Note:
Only summaries are included below -
see book for details
Overcalls: If
the Suit Fits, Bid
It 67
Stand Tall
After a 1NT
Overcall
72
Do You Know
Your Balancing
Basics?
75
Overcalls: If the Suit Fits, Bid It
“More points are lost at the bridge table through bad or
pointless overcalls than any other way.”
Helen Sobel Smith
One of the most
important tools of competitive bidding is the overcall.
Unfortunately, a great deal of confusion surrounds this
subject.
The purpose of
overcalling is to inform partner about a good, long suit.
Overcalls serve to get your side into the auction, suggest a
specific lead to partner, and take away bidding space from the
opponents.
Notice that I said nothing about HCP. This omission was
deliberate. In many situations, points are secondary: They are
not the basis for an overcall.
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An overcall neither promises nor denies an opening
bid.
If that does not set you straight on the subject of
HCP, nothing will. |
Let’s deal with a
few basic issues.
1. If your
HCP total is not the key factor in overcalling, what is?
A. Level
At the one level,
almost anything goes, especially nonvulnerable. It is safe to
bid at this level; someone is likely to rescue you if you are
in the wrong contract.
The criteria for two-level overcalls are significantly
different; still, points are not crucial. It is far more
difficult for everyone to bid at this level. You need a better
suit since you must be concerned about getting stuck in your
bid, possibly even doubled.
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© Marty Bergen
B. Suit quality
The strength of
your suit is often critical. This is especially true when
overcalling at or above the two level. Only be lax about suit
quality when overcalling at the one level. Here is a
guideline:
Suit
length One-level overcall
5
cards Have at least two honors or a
strong hand.
6
cards Suit can be very weak.
Suit
length Two-level overcall
5
cards Avoid mediocre five-card suits.
The suit should be headed by at least three honors.
6
cards Suit may be weak when
nonvulnerable. Unless your hand is very strong, have at least
two honors when vulnerable.
C.
Vulnerability
Vulnerability is of
minor importance at the one level, but better players are
careful with their vulnerable overcalls at higher levels.
D.
Your Holding In Opponent's Suit
Try to be aggressive when you have shortness in the opponent's
suit, but conservative with length. This is true regardless of
whether RHO opens
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An
essential key of competitive bidding:
The hand with shortness in the opponents’ suit must
strive to take action.
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Page 67
© Marty Bergen
Stand Tall After a 1NT Overcall
Bridge is easy to
play but difficult to play well. Compare it with another
tough, frustrating game — golf. There you can see the results
of your actions immediately. Even a novice knows that driving,
chipping and putting involve different techniques. In both
games, each new situation demands a different strategy.
However, bridge is
far more subtle. Partner opens 1
and you have the following hand. You are waiting for your
opponent's call, and though you may not realize it, you are
totally dependent on his action.
...
Page 72
© Marty Bergen
Do You Know Your Balancing Basics?
“Bridge is a 52-card game. This simple statement is overlooked
by many bridge players. All too often the bridge player thinks
of the game as a 13-card game — the hand he holds.”
Ira Corn, founder of the Dallas Aces
What
goes through your mind on an auction such as:
West
North East South
—
— 1
P
2
P P ???
If it
is, “Thank goodness, the opponents didn't bid game, what
should I lead?” have I got a tip for you.
Here
is what passes through my mind. “My opponents are attempting
to steal the bid at a low level. Partner must have some
strength. They have a fit, so we must have a fit. I am
certainly not going to roll over and play dead. The only issue
is what action to take.”
Balancing is a difficult concept to master. It can be defined
as reopening the bidding after the opponents' auction has died
at a low level. A player is in the balancing seat when
his pass would end the auction. In contrast, a player is in
the direct seat when his RHO took action. In many
low-level auctions, it is important not to allow the opponents
to take the bid too cheaply.
After [1]
– P – P, you should bid 1
with this weak hand:
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Why is that?
You are certainly not happy about defending 1
with this hand. The opponents only need seven tricks and
you would be painfully short of trumps if you passed.
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...
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© Marty Bergen
...
There are many advantages to balancing:
1.
Your bid may push the opponents one trick too high.
2.
Instead of watching them make their cozy partscore, you may
make one of your own.
3.
If your side defends, your bid may help partner select a good
lead as well as giving him a better picture of your hand.
4.
When partner has a very good hand, you may bid game or give
him the opportunity to penalize the opponents.
Now
that you see the need for balancing, I would like to address
how to balance. The following may be new to you. In addition,
you may not like hearing it. However, let it be known:
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Actions
in the balancing seat differ from those in the direct
seat.
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Overcalls in the Balancing Seat
Even
at the two level, a balancing overcall might be made with as
few as 7–8 HCP.
LHO
Partner RHO You
1
P P ???
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Bid 2 ,
although you are too weak to have taken this action in
direct seat. |
...
2NT
in Balancing Seat
A jump to 2NT after two passes should not be treated as the
unusual notrump, emphasizing the two lower unbid suits.
The 2NT bidder needs roughly 19–21 points. However, the hand
may not be balanced. If partner has some values, he can raise.
After:
LHO
Partner RHO You
1
P
P ???
Double in Balancing Seat
A
balancing double is for takeout, and asks partner to bid. As
with most balancing seat actions, less strength is required.
LHO Partner RHO
You
1 P
P ???
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Double with both hands. In direct seat, you would be
too weak to take action.
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Page 79
© Marty Bergen
CHAPTER 10 -
PREEMPTS FOR FUN
AND PROFIT
81
