Sunday, March 09, 2003 1:45 AM

Hand Evaluation – Overcalls ( Shape Before Strength )

PITBULLS:

Over the years there has been a trend in the treatment of overcalls . Decades ago , Bridge players had an all purpose double anchored around maybe 16 HCP’s to tell partner that “I am too strong to overcall” with my one suited hand . Over the years this has gone out of style as ambiguous doubles led to disasters in competitive auctions as partner played you for a “take out double” with at least two suits. It was also better to get in their initially with your suit & not muddy the waters with an ambiguous double . Hence the range for overcalls went up to the following criteria. You would overcall on any single suited hand up to the range where a game would be missed if partner did not respond with 6 points. I feel that a T/O double with only one suit should be declared extinct.

Weak overcalls at the one level are still tolerated as long as they are lead directing . Weak overcalls at the two level are considered old fashioned . Partner expects close to an opening bid for a two level overcall . All intermediate hands with a one suiter seem to be described by overcalls rather than doubles . Offensive two suiters without defense are overcalled (intermediate range) rather than unusual 2NT or Michael’s bids . I make an exception with a two suiter with an intermediate hand that I can not overcall at the two level due to a bad suit or having defense measured in quick tricks. I use equal level conversion to keep the auction at the same level so I describe my two suits that way after doubling a spade ♠x ♥KJxxx ♦AQ10xx Ax . The spade suit being the boss suit makes things awkward for overcalling if your heart suit is shaky & you have defense. Although the theory today is show shape before strength by bidding , this is an exception . You want to keep intermediate hands away from Michaels bids or not make overcalls at the two level with a bad suit. With a slightly stronger hand , I double & jump convert to diamonds to show the two suiter.

O.K. you have described your shape before strength by “getting in there” with your one suited overcall. Later in the auction you have to give partner some indication of your strength . If you have a lot of HCP’s that in the old days you would have doubled initially rather than overcalling , you better double at your first opportunity now. This has no hidden meaning other then you have lots of HCP’s along with your overcall . The double after overcalling first is not takeout but D.S.I.P. showing cards so partner act accordingly. Bidding again or introducing a new suit also shows a good hand but more offense then defense. A belated Q bid would be a Western Q if you overcalled a minor , a distributional rock if you overcalled a major.

How do you describe a rock two suiter ? Michaels Q or Unusual 2NT are weak or very strong so we have those covered. If you are vulnerable , let that help your bid. You can of course make a Michaels or Unusual 2NT with an intermediate hand vul vrs not. Having them weak on this vulnerability is suicide. What about the single suited monsters ? My feeling is that jumping in the opponents suit is a silly bid so put it to good use . A 1♦ opener then a 3♦ overcall shows a rock one suiter in an unspecified suit . Partner has some standard responses . Her first duty is to bid 3NT with a stopper . Clubs and diamonds are always reserved to tell partner the number of controls she has . If responder has no NT stopper , she bids the lower minor Q bid showing 0-1 controls and the higher ranking 2 or more . This is invaluable information for partner to keep bidding or investigate a slam ( a pre-Blackwood if you will ).

With these understandings a double & bidding a suit should be very rare ( virtually extinct ) . I suppose you could double followed by a jump to game but there is a better way. A jump Q bid can show a huge one suited overcall. Playing equal level conversion you must “up the level” to show the huge two suited hand after a double , unless you pull hearts to spades at the same level. This forces preference to a higher level ( reverse concept ) .

You do not pre-empt over a pre-empt . The opponents open a weak two or three , avoid the temptation to overcall with minimum hands . Partner expects a good hand when you overcall a weak two or three bid. Your overcall range over weak twos can be kept under control by partnership understandings . A good one that my partners & I have, is scrapping Michaels Q’s over weak twos and 3’s & one bids in the balancing spot. This allows us to use a Q bid as a western Q bid over weak 2’s in the majors. We then know that our overcall is limited when we did not make that Q bid . The Q bid is a strong hand after a 3 level pre-empt & not Michaels. This “Goren” style Q bid also prevents ambiguous doubles of weak two’s and 3’s . This Q bid applies in the balancing position also at the one or two level. It is not Michaels which is a very over used & ambiguous convention..

The initial double of an auction can very confusing and ambiguous when you allow it to be . Good established partnerships try to keep the double under control by following “shape before strength” & bidding rather than doubling . If partner cannot respond to your one suited overcall, do you miss game , should be your only overcall criteria ..