May 2015 - 49
Newer Players
Play & Learn
BY PAT HARRINGTON
mrsbridge@embarqmail.com
Simple overcalls, part 1
Have you ever wondered what
the word "simple" in the title of the
overcalls section of your convention
card means? Before we get to that,
humor me by reviewing some basic
terminology.
As a bridge teacher, I often hear a
statement like: "I opened 1♣, the next
player opened 1♥ and then my partner
opened 1♠." The title opener is given
to only one player - the first person to
make a call other than pass. The dealer
has the first chance to star in that
role, but dealer's pass leaves the role
of opener for another player. Opener's
partner is referred to as the responder.
An opponent's opening bid means you
can no longer open. Your bid in a suit
or notrump is now an overcall, and you
are cast in the role of the overcaller.
The partner of the overcaller is called
the advancer. So the above sentence
should be phrased, "I opened 1♣, the
next player overcalled 1♥ and then my
partner responded 1♠."
You might think I'm nitpicking, but
knowing each player's title will make
you more aware of the requirements
for their bids. The guidelines are different for opener and overcaller, and
a bid made by responder can have a
different meaning than the same bid
made by advancer.
An overcall is your side's first bid in
an auction where one or both opponents
have already bid. A simple overcall is a
non-jump overcall. After a 1♥ opening
bid, 1♠ is a simple overcall, as is 2♣
or 2♦. A 2♠ bid over a 1♥ opening is
a jump overcall, which most of today's
players treat as a preempt similar to
an opening bid at the same level. This
is the first article in a series discussing simple overcalls over a one-level
suit opening. For the time being, we'll
focus on auctions where the player to
opener's left makes a simple overcall.
When we overcall, an opponent has
already announced approximately 12
or more points, so slam is seldom a
possibility. Even making game might
rely on partner having most of the
remaining strength. Is overcalling really worthwhile if you aren't that likely
to reach game or slam? Absolutely.
There's no reason to give your opponents free sailing simply because they
got to make the first bid.
There are several ways that you can
improve your score by overcalling.
Many overcalls lead to competitive
auctions where both sides fight to see
who gets to play the partscore of their
choice. It's possible that both sides
can make a partscore. Occasionally,
both sides can make a game. You would
like to win the auction and make your
contract to go plus, but going down
isn't bad if your opponents would have
scored better making their contract.
Even when you don't win the auction,
you might be able to push your opponents high enough that you can set
them to collect a plus score. And when
your side isn't that likely to win the
auction, your overcall can direct the
best opening lead.
One difference between opening bids
and overcalls is that opener sometimes
bids a convenient minor, opening 1♣
or 1♦ on three cards to get things
started. A minor-suit overcall shows a
five-card or longer suit, just as a majorsuit overcall does.
Another difference is the strength
shown. A one-level suit opening can be
as strong as 21 points. After a one-level
opening, a simple overcall at the one or
two level has a maximum of about 17
or 18 points. With stronger values, we
generally double and bid our suit, as
we'll discuss in a future issue.
The level at which you must bid affects the lower limit of your overcalls.
Modern players make fairly light onelevel overcalls, as low as about 8 points.
Doubling a one-level contract generally
isn't that lucrative, so we can take more
risks at the one level. The approach to
two-level overcalls is different. Opponents are more likely to double a
two-level contract, especially when
the deal seems to be a misfit. For that
reason, it is generally suggested that a
two-level simple overcall shows a hand
worth opening.
A common mistake is to confuse the
role of a two-level overcaller with the
role of responder making a two-level
response. In standard bidding, a 2♥
response to a 1♠ opening bid is sometimes described as showing the "five
and dime" - a five-card suit and at least
10 HCP. It is not, however, the recommended requirement for a 2♥ overcall
over a 1♠ opening. Most players treat
two-level overcalls more like opening
bids. We'll look at examples of overcalls next month.
