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SIMPLOVC.DBA
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1995-09-09
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SIMPLE OVERCALLS
The partner of an overcaller ("advancer") will picture him as
having a good long suit in a hand which may not qualify for an
opening bid. It is best not to stray too far from this picture.
Advancer will assume that overcaller has at least one defensive
trick when not vulnerable, two when vulnerable. With less defense
it is usually better to pass or preempt rather than make a simple
overcall.
The hand should not be too strong, either. Even though good players
raise overcalls with light support, a game may be missed if the
simple overcall is based on a very strong hand. Strong hands are
better shown by takeout doubles, jump overcalls, or cue bids. Do
not, however, make an off-shape takeout double just because the
hand is rather strong for an overcall. See chapter TAKEOUT DOUBLES
in the book "Conventional Doubles" for a discussion of the
requirements for a takeout double.
Overcalls in a weak five-card suit or a four-card suit are seldom
advisable. Both should occur at the one level only, and the four
card variety should have three of the top four honors to make up
for the shorter length.
Overcalls at the one level require a minimum of three to five
playing tricks, depending on the vulnerability. A hand with only
three playing tricks may be bid only with favorable vulnerability,
a good suit, and good distribution:. S-AQ1087 H-3 D-9873 C-542.
With unfavorable vulnerability, a hand with the minimum of five
playing tricks should also include a good suit. Otherwise it is
best to have extra playing strength.
Be even more conservative when coming in between two bidders,
unless the vulnerability is favorable.
With a good defensive hand, do not overcall without extra playing
strength. Then, if partner makes what he thinks is a sacrifice bid
in your suit, you may make the contract. Prefer a pass, takeout
double, or notrump bid with a good hand that lacks playing
strength. Overcalls that are minimum in regard to playing strength
should be defensively weak also. Otherwise you will be going down
when the opponents can make nothing their way.
The preemptive value of the overcall is an important consideration.
Stretch to bid 2C over 1D, but not 2C over 1S. The 1S overcall of
1C is often very weak, but there is little justification for making
an overcall of, say, 1H over 1D. Partner should take this factor
into account in her bidding.
Suppose you have S-AQ743 H-K106 D-43 C-K86, vulnerable. Pass over
a 1H opening. You might double 1D. Over 1C you can bid 1S because
of the preemptive effect of skipping so many ranks. After passing
hands like this, you can back into the bidding later if the auction
stops at a low level. Should the bidding get too high for a back-
in bid, partner will probably be broke anyway. Often you will gain
a trick in defense when declarer cannot place the outstanding high
cards or distribution.
Lead direction is also important. With a borderline overcall, pass
if the suit you must bid is not a good one for lead direction--
especially if partner is likely to be on lead.
It is possible to make a takeout double after overcalling. See
chapter TAKEOUT DOUBLES in the book "Conventional Doubles."