Main
Menu ▼
Beginners Bidding Opening Lead Playing Deals
Quiz: Barrier-Reversing

Quiz: Deal # Sunday
Free Downloads Cribsheets Conventions Quick Book Glossary Books to read Deal a hand Other stuff
Basic
strategy
0000). How to use 0001). Bidding Objectives = "8 and 25" 0002). 28 for minor 0003). 33 for NT slam 0004). Suit slam 0005). Importance of length 0006). Convention card 0007). ACOL and American Standard, differences 0008). A-Z Glossary 0690). A-Z Glossary
Hand
evaluation
0010). Balanced-Unbalanced 0011). How strong is your hand, HCP 0012). Distribution points 0013). Losing trick count 0014). Barrier-Reversing 0015). Selection of opening suit 0016). Showing shape 0017). 4441 distribution 0018). The skip over principle 0019). Rule of 20 Opening 1 of a suit 0019a). Rule of 25 Opening 2 of a suit 0019b). Rule of 500 Max penalty risk on preempt if doubled 0019c). Law of total tricks 0019d). Rule of Protective bidding
Opening
bids
0020). Plan of attack 0021). Bal, 12 to 19 HCPs, weak NT 0022). Bal, 20+ points 0023). Bal, 15 to 17 HCPs, strong NT 0025). Unbal, 12 to 19 HCPs, 1 suit 0026). Unbal, Strong 2s 0027). Unbal, Pre-emptive 0028). Unbal, Gambling 3NT 0029). Benji Strong 2s
Responder
1st bids
0030). After 1NT, General principles 0031). After 1NT, Weak 0032). After 1NT, Getting out of trouble 0033). After 1NT, 11+ balanced 0034). After 1NT, 11+ 4-card major 0035). After 1NT, 11+ unbalanced 0036). After 1NT, 19+ 0037). After 2NT 0038). After 1NT, and Enemy has interfered 0039). 1 NT responses 0040). After 1 Suit, With fit 0041). After 1 Suit, No fit, but alternative suit 0042). After 1 Suit, No fit, no new suit, probably balanced 0043). After 1 Suit, 6 points, nothing to bid 0044). After 1 Suit, Very strong 0045). After 1 Suit, Weak freak 0047). After 2 Suit, Strong 2s 0048). After 2 Suit, Weak 2s 0049). After 3 Suit, Responding to preempt
Openers
rebid
0050). Unbalanced, The general idea 0051). Unbalanced, You are weak 0052). Unbalanced, You are strong 0053). Unbalanced, Partner replied with 1NT 0054). Unbalanced, Delayed support 0055). Balanced
Responder
rebids
0060). Responder rebids, The general idea 0061). Choice of two suits 0062). Responders reverse 0063). After 1NT rebid
Basic
Convention
0080). Stayman 0081). Transfer 0082). Transfer after 2NT 0161). Minor suit transfer
Slam
bidding
0090). Slam, Spotting the chance 0091). Blackwood 0092). No-trump slam 0093). Gerber 0094). Extra slam techniques
Interfering
bids
0100). Overcalls, the basic idea 0101). Overcalls, in a suit, over a suit 0102). Overcalls, in a suit, over 1NT 0103). Overcalls, in NT, over a suit 0104). Overcalls, Jump overcall 0105). Overcalls, Double then bid a suit 0106). Overcalls, Bidding opponents suit 0107). Overcalls, Balancing (protective) 0108). Overcalls, Overcall a preempt 0109). Overcalls, Preemptive double jump 0110). Overcalls, To overcall, or to double 0111). Overcalls, Response to 1NT after suit overcall (Lebensohl) 0115). Defence after 1NT 0116). Competitive bidding 0117). Be cautious sometimes 0118). Sacrificing Be bold when non-vulnerable 0119). Sacrificing 0120). Doubles, Double a 1NT 0121). Doubles, Double for takeout 0122). Doubles, Doubling after opponent overcall 0126). Doubles, Protective double
Doubles

