Lesson 8

Competitive Bidding (2).

A. The 1 No Trump overcall.

          Since one of your opponents has already shown values for an opening bid, it would be dangerous to bid 1NT on the same values as for an opening bid.

To make an overcall of 1NT you need.

(a) A balanced hand of 15 - 17 points.

(b) A CERTAIN stop in the opponents suit, and a possible two stops.

Responses.

          Partner responds in the same way as he would have if you had opened 1NT, except that Stayman is no longer available.
However he knows that your overcall shows 2 points more than an opening 1NT and therefore he will need 2 points less to respond.

With 0 - 8 points Pass, or make a weakness take-out with a suit of 6 or more cards.

With 9 - 10 points

(a) raise to 2NT with a balanced hand

(b) make a jump bid of 3 in a suit of 5 or more cards

With 11 - 13 points

(a) bid 3 NT with a balanced hand

(b) bid 4 in a suit of 5 or more cards. (Prefer 3NT if the suit is a minor)

B. The Take-out Double.

          The double of an opening bid  at the one level becomes idle in its literal meaning and is used for a different purpose.

          A double of a contract below the 3 level, provided that it is made at your first opportunity has a special meaning.
It does NOT mean that you expect to defeat the contract.  Basically, it shows a hand with a SHORTAGE in the suit doubled
and support for the other 3 suits!! IT IS FORCING! Partner MUST respond.

          Since you are asking partner to bid, however weak he may be, then you need to have not only a good hand, but one that can tolerate a bid any bid your partner makes!
The ideal hand for the Take-out Double is a one with a 4441 distribution with the singleton in the suit that opponents have opened!
With such a hand, you can make a take-out double with as few as 12 or 13 points. Obviously the more cards you hold in the opponents suit,
the less you will hold in the suits that you are asking partner to bid. So as a general guide. you may double.

(a) With 12+ points and 4441 or 5431 or 5440 distribution if the opponents open your short suit.

(b) With 13+ on 4432 distribution (again, if opponents open your doubleton)

(c) With a balanced hand of 18+ points i.e. a hand TOO STRONG for a 1 NT overcall. Over partners response you will bid 2NT or raise his suit to the 3 level if you have a fit.

(d) With a single suited hand of 18+ points (i.e. a hand TOO STRONG for a jump overcall ). You

make a jump bid in your suit on your rebid.

Responses.

          Since the double is forcing any bid made without a jump does not guarantee any values at all.

With 0 - 8 points make the cheapest bid available in your longest suit

With 9 - 11 points make a jump bid in your longest suit or with strength in opponents suit, bid 2NT.

You know that your side has the balance of points so the bid should be safe. Partner may pass if his double was made on minimum values.

With 12+ points you have the values for game.

a) Assume partner has bid 1 in your suit and raise accordingly.

b) With strength in opponents suit, bid 3NT

Doubler's rebid.

(a) after a minimum bid by partner.

          (i) with less that 16 points Pass any minimum bid partner makes.

          (ii) with 17+ Make a further effort to reach game by raising partners suit or bidding NT

(b) after a jump response by partner

          (i) with a minimum hand (i.e. a hand only just strong enough to double) and less than 4 cards

in partners suit. Pass

          (ii) with 15 or more points (counting distributional points)

With a good fit for partners suit raise to Game. Otherwise, make a further effort, as above.

Examples.    

Partner has overcalled an opening bid of 1 Diamond with a call of 1NT. What do you bid on the following?

Your Right Hand opponent has opened 1 Diamond. What do you bid now?

Partner has doubled an opening bid of 1 Diamond. The next hand has passed. What do you bid?