(1) RHO You
2H ?
♠KJ975 ♥43 ♦KQ6 ♣A87
2S. When you hold a 5-card major, an overcall is usually preferable to a takeout double. If you double, partner is most likely to bid 3C or 3D and you'll lose a possible spade fit (your hand isn't strong enough to double and bid spades later). To evaluate whether your overcall is "safe", imagine 7 ordinary (not perfect) points in partner's hand. If you have a decent play for your contract opposite that dummy, you should overcall.
(2) RHO You
2D ?
♠76 ♥KQJ1084 ♦AQ ♣A109
3H. Over an opponent's preempt, a jump overcall by you is not preemptive. It shows a longer, stronger suit and stronger hand than a simple overcall -- around 7-8 playing tricks and 15-18 high-card points. Partner should raise if he has a few tricks. With this hand type, a jump overcall is a clearer description than using the "big double" auction, where you double first, then bid your suit.
(3) RHO You
2S ?
♠4 ♥A2 ♦AJ1065 ♣KQ1094
3D. A 2NT overcall here is not the unusual 2NT that shows both minors. Over their preempt, 2NT and 3NT overcalls are always natural, so all you can do with this hand is overcall a suit. Choose a diamond overcall; if partner advances with 3S to ask for a spade stopper, you can bid 4C to show your other suit.
(4) RHO
You
2H ?
♠K2 ♥A86 ♦J93 ♣AKJ104
2NT. The spade shortness makes a takeout double unwise. 2NT, which shows a good 1NT opener, is a better description of your balanced values than a 3C overcall. You'd like to have a second heart stopper, but ♥A86 is adequate because it will allow you to hold up twice and keep the weak two-bidder from running his suit.
(5) RHO
You
2D ?
♠K1083 ♥AKJ5 ♦3 ♣10972
Double. It's only 11 points, but you have both majors and two 2-level contracts available. Stretch to compete when you have shortness in their suit and a perfect pattern.
6) RHO
You
3C ?
♠9 ♥A63 ♦AKQ9765 ♣K4
3NT. A 3D overcall doesn’t describe your playing strength and a jump overcall (4D) takes you past 3NT. There's not much auction space to investigate a possible slam, so bid your most likely game.
7) RHO You
2H ?
♠AK4 ♥6 ♦AKQJ95 ♣J93
3H. A 3-level cuebid of their suit always asks for a a stopper. If partner has a heart honor, he'll bid 3NT. If not, he'll bid his cheapest suit and you can bid diamonds. A takeout double would fine a possible spade fit, but 3NT may be a better contract than 4S, even if partner happens to have 5+ spades.
8) RHO
You
3D ?
♠AKJ104 ♥KQ973 ♦A43 ♣Void
4D. A 4-level cuebid of their minor preempt shows both majors (5-5 or longer) and asks partner to choose.
9) RHO You
2S ?
♠A ♥KQ1054 ♦5 ♣AQ8763
4C. This is a "Leaping Michaels" overcall (discuss this with your partner). If you agree to play this popular convention, a jump overcall in a minor shows that suit and the other major (at least 5-5). A jump to 4 of their suit (4S) would show both minors. Without this agreement, your only alternative with this hand is to overcall one of your suits, which doesn't begin to show your playing strength.
10) LHO Partner RHO
You
4H Pass
Pass ?
♠KJ984 ♥2 ♦AKQ62 ♣KQ
4S. This is a gamble with just a 5-card suit, but so is passing. Your opponent often expects to make his contract when he opens 4H or 4S. Try not to let him play there if you have a good excuse for bidding.
11) RHO You
4S ?
♠Void ♥AK1072 ♦AK9762 ♣K4
4NT. A 4NT overcall shows two suits, but it's not the unusual notrump that promises both minors. It shows "two places to play" and could be any two suits (5-5 or better). To find a fit, partner will bid the cheapest suit where he has at least 3 cards. If he bids 5C, you'll bid 5D and partner will know you have diamonds and hearts.
12) LHO
Partner RHO You
Pass Pass 3C ?
♠106 ♥QJ4 ♦AKQ93 ♣A104
3NT. Passing is way too timid, but you don't have the right distribution for a takeout double and a 3D overcall suggests a more distributional hand, possibly with fewer high-card points. A 3NT overcall is not as risky as it might appear. With one opponent passing and other preempting, partner is marked with some high-card strength.
© Karen Walker