0120). Doubles, Double a 1NT 0121). Doubles, Double for takeout 0122). Doubles, Doubling after opponent overcall 0123). Doubles, Negative double 0124). Doubles, Double a 1NT overcall 0125). Doubles, Double a suit over 1NT 0126). Doubles, Protective double 0127). Doubles, Responsive double 0128). Doubles, Double then bid a suit 0129). Doubles, Penalty 0130). Doubles, Support double 0131). Doubles, Lead directing double 0132). Doubles, Maximal double 0133). Doubles, Redoubling - coded meanings 0134). Doubles, Forcing Pass 0135). Doubles, Re-opening double 0139). Doubles, Index of doubles
Advanced
Convention
0150). Majors Jacoby 2NT 0151). Majors Splinters 0152). Majors Weak 2s 0153). Majors Weak 2 defence 0154). Trial bid 0160). NT and minors 4th suit forcing 0161). Minor suit transfer 0162). DONT Bidding When Opponents open 1NT 0163). Game tries 0166). Grand Slam Force 0167). Roman Keycard Blackwood 0168). Cue bidding for controls 0170). 2-suited Overcall Unusual 2NT 0171). 2-suited Overcall Michaels cue bid 0172). 2-suited Overcall Landy over 1NT 0173). Overcall Unassuming cue bid 0179). Very advanced

Quiz How much do you know about this page? Quiz

<= find/hide more deals exploiting this aspect

Quick summary

Remember, they are weak, and trying to steal your contract, so be aggressive.

To overcall a Preemptive opening bid at the 3 level you only need:

12+ HCP
a 6-card suit, or a v. strong 5+

If you are very strong (say 5-losers, 6-card suit):

double (it's forcing), and then
rebid your own suit next time

Overcalling in NT is harder after a weak-3 preemptive opening than after a weak-2.

To double (for takeout!) at the three level, & forcing a possible 4-level response, you need

shortness in opener's suit
4441 ideally
6-loser hand

In the pass-out seat, be more aggressive

borrow a king

Do not double for penalties 1st time round

Responding to the overcall:

do not suggest your own suit after a suit overcall: a new suit is a cuebid showing interest in a Slam

Print cribsheet

Bridge Venue

+	West
	J 10 9

	Q J 9
	K J 10 9 7 6 5

+	North
	Q 7
	K 10 9 8 6 5 4
	A 7 3
	Q

+	East
	6 5 4 3 2
	J 3 2
	10 8 4 2
	8

	South
	A K 8
	A Q 7
	K 6 5
	A 4 3 2

Example Deal

You: South
Dealer: West
Vuln: all

# 126050

Strong advancer sits opposite pre-emt overcaller
..
Go to quiz (& full page) of deal # 126050
***

Click the + buttons to peep

Click on "q1" below to see question 1, and on "A1" to see the answer.

Question 1

West opens 3C, your partner North bids 3H. What should you bid with such a strong hand ?

Question 1

West opens 3C, your partner North bids 3H. What should you bid with such a strong hand ?

Answer

Now here's a few things to think about in the 15 seconds available to you between bids...

Since your partner overcalled a pre-emptive bid with 3H, then he probably has 6 of them, with reasonable honours, and an opening hand. Your opposition has long clubs, but is weak (LHO has only 6-10 points).

Well, 32 points seems to be the minimum you have. To make the best possible 7NT (or second best 7 Hearts), you'd need to know about the King of trumps (Hearts) and the Ace of diamonds and 2nd round Club controls. But your partner surely has the King of Hearts, to have overcalled at the 3 level, given that you've got the Ace and Queen. So it comes down to the Ace of diamonds and second round control of Clubs.

Equally, given partner's unbalanced hand, there should be plenty of opportunities for discarding your losers.

Clearly, game in Hearts is certain, and Slam is looking very likely. With the losers in Clubs and one in Diamonds, it would be nice to find out about 1st round controls. Cue bid ? Splinter ? Or Blackwood (or Roman Keycard, since we prefer that, my partner and I) ? mmm.

Cue bidding 3S should not be misinterpreted as your own pre-empt..and if it's not misunderstood, then that would be a good way of showing your Ace and asking about the Diamond Ace. If you were to get a good answer (i.e. 4D), which you will, you could then go on to second round controls bidding 4S to show the King. If you then get 5C back, showing King or singleton, it's worth a grand slam try, as you have everything covered, assuming your partner has the king of trumps.

Your partner might also bid 4C after your 3S cue bid, which would be great for a Heart Slam (signifying a void in this case, as South has the Ace), because I'm a bit worried about the long Clubs.

With Roman Key card, you ask about Aces and King of trumps. Bidding 4NT, you hope to hear back 5H, to show one Ace plus King of trumps. (In that case you could ask about which Kings by bidding 5NT. If you hear 6 Hearts, you could think about Grand Slam, otherwise pass ?). If you hear 5D, then you are missing either the Ace of Diamonds or the King of trumps... so then it all depends on 2nd round controls in Clubs. All too hard without cue bidding? Maybe have to sign off in 5, or just hope and bid 6 based on probabilities and reward.
What actually happened?

