32 The art of overcalling (part 2)

e) Bid it to the absolute maximum you think it is worth NOW, and don’t bid again. So in you go with a 2D bid. You may or may not get this contract, there are so many imponderables, but at least you are making life difficult for the opponents.

5 Overcaller’s partner, attention please! First, if you are asked if partner’s bid was Weak Jump Overcalls, say yes (if there was a jump!) You are the captain now, use the Law of Total Tricks (simple version) which says you count the total number of trumps between you and partner and raise to that level. (You can’t use Dummy Tricks, that’s for the opening side.) Don’t get too excited yet, you must guess how many trumps your partner is showing by the level he bids. Work as follows: assume an overcall of 1 or 2 to be a 5-card suit, a 3-level as 6 cards, and the rare 4 level as 7 cards.  Now with that 2D bid across the table, if you have 3 diamonds the total is 8 trumps, we’re already there so pass, but with 4 diamonds you would go 3D. Never exceed the trump total: if the opponents outbid you, pass. And by the way, never change the suit of your partner’s overcall, you’ll be left paddleless.

Overcalling is fraught with uncertain variables. Find a better call if you can.

Perhaps pass is best? See next week’s tip.