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NOTRUMP OVERCALLS
This chapter does not apply to reopening notrump bids or notrump
bids by a passed hand. See DEFENSIVE BIDDING BY A PASSED HAND,
REOPENING THE BIDDING, and UNUSUAL NOTRUMP.
The Direct 1NT Overcall
The direct 1NT overcall of a natural suit opening shows a hand
similar to a strong notrump opening bid. The opposing suit must be
stopped, of course. With a double stopper or a solid suit, the
minimum HCP requirement can be relaxed to 15 HCP. With a single
stopper and no good suit, a 19 HCP hand is not too strong against
a five-card major opening. Remember to upgrade tenaces a bit, since
holdings like AQx or KJx are worth more when there is an opening
bid on the right. The 1NT overcall is sometimes off-shape (but
balanced), perhaps containing a six-card minor or 5-4-2-2 distribu-
tion.
A 1NT overcall is more likely to have a weak doubleton in some
(unbid) suit than a 1NT opening bid. Also, the overcaller is less
likely to have four-card support for an unbid major, with which he
might have doubled instead of bidding 1NT. That does not mean that
a 1NT overcall denies such major suit support. Generally speaking,
a 1NT overcall is preferable to a takeout double when holding good
values for the bid.
Suppose you hold S-A984 H-AQ D-KJ7 C-QJ62 and RHO opens with 1H.
A double is unwise because you must pass a minor suit response. The
hand is not strong enough to double and then bid 2NT, which shows
at least 19 HCP. Also, a game could be missed by doubling. Partner
could have enough to raise a 1NT overcall, yet not enough to make
a jump response to a takeout double. She could have S-K53 H-983
D-A10853 C-43, a hand that could raise notrump but can only respond
2D to a takeout double. See chapter TAKEOUT DOUBLES in the book
"Conventional Doubles" for a further discussion.
If overcaller's LHO passes 1NT, responses are the same as those for
a 1NT opening. All bids have exactly the same meaning. Bidding
opener's major in response to Stayman (which is always 2C) shows
four cards. A transfer to opener's suit, even a major known to be
five cards long, just means what is says. It can happen that a suit
is distributed 5-2-0-6, or that opener has psyched.
If opener's partner raises to the two or three level, a double is
negative, even when not normally playing negative doubles:
South West North East
1S 1NT 2S/3S Dbl - negative double
This is equivalent to Stayman, here showing four hearts. Higher
level doubles are for business. If North had bid a new suit, the
double would be for business. Since East's double of a raise is
equivalent to Stayman, a cue bid tends to show a void and a strong
hand.
Whether opener's partner enters the bidding with a raise or a new
suit, Jacoby transfers do not apply. Texas transfers do apply
(through 3C). The rules for cue bidding are these:
-- If opener's suit can be bid at the two level, that is Stayman,
while a bid of the new suit is a strong cue bid:
South West North East
1S 1NT 2C Dbl - business
2S - Stayman
3C - strong cue bid
After bidding 2S, East is likely to pass a 2NT or 3H bid by West,
so West should bid game with a maximum hand. The strong cue bid is
forcing to game, probably based on wild distribution if opener
hasn't psyched an opening bid.
South West North East
1S 1NT 2H 2S - minor suit Stayman
3H - strong cue bid
The minor suit Stayman bid may be based on a good hand, but more
likely East has a weak 5-5 in the minors or a diamond bust. If West
bids 2NT (no minor) and East bids 3C, West must prefer a minor
(pass or 3D). Whether West bids 2NT or 3C (showing four clubs), she
must pass a 3D bid by East. This is standard minor suit Stayman.
-- If opener's suit cannot be bid at the two level, a bid of the
new suit is Stayman, and a bid of opener's suit is natural, not
forcing:
South West North East
1C 1NT 2H 3H - Stayman, four spades
3C - natural, sign-off
The 3C is just a competitive bid that West is expected to pass.
Other such auctions:
South West North East
1C 1NT 2D 3C - natural, sign-off
3D - Stayman
South West North East
1H 1NT 2S 3H - natural, sign-off
3S - strong cue bid
South West North East
1D 1NT 2C 2D - Stayman
3C - strong cue bid
The 1NT Overcall of a Suit Response
South West North East
1C Pass 1H 1NT
East is very likely to have a good diamond suit as one of the
assets for the 1NT overcall. If opener passes, the bidding proceeds
as if East had opened 1NT. The opposing bids are ignored, having
no effect on subsequent bidding.