◾
May 2015 Bridge Bulletin
49
Table of Contents for the Digital Edition of May 2015
In First Seat - by Paul Linxwiler
InBox
From the CEO - by Robert Hartman
Chicago hosts the Summer NABC
Report from Spring NABC in New Orleans
Carl Sharp 1945-2015
Club News
Big Games
The Bidding Box
It's Your Call
Mike's Bridge Lesson - by Mike Lawrence
Bridge Player's Survival Kit - by Leslie Shafer
Ask Jerry - by Jerry Helms
Upgrading Your Game - by Lynn Berg
Newcomer Help Desk - by Brent Manley
Play & Learn - by Pat Harrington
Challenge of the Month
Ruling the Game - by Mike Flader
Chalk Talk - by Eddie Kantar
Misplay These Hands with Me - by Mark Horton
The Real Deal - by Larry Cohen
Boehm on Bridge - by August Boehm
Better Bridge with Bergen - by Marty Bergen
My Bridge and Yours - by Frank Stewart
Bidding Matters - by Karen Walker
Test Your Play
Mike's Advice - by Mike Lawrence
Solutions to Test Your Play
Grant selected for Hall of Fame
East hands for the May Bidding Box
Bridge with the Abbot - by David Bird
Dear Billy - by Billy Miller
George's World - by George Jacobs
New Life Masters
ACBL Statements of Activities
ACBL Statements of Financial Position
West hands for the May Bidding Box
Life Master Milestones
In Memoriam
Britain Beezley 1932-2015
Phil Clark 1953-2015
Tournament Directory
May 2015 - 1
May 2015 - 2
May 2015 - 3
May 2015 - 4
May 2015 - 5
May 2015 - In First Seat - by Paul Linxwiler
May 2015 - InBox
May 2015 - 8
May 2015 - From the CEO - by Robert Hartman
May 2015 - Chicago hosts the Summer NABC
May 2015 - 11
May 2015 - 12
May 2015 - 13
May 2015 - 14
May 2015 - 15
May 2015 - Report from Spring NABC in New Orleans
May 2015 - 17
May 2015 - 18
May 2015 - 19
May 2015 - 20
May 2015 - 21
May 2015 - 22
May 2015 - 23
May 2015 - 24
May 2015 - 25
May 2015 - 26
May 2015 - 27
May 2015 - 28
May 2015 - 29
May 2015 - 30
May 2015 - Carl Sharp 1945-2015
May 2015 - 32
May 2015 - Club News
May 2015 - 34
May 2015 - 35
May 2015 - Big Games
May 2015 - The Bidding Box
May 2015 - 38
May 2015 - 39
May 2015 - It's Your Call
May 2015 - 41
May 2015 - 42
May 2015 - 43
May 2015 - Mike's Bridge Lesson - by Mike Lawrence
May 2015 - Bridge Player's Survival Kit - by Leslie Shafer
May 2015 - Ask Jerry - by Jerry Helms
May 2015 - Upgrading Your Game - by Lynn Berg
May 2015 - Newcomer Help Desk - by Brent Manley
May 2015 - Play & Learn - by Pat Harrington
May 2015 - Challenge of the Month
May 2015 - Ruling the Game - by Mike Flader
May 2015 - Chalk Talk - by Eddie Kantar
May 2015 - Misplay These Hands with Me - by Mark Horton
May 2015 - The Real Deal - by Larry Cohen
May 2015 - Boehm on Bridge - by August Boehm
May 2015 - Better Bridge with Bergen - by Marty Bergen
May 2015 - My Bridge and Yours - by Frank Stewart
May 2015 - Bidding Matters - by Karen Walker
May 2015 - Test Your Play
May 2015 - Mike's Advice - by Mike Lawrence
May 2015 - East hands for the May Bidding Box
May 2015 - Bridge with the Abbot - by David Bird
May 2015 - Dear Billy - by Billy Miller
May 2015 - George's World - by George Jacobs
May 2015 - New Life Masters
May 2015 - ACBL Statements of Activities
May 2015 - West hands for the May Bidding Box
May 2015 - Life Master Milestones
May 2015 - 69
May 2015 - Phil Clark 1953-2015
May 2015 - Tournament Directory
May 2015 - 72
May 2015 - 73
May 2015 - 74
May 2015 - 75
May 2015 - 76
May 2015 - 77
May 2015 - 78
May 2015 - 79
May 2015 - 80
May 2015 - 81
May 2015 - 82
May 2015 - 83
May 2015 - 84
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