Question 2

What does South's bid of 5S mean ? Why not bid 4NT asking for Aces ?

Question 2

What does South's bid of 5S mean ? Why not bid 4NT asking for Aces ?

Answer

Cue bid, I've got the King of Spades, tell me about your second round controls

Question 3

When North replies 6C, meaning singleton or King-x in Clubs, how many tricks can now be assumed ?

Question 3

When North replies 6C, meaning singleton or King-x in Clubs, how many tricks can now be assumed ?

Answer

The only uncertainty seems to be the King of trumps. Since North pre-empted in Hearts, and South has AQ, it seems very likely that North has the King. Grand Slam seems a good shot, even with an apparent maximum of only 30HCP.

. . . .

Some subjects to follow up on
Overcalls, Overcall a preempt
No-trump slam
Unbal, Pre-emptive
Cue bidding for controls
Slam, Spotting the chance

#1	+	<-- click the + to show/hide one possible Bidding Sequence
West			North	East	South
3C			3H	p	???
					3S
p			4D	p	5S
p			6C	p	7H
p			p	p

-			System: Acol (Benji)
suggest a different Bidding Sequence

bid	explained at....
#2	+	<-- click the + for explanation of relevant Bidding Techniques
3C	Unbal, Pre-emptive
3H	Overcalls, Overcall a preempt
3S	Extra slam techniques
4D	Cue bidding for controls


			Hand evaluation

#3	+	<-- click the + for ideas on the Opening Lead
Opening Lead: East , 8 Reasons, when playing in Suit contract: 1. top of sequence in partner's suit 2. winners early, vs slam

OK, What's Your Plan for trying to make the contract ?

Only after you've thought about your plan for a short (but important) while, click the + to show/hide Card Play questions.

« 0108 »

Interfering bids. Overcalling a Preempt

Very frustrating

The thieving enemy is weak, so try to be aggressive!

You've got a lovely opening hand, but RHO has opened with a preemptive 3, and suddenly you can't really say anything. Annoyingly, you know they've only got 6-10HCP.

But that's the whole point of their bid. They are trying to deny you a contract, using the one thing they've got: length.

You can smile, and privately swear revenge to do the same thing to them when you get the chance . . .

Unless either. . .

. . . you have a good strong long suit that you can bid at the 3-level.

With 12HCP and at least 6-cards in a suit (or 5 really good ones) overcall in your long suit, in this case (overcalling their 3) that could be 3 of , or .

Your partner will know that you are only interested in playing in the suit you bid, and will not try to bid his own different suit, especially with so little bidding space. There's really not much point at this stage of having a battle of the deaf. (That's also partly because his next bid of any suit will be taken as a cuebid showing Slam interest and first round control of a suit, which is far more useful, see deal #126050 for an example).

The situation is somewhat similar to defending a weak 2 opening, a page where you can also read about overcalling in some extra situations

when you are very strong (double then rebid your suit)
in NT (but difficult after 3 opening)
in the pass-out seat (being more aggressive).

Or double for takeout can work too. . .

. . . if you are short in the enemy's preemptive opening bid (quite likely), and good in the other suits, you could "double for takeout".

This forces your partner to bid their longest suit, and in most cases could require a 4-level reply. You should therefore have a strong 6-loser hand.

For example, after 3 from the enemy to your right, suppose you have this hand:

	Hand 1
	A K 8 3		You are short in , and good enough to take any bid from your partner in any suit. You've got 14HCP, plus nice shape, with 5.5 losers. You know the enemy is weak.
	2
	K Q 5 2
	Q 10 9 6

3 is not a strong opening bid, so double for takeout. You partner will bid his longest suit. (This double can be left by partner of the doubler if the partner has two stops in the enemy Heart suit and he considers more points will be gained by defeating the contract).

Do not double for penalties first time round

Because your partner will get very confused and upset.

Doubling for penalties can come later. For example, after 3 from the enemy, suppose you have this hand:

	Hand 2
	4		Instead you must pass. If you double your partner will think you're asking him to choose his best suit from anything other than Hearts. And to ‘take you out' of the double. Worst of all, he will most likely jump to 4.
	K Q 10 5 2
	K 8 4
	A Q 5 4

Now try the quiz

Can you put all this into action ? Try the quiz for this subject by clicking on the link at the top left of the page, just below the main menu.
(You can try quizzes for any other subjects too while you're there. Look out for the thin red line).

About us Contact us Terms & conditions of use Log in Comment on current page

Quiz: Barrier-Reversing

Quiz: Deal # Sunday

Quick summary

Bridge Venue

Question 1:

Question 2:

Answer 1: