Test your knowledge

Overcalls, in a suit, over 1NT

Question 1 (of 10 on this page)
Is there any difference in what you promise to your partner when you overcall a !NT opening compared with overcalling a suit opening ?

Yes or no ?

1. no, you are simply announcing your longest suit, which must have 5 cards
2. no, although of course it will have to be at the two level, and will therefore promise 10+HCP
3. no, provided I have no more than 7 losers
4. all the above
5. yes, I'm promising a 6-card suit as well as an opening hand, as opposed to the usual good 2/3 honour 5-card suit and 10+HCP
6. yes, I'm promising my best suit in a balanced hand to cover the opener who is strong in most suits too
7. both 5 and 6

Back to explanation

Question 1 (of 10 on this page)
Is there any difference in what you promise to your partner when you overcall a !NT opening compared with overcalling a suit opening ?

Yes or no ?
Answer
5 ). yes, I'm promising a 6-card suit as well as an opening hand, as opposed to the usual good 2/3 honour 5-card suit and 10+HCP

Back to explanation

Question 2 (of 10 on this page)
If you don't have a 6-card suit, can you overcall a 1NT opening bid ?
1. yes
2. no

Back to explanation

Question 2 (of 10 on this page)
If you don't have a 6-card suit, can you overcall a 1NT opening bid ?
Answer
1 . yes

But in that case you need a 5-4 distribution, as well as the usual requirements for an opening hand with the power concentrated in the long suits.

Back to explanation

Question 3 (of 10 on this page)
Your RHO opened 1NT. What would you bid with this 12-HCP 7-loser hand ?

9 2
3 4
A K J 10 6 2
K J 8
1. pass
2. doubled
3. 2 Clubs
4. 2 Diamonds

Back to explanation

Question 3 (of 10 on this page)
Your RHO opened 1NT. What would you bid with this 12-HCP 7-loser hand ?

9 2
3 4
A K J 10 6 2
K J 8
Answer
4 . 2 Diamonds

You have a perfect hand for overcalling a 1NT.

Back to explanation

Question 4 (of 10 on this page)
Your RHO opened 1NT. What would you bid with this 12-HCP 7-loser hand ?

K J 8
3 4 2
9 2
A K J 10 6
1. pass
2. doubled
3. 2 Clubs
4. 2 Diamonds

Back to explanation

Question 4 (of 10 on this page)
Your RHO opened 1NT. What would you bid with this 12-HCP 7-loser hand ?

K J 8
3 4 2
9 2
A K J 10 6
Answer
1 . pass

If you bid 2 Clubs after a weak no Trump, your partner might think you are telling him you have two 5-card Majors, or a 5-4 (Landy). In any case, you don't have a 6-card suit, so you can't bid Clubs anyway. Though some people would, since your clubs are so strong.

Back to explanation

Question 5 (of 10 on this page)
Your RHO opened 1NT. What would you bid with this 13-HCP 5-loser hand ?

K J 8 2
Q 3 2 4
A K 10 8 4
1. pass
2. doubled
3. 2 Clubs
4. 2 Diamonds

Back to explanation

Question 5 (of 10 on this page)
Your RHO opened 1NT. What would you bid with this 13-HCP 5-loser hand ?

K J 8 2
Q 3 2 4
A K 10 8 4
Answer
3 . 2 Clubs

If you and partner are not clear whether you plan to use Landy or not, this hand illustrates the danger ! He thinks you have 6-clubs. Actually you have none, and you are trying to get into a Major. If you are unsure, or if you don't play Landy, then a 2 diamond bid would be reasonable in this case. After all you have a wonderful distribution. .

Back to explanation

Question 6 (of 10 on this page)
Your RHO opened 1NT. What would you bid with this 13-HCP 5-loser hand ?