When 1NT Gets Doubled
Whether the double is natural or negative, all actions by advancer
are the same as when an opening 1NT bid gets doubled. Both the
opening bid and any response are completely ignored, so a bid in
an opposing suit has the same meaning as when an opening 1NT bid
gets doubled. See chapter WHEN THE OPPONENTS INTERVENE in the book
"Notrump Bidding."
Jump Overcalls in Notrump
Jumps to 2NT or 3NT opening are unusual notrump (q.v.) if made by
a passed hand. Against five-card majorites, a 2NT jump overcall of
a minor suit opening shows a weak jump overcall in the other minor
(see chapter MARVIN VS FIVE-CARD MAJORS in the book "Marvin's
Conventions and Treatments").
Otherwise jump overcalls of 2NT or 3NT are natural bids, usually
based on a long solid minor, but could be a solid major. A typical
hand for a jump to 2NT over a 1S opening: S-K3 H-J87 D-A6
C-AKQ1086. Add the ace of hearts and the bid is 3NT. Jump to 3NT
over 1S with S-QJ3 H-AKQ9832 D-A3 C-A4. A heart game could be
defeated by a spade ruff, while game in notrump is a near certain-
ty. With a standard sort of notrump hand (e.g., 4-3-3-3 distribu-
tion), make a takeout double and then bid notrump. See chapter
TAKEOUT DOUBLES in the book "Conventional Doubles."
Advancer raises 2NT to 3NT with a trick quick or so. Jacoby, minor
suit transfers, and Texas Transfer bids are used, but no Stayman.
Transfers are generally unwise unless the hand is highly distribu-
tional. A 3C bid asks about the jumper's long suit:
South West North East
1S 2NT Pass 3C?
Pass 3D - long diamonds
3H - long hearts
3S - long clubs, spade ace
3NT - long clubs
The natural 2NT jump applies even over a new suit response:
South West North East
1H Pass 1S 2NT - natural
Although not a jump, a 2NT overcall of a raised opening shows the
same sort of hand.
Respond to a double jump 3NT jump overcaall in the same way as to
a single or non-jump 3NT overcall (see below), keeping in mind that
the double jump overcall is based on a long suit.
Non-Jump 2NT Overcall
A 2NT overcall of a weak two bid shows about the same strength as
a 1NT overcall, maybe a point more. Advancer will play you for
17-18 HCP when deciding whether to pass or not, even though you may
have a trifle more or less. Responses are the same as those for a
2NT opening. A transfer to opener's suit is a cue bid, since a cue
bid is not otherwise available.
A 2NT overcall of a 1NT response or a two-over-one response is
unusual notrump (q.v.). One would double a 1NT bid with a good
notrump hand, and a two-over-one response gives the opposition so
much strength that a natural 2NT overcall would be rare.
A 2NT overcall of a raised opening is the same as a 2NT jump
overcall (see above).
The 4S artificial notrump raise, less invitational than a 4NT bid,
may be useful after a 2NT overcall, which tends to have a wide
range in actual practice, perhaps 16-19 HCP. Advancer bids 4NT with
16-17 HCP, 4S with about 14-15 HCP.
Non-Jump 3NT Overcall
The 3NT overcall of a preemptive three bid requires about the same
minimum strength as a 2NT overcall, but the maximum is higher. The
bid could be based on a long minor, but could also be a standard
notrump distribution. Most of the time partner just passes. The
responses are the same as those for an old-fashioned 3NT opening
bid. A transfer to the opposing suit is a strong cue bid, probably
based on a void. There is no Stayman bid.
South West North East
3S 3NT Pass 4C - Gerber
4D - transfer to hearts
4H - spade cue bid
4S - notrump raise
4NT - stronger raise
5C - Miller
The two ways to raise notrump are especially needed after a non-
jump 3NT overcall, since the bid has such a wide range. The Boland
and Miller conventions (described in the book "Notrump Bidding")
both apply in this situation. It is unwise to transfer to a weak
six-card major, especially when holding sufficient points to be
confident that 3NT will make. The 3NT bidder may be quite short and
weak in an unbid major.
There is more on notrump overcalls in the following chapters of
this book:
DEFENSIVE BIDDING BY A PASSED HAND
REOPENING THE BIDDING
UNUSUAL NOTRUMP
And in the following chapters of the book "Countermeasures":
MARVIN VS FIVE-CARD MAJORS
DEFENSE VS PREEMPTIVE OPENINGS
MARVIN VS FLANNERY
DEFENSE VS STANDARD WEAK TWO BIDS
DEFENSE VS UNDISCIPLINED WEAK TWO BIDS
DEFENSE VS MULTI-COLOR OPENINGS
DEFENSE VS THREE-SUITED CONVENTIONS