Chapter 23

Overcalls

• Find an adequate trump suit.  The overcall should not close out other possible trump suits.
• Determine the offensive value of the partnership hands.
• Estimate the offensive value of the opponent's hands.
• Exchange enough information so that we make the right competitive decision at all levels.
• To get the LAW right.
• To get them to break the LAW.
• To do all of this and avoid going for a number at IMP's, and more than 100 points at matchpoints.  I think it is safest to get in early. 

I use a guide that expects 9 suit points for a not vulnerable overcall at the one-level, and adds 3 points for vulnerability, and 3 points for an increase of level.  In table form:

Suit Points vs. Level and Vulnerability

	Not Vul	Vul
1-level	9	12
2-level	12	15

I think that there are few hands where one should overcall with less.

The maximum strength of a simple overcall is quite high.  I think it is about 21 HCP.

This guide does lead to "junk" overcalls.  If the high-card count is low you should be able to stand the lead in the suit.  I thought this hand might not be a not vulnerable overcall because you are willing for partner to lead his best suit against notrump or a suit contract.

	Q x x x x
	K x x
	K x x
	x x
Bid	?

I ran 48 cases, and my conclusion is just do it.  Partner gets to listen the bidding and can choose to lead his own suit, or partner can bid notrump or his own suit.

	A Q J x x
	x x x
	x x x
	x x
Bid	?

is an overcall if you are not vulnerable.

	x x x x x
	A K x
	A Q x
	x x
Bid	?

As the hand gets stronger, the lead directing implications diminish, and I would overcall 1 with this hand at any vulnerability.

	K Q x x
	K J x x x
	x x
	x x
Bid	?

is a vulnerable one-level overcall.  However a 1 overcall takes 4-4 spade fits out of play.  My plan was to pass and then, if convenient, double.  Running 48 cases I concluded either plan is okay.  Not bidding 1 will tend to miss 4 games.  Bidding 1 will tend to miss 4 games.  Passing and then doubling enabled you to compete at least one extra level on nine hands.

I do not like vulnerable two-level- minor overcalls with 5-3-3-2 distribution.  Here is the worst 5-3-3-2 hand with 17 suit points I could think of:

	J 8 x
	A K
	K 8 x
	K J 8 x x
1	?

My worry is that over 2 everyone will pass and I will go for 200 points undoubled.  I found in 48 deals and after a 2 overcall:  Half the time they simply did their thing.  A quarter of the time the overcall would accomplish something, and a quarter of the time the overcall created a negative position.  My conclusion:  Do what you want, but know this hand is ugly.

An overcall shows a 5-card or longer suit.  An overcall with a four-card suit is breaking the LAW.  You can overcall with four cards and a reasonable suit (like two of the top three, or three of the top five), and lots of points.  My magic number is 14 high-card points.

The raise of an overcall shows three or more cards and 6-9 suit points - this range is one point higher than the raise of a major-suit opening.  (We seem to raise on some 5 suit point hands.)  If you have two-card support do not raise.  Raising with two cards is breaking the LAW.  Raising with two screws up the total trick value of the deal.  If you do raise with two cards, have several extra points.  With two-card support and 7 or more notrump points consider bidding 1NT or your own suit, and then raise (to the two-level) if given a second chance.  The bid of notrump or a minor over a major denies three-card support.

Over One-Major

Single raise	6-9 suit points
Jump raise	10-12 suit points
Cue and raise	More than a jump raise and less than a jump to game.
Jump to game	25 suit points in partnership

Over Two-Minor

Raise	6-9 suit points
2NT	10-12 high-card points with a stopper
Cue	10-12 suit points and no stopper

With three-card support for partner's major you pass, raise, or cue.  With less than three you pass, bid notrump, bid a new suit, or, with a monstrous hand, you might cue.  The only exception to raising with three is that you may choose to bid the other major if it is strong.

Another scenario is that you overcall and I bid a new suit.  A free raise of the new suit starts at approximately an opening bid and three-card support.

My 1NT advance over your overcall shows about 7-10 notrump points and implies a stopper.  If you have a second suit and can bid it at the two-level, I expect you to do so.  I am not that serious about playing notrump.  I am saying that I have some values, and you should feel free to compete.  Once again notrump means do the right thing.

• 1NT=15-18 HCP.
• With four cards in all the unbid majors I always make a takeout double.  Given four cards in one of the unbid majors I tend to bid the major.
• Cue = Stayman.  Expect no major.

An eight-and-a-half to nine trick hand.  Nonforcing.  You can raise with a doubleton, or bid 3NT with their suit stopped.

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