9 2
A K J 10 6
4 3
K J 9 8
1. pass
2. doubled
3. 2 Clubs
4. 2 Diamonds
5. 2 Hearts
6. 2 Spades

Back to explanation

Question 6 (of 10 on this page)
Your RHO opened 1NT. What would you bid with this 13-HCP 5-loser hand ?

9 2
A K J 10 6
4 3
K J 9 8
Answer
5 . 2 Hearts

You don't have a 6-card suit, but you do have 2 reasonable suits with a 5-4 distribution. And a 7-loser hand. All fine for a 2-level overcall of a 1NT opening bid

Back to explanation

Question 7 (of 10 on this page)
Look at the deal on the table. West opens 1NT.

What should North bid, with his 11-HCP 7-loser hand ?
1. pass
2. double
3. 2 Clubs
4. 2 Diamonds
5. 2 Hearts
6. 2 Spades
7. 2 NT

Back to explanation

Question 7 (of 10 on this page)
Look at the deal on the table. West opens 1NT.

What should North bid, with his 11-HCP 7-loser hand ?
Answer
1 . pass

Although North has a 7-loser hand, fine in itself, he does not have a 6-card suit. He could just about get away with bidding his diamonds, although the supporting 4-card suit has three losers, not great. If everyone should pass, the diamonds will come in handy to defeat the contract, especially if partner at South should bid a double of the 1NT (protective double, which in this case North would pass for penalties).

Back to explanation

Question 8 (of 10 on this page)
Look at the deal on the table. West opens 1NT. You are South. Partner at North passed, and so did East. EW are vulnerable, and you are not.

What should you bid with your 7-loser 10-HCP hand ?
1. pass
2. double
3. 2 Clubs
4. 2 Diamonds
5. 2 Hearts
6. 2 Spades
7. 2 NT

Back to explanation

Question 8 (of 10 on this page)
Look at the deal on the table. West opens 1NT. You are South. Partner at North passed, and so did East. EW are vulnerable, and you are not.

What should you bid with your 7-loser 10-HCP hand ?
Answer
6 . 2 Spades

Even though you have stopper in 3 suits, you can't double a 1NT with 8 points, the usual protective double requirement for doubling a suit in the 4th seat. You only have 10 points, and 12 are required in this situation. But with 10 HCP you'd like to say something in case they are weak and partner has some values. Bid your 5-card suit. . . not very risky in view of the vulnerability and your 7-loser hand.

Back to explanation

Question 9 (of 10 on this page)
Look at the deal on the table. EW are vulnerable, and NS are not. West opens 1NT. North passed, and so did East. South bid 2 Spades.

What should North now bid ?
1. pass
2. double
3. 2 NT
4. 3 Diamonds
5. 3 Spades
6. 3 NT
7. 4 Diamonds
8. 4 Spades
9. 5 Diamonds

Back to explanation

Question 9 (of 10 on this page)
Look at the deal on the table. EW are vulnerable, and NS are not. West opens 1NT. North passed, and so did East. South bid 2 Spades.

What should North now bid ?
Answer
8 . 4 Spades

Hey ! You've got a 9-card Major fit in Spades. Just as well you didn't overcall the minor suit diamonds first time round, eh ? Time to get out the Losing Trick Calculator. Partner's bid implies 7-losers, you've got 7-losers and a 9-card Major fit. What's holding you back ?

Back to explanation

Question 10 (of 10 on this page)
How many tricks can you make as declarer in this deal if West leads his best lead ? Say, the Queen of Clubs….
1. 9
2. 10
3. 11
4. 12
5. 13

Back to explanation

Question 10 (of 10 on this page)
How many tricks can you make as declarer in this deal if West leads his best lead ? Say, the Queen of Clubs….
Answer
3 . 11

The singleton in Clubs brings you one more trick than you might have dreamed. They can only get their Ace of Spades and Clubs. Can you trap their Ace of Clubs if they lead hearts ? Only if they bungle, I think. Anyway, your 4 Spades is safe. Just as well you did not pass on the 4th seat !

Back to explanation