 6 5 4 A 9 8
West opened 1 Heart, and and your partner overcalled 2 Clubs. RHO and you both passed. West bid again, bidding 2 diamonds. Seeing his cards, you might question his wisdom, but maybe he thinks his shortage in clubs will take away your Club winners ? North and East passed. With your 8-card fit, and 9-losers, should you let EW take the contract ? What should you bid ?1. pass
2. 3 Clubs
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- Answer 12
(of 13 on this page)
You are South at the table to the side, shown again below to focus your attention !
( 1 ). pass Q 8 5 3 10 5 8 6 5 4 A 9 8
West opened 1 Heart, and and your partner overcalled 2 Clubs. RHO and you both passed. West bid again, bidding 2 diamonds. Seeing his cards, you might question his wisdom, but maybe he thinks his shortage in clubs will take away your Club winners ? North and East passed. With your 8-card fit, and 9-losers, should you let EW take the contract ? What should you bid ?
Well, it depends really. Your hand is weak, with 6 HCP and 9 losers. Your partner promised 7 losers, passing the second time, so it's likely you'll go down with a 3 Clubs contract. The question is, how do you make most points ? ….either going down one, or getting them down one with the chance they might make..... ???
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- Question 13
(of 13 on this page)
You have the following 7HCP 8.5 loser hand. Your enemy to your left opened 1H. Partner overcalled 1 Spade. What should you bid?
7 5 J 7 A 7 6 5 4 3 Q 4 3
What should you bid?1. pass
2. 1NT
3. 2 Clubs
4. 2 Diamonds
5. 2 Hearts
6. 2 Spades
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- Answer 13
(of 13 on this page)
You have the following 7HCP 8.5 loser hand. Your enemy to your left opened 1H. Partner overcalled 1 Spade. What should you bid?
( 1 ). pass 7 5 J 7 A 7 6 5 4 3 Q 4 3
What should you bid?
Your partner has made a simple 1 Spade overcall. You are NOT responding to a 1 Spade opening bid, where with as few as 6HCP you would keep the bidding going with 1NT because your partner could be strong. Here, partner would have doubled if he wanted to show he was very strong, forcing you to respond.
Your hand is weak, only 7HCP, so pass. Also, you are not strong enough to show your own suit, which is long but weak, and, even worse, would require a 2-level bid to mention it.
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| West | |
|---|---|
 | J 6 |
 | A J 9 7 2 |
 | A K 9 2 |
 | 4 3 |
| North | |
|---|---|
| K 10 4 |
| Q 8 3 |
| Q 10 |
| K Q 10 5 2 |
| East | |
|---|---|
| A 9 7 2 |
| K 6 4 |
| J 7 2 |
| J 7 6 |
| South | |
|---|---|
| Q 8 5 3 |
| 10 5 |
| 8 6 5 4 |
| A 9 8 |
Other Deals that illustrate this technique