Test your knowledge
Overcalls, Balancing (protective)
- Question 1
(of 10 on this page)
Your LHO bid 1 Spade, and the next 2 players passed. You have this 9-HCP 8-loser hand.
4 3
K Q 10 4
A 10 9 8
4 3 2
Overcalling at the two level needs 10 HCP and a 5-card suit. Double for takeout needs an opening hand and three suits. Since you have neither of these, what should you bid ?1. pass
2. double
3. 1 NT
4. 2 Clubs
5. 2 Diamonds
6. 2 Hearts
7. 2 Spades
8. 2 NT
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- Question 1
(of 10 on this page)
Your LHO bid 1 Spade, and the next 2 players passed. You have this 9-HCP 8-loser hand.
Answer 4 3 K Q 10 4 A 10 9 8 4 3 2
Overcalling at the two level needs 10 HCP and a 5-card suit. Double for takeout needs an opening hand and three suits. Since you have neither of these, what should you bid ?
2 ). double
Since you are in the 4th seat, you can bid much more aggressively. Your partner might well have some points but was unable to bid at the two level, or maybe he lacked a 5-card suit or a 3-suited hand. There is a better than normal chance that he has some points because your RHO has 5 at the most, having passed.
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- Question 2
(of 10 on this page)
Your RHO opened a spade, and you have this 13-HCP 6-loser hand
A Q J 10 6 A J 9 8 J 7 3 5
so you passed (after all you can't double on the first round, since that would NOT be taken by your partner as a penalty double). Anyway, LHO passed and your partner doubled. Opener passed. What should you bid now ?1. pass
2. double
3. 1 NT
4. 2 Clubs
5. 2 Diamonds
6. 2 Hearts
7. 2 Spades
8. 2 NT
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- Question 2
(of 10 on this page)
Your RHO opened a spade, and you have this 13-HCP 6-loser hand
Answer A Q J 10 6 A J 9 8 J 7 3 5
so you passed (after all you can't double on the first round, since that would NOT be taken by your partner as a penalty double). Anyway, LHO passed and your partner doubled. Opener passed. What should you bid now ?
1 . pass
By passing, you are converting your partner's bid into a double. With 5 excellent trumps sitting on top of their strong ones, and at least 21 HCP, they are likely to go down. Your LHO will now probably bid something else if he's awake, to get them out of the mess they're in, although that could lead to an even bigger mess. Time for an inner smile and one of those nice cigars they have on the adverts.
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- Question 3
(of 10 on this page)
Your RHO opened a spade, and you have this 13-HCP 7-loser hand.
7 6 5 2 A J 9 8 3 A K J 5
So you passed (after all you can't double with 2 suits. And you have no 5-card suit. And you're too weak for a 1NT overcall which requires 16 HCP). LHO passed, but your partner doubled, and opener passed. What should you bid now ?1. pass
2. double
3. 1 NT
4. 2 Clubs
5. 2 Diamonds
6. 2 Hearts
7. 2 Spades
8. 2 NT
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- Question 3
(of 10 on this page)
Your RHO opened a spade, and you have this 13-HCP 7-loser hand.
Answer 7 6 5 2 A J 9 8 3 A K J 5
So you passed (after all you can't double with 2 suits. And you have no 5-card suit. And you're too weak for a 1NT overcall which requires 16 HCP). LHO passed, but your partner doubled, and opener passed. What should you bid now ?
4 . 2 Clubs
Your Spades are rubbish, so you can't pass, as that would in effect be for penalties. Partner has as few as 8 points, since he borrowed a king, so you can place him with about 8 or 9 losers. You have 7 losers, so a bid is definitely in order anyway. When you have two 4-card suits, as here, bid your lower ranking suit.
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- Question 4
(of 10 on this page)
Your LHO bid 1 Spade, and the next 2 players passed. You have this 13-HCP 7-loser hand
Q 4 3 A Q 10 3 K Q 10 4 3 2
What should you bid ? Should you pass ?1. pass
2. double
3. 1 NT
4. 2 Clubs
5. 2 Diamonds
6. 2 Hearts
7. 2 Spades
8. 2 NT
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- Question 4
(of 10 on this page)
Your LHO bid 1 Spade, and the next 2 players passed. You have this 13-HCP 7-loser hand
Answer Q 4 3 A Q 10 3 K Q 10 4 3 2
What should you bid ? Should you pass ?
3 . 1 NT
Overcalling 1NT requires 15-18HCP and a balanced hand. But in the 4th seat a you can borrow a king and overcall with as few as 12.
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- Question 5
(of 10 on this page)
Your LHO bid 1NT, and the next 2 players passed. You have this 13-HCP 7-loser hand, exactly the same as in the last question (hand for Quiz no. B 0107 question 4)
Q 4 3 A Q 10 3 K Q 10 4 3 2
Last time you bid 1NT. Clearly you can't now. What should you bid ? Should you pass ?1. pass
2. double
3. 1 NT
4. 2 Clubs
5. 2 Diamonds
6. 2 Hearts
7. 2 Spades
8. 2 NT
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- Question 5
(of 10 on this page)
Your LHO bid 1NT, and the next 2 players passed. You have this 13-HCP 7-loser hand, exactly the same as in the last question (hand for Quiz no. B 0107 question 4)
Answer Q 4 3 A Q 10 3 K Q 10 4 3 2
Last time you bid 1NT. Clearly you can't now. What should you bid ? Should you pass ?
2 . double
"Double" if you are balanced. Partner probably has some strength, given the lack of support in the enemy camp, and we should be in there. Partner will pass for penalties, or take you out if too weak.
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- Question 6
(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
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- Question 6
(of 10 on this page)
Look at the deal on the table. West opens 1NT.
Answer
What should North bid, with his 11-HCP 7-loser hand ?
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).
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- Question 7
(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
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- Question 7
(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.
Answer
What should you bid with your 7-loser 10-HCP hand ?
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.
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- Question 8
(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
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- Question 8
(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.
Answer
What should North now bid ?
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 ?
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- Question 9
(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
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- Question 9
(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 !
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- Question 10
(of 10 on this page)
You opened 1 Heart with this 14-HCP 5-loser hand
K Q 4 2 A J 9 8 5 K J 10 2
Your LHO overcalled 2 clubs, and your partner passed and so did your RHO. Should you bid again ?1. pass
2. double
3. 2 Diamonds
4. 2 Hearts
5. 2 Spades
6. 2 NT
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- Question 10
(of 10 on this page)
You opened 1 Heart with this 14-HCP 5-loser hand
Answer K Q 4 2 A J 9 8 5 K J 10 2
Your LHO overcalled 2 clubs, and your partner passed and so did your RHO. Should you bid again ?
2 . double
This is known as a reopening double. As usual, it shows support for the unbid suits. Given that it's not a double of a 3-level bid, your partner will realise it's not for penalties. Otherwise, he's going to be for penalties I think.
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| West | |
|---|---|
 | A 5 |
 | K Q 8 5 |
 | 10 7 2 |
 | Q J 7 4 |
| North | |
|---|---|
| J 10 4 2 |
| 10 |
| A K 6 5 2 |
| K 10 6 |
| East | |
|---|---|
| Q 3 |
| J 9 6 2 |
| 9 3 |
| A 9 5 3 2 |
| South | |
|---|---|
| K 9 8 7 6 |
| A 7 4 3 |
| Q J 8 |
| 8 |
Other Deals that illustrate this technique