Bridge Venue

• Question 1
  
  Your right hand opponent in the North seat opened 1D. Can you in the East seat overcall without a 5-card suit ?

• Answer 1
  
  Your right hand opponent in the North seat opened 1D. Can you in the East seat overcall without a 5-card suit ?
  
  Answer
  
  Yes, if you have 15+ HCP, a balanced hand, AND if you have a good stop in RHO's suit. In which case bid 1NT.

• Question 2
  
  Have a look at West's hand. West only has 6HCP. But surely he needs more than this to bid at the 2-level ? Should he pass or bid ?

• Answer 2
  
  Have a look at West's hand. West only has 6HCP. But surely he needs more than this to bid at the 2-level ? Should he pass or bid ?
  
  Answer
  
  West knows that East has at least 16HCP, since his 1NT bid was an overcall, not a weak NT. So, with 22HCP assured, a 2 Heart bid looks safe and informative.

• Question 3
  
  Can East now raise it to game ?

• Answer 3
  
  Can East now raise it to game ?
  
  Answer
  
  Yes. West must have 6+HCP, and should have assumed 16+ HCP at East. So, 25HCP are assured, and all 4 suits are covered. Worth a punt at a NT game. Bid 3NT.

• Some subjects to follow up on

  1 Bidding Objectives = "8 and 25" 102 Overcalls, in a suit, over 1NT 1 Bidding Objectives = "8 and 25" 50 Unbalanced, The general idea