In modern bridge everybody wants to have a word in the bidding. It is important to know what possibilities you have to enter the bidding when your opponents have opened. It is also very important to know how to bid when your side is the opening part and the other side is interfering with overcalls.

Overcalls

Reasons for making an overcall

There are more than one reason for making an overcall (this section from Better Bridge, David Lindop):

• The contract may belong to our side. Even though the opponents have opened, we may still hold the majority of the strength or better distribution.

• We may push the opponents to an uncomfortable level. If the opponents are resting in 2♥ and we bid 2♠, they now have to choose between defending 2♠ and bidding on to 3♥. 3♥ may prove more challenging to make.

• We take bidding room away from the opponents. Interfering with the opponents’ auction may cause them to bid too much or too little or to reach the wrong contract. The more room we take away the better. If the opening bid is 1♦, an overcall of 1♥ doesn’t take away much room, but an overcall of 2♣ takes away responder’s opportunity to bid 1♥, 1♠, or 1NT.

• We may help our side defend. If we don’t win the auction, the more partner knows about our hand, the easier it will be to defend. Our overcall might get partner off to the best opening lead.

I must emphasize the last reason. Very often an overcall is made to help partner to a good lead. If you don't want partner to lead your suit, don't overcall. I must also emphasize that vulnerability is a consideration when making a weak overcall. In unfavourable zones you cannot afford more than 1 down, whilst in favourable zones you can afford 3 down as long as opponents are in game level.

Strong overcalls

Even if your opponents have started the bidding with an opening bid you may have as good cards as the opener or even better. We can mention three bids to show a hand that is not a weak hand with a long suit.

• Double (takeout double). This is a forcing bid and shows 12+ hcp primarily with shortness in the opening suit. You shall be prepared to play with any of your partner's suits as trump. If you bid another suit after partner's answer you show a stronger hand with something like 17+ points. Partner is forced to bid unless he/she is strong in opening suit and has no other suit to bid. It is not easy to play for penalty on the 1 level.

• 1NT. This shows the same sort of hand as the opening bid 1NT. In this case opponents knows what suit to lead which means you ought to have double control in the opening suit.

• Simple overcall. This bid can be weaker than the other two, but the point range is between 7 hcp and 17. It is based on a 5+ card suit (or a very strong 4 card suit) and is mostly given to show partner a good suit to lead or to take away bidding room and make bidding difficult for the other side. The bid is not forcing.

Weak overcalls

The purpose of weak overcalls is mainly to make life more difficult for the opponents. They either show a hand with one long suit or a two-suited hand.

• Jump overcall. This is the most common weak overcall. It shows a 6+ card suit with less than opening strength. The higher ranking suit the better. As partner very often is short in the suit it is very good if it is an ace in top so you can return the suit for partner to ruff before declarer has drawn all partners trumps. Bid to the highest level you are prepared to go at once and don't continue bidding the suit after that.

• 2NT (and 4NT) – the unusual 2NT. This is to show 5+ cards in both (unbid) minors. If the opening bid is in a minor it shows 5+ cards in hearts and the other minor.

• Cuebid – (Michaels cuebid). Overbid of a minor shows 5+ cards in both majors. Overbid of a major shows 5+ cards in the other major and a minor.

Bidding when opponents have interfered with your bidding

1) After a takeout double. The bid has not taken any bidding room and you have got another option, redouble. On the other hand it has shown doubler with about 1/3 of the entire hcp. You have these options now:

• redouble 10+ hcp

• pass 0 – 5 points

• 1 over 1 6+ points

• simple raise 5 – 9 points and trump support – it is important to help partner as fast as possible.

• 2NT 10 – 12 points and trump support. This is like limit raise in undisturbed bidding (Jordan or Truscott 2NT).

• 4 in opener's major 13+ points and trump support.

• 3 in opener's minor 13+ points and trump support. Inviting to 3NT.

• 2 over 1 13+ points

2) After simple overcall.

• simple raise 5 – 9 points and trump support.

• 3 in opener's major 10 – 12 points with trump support (limit raise).

• 3 in opener's minor 13+ points and trump support. Inviting to 3NT.

• 2NT Jacoby 2NT with 12+ points and trump support.

• 1 over 1 6+ points

• double shows 6+ points with no suit to bid on the 1 level (negative double or Sputnik). It is not for penalty.

• 1 NT 6 – 10 hcp with a balanced distribution and stoppers in overcaller's suit. This is not a negative 1NT.

• 2 over 1 10+ points

• 3NT 13+ hcp and no trump support. 2 good stoppers in overcaller's suit. It can also be bid with one stopper and a 6+ card good suit.

3) After jump overcall. A jump overcall shows a long, mostly good, suit. If you are void or have a singleton in that suit your hand has a higher point value than if you have a couple of small cards there. With support to partners suit you shall bid it. The level depends on the strength of your hand and your distribution. You should reckon a bad distribution of your trump suit.