Saturday, July 19, 2008 4:41 pm

Hand Evaluation – Overcalls ( Quality of HCPs )

PITBULLS:

             Moderns bidders tend to overcall with huge hands. They tend to rationalize this behaviour that "since everybody bids & jams so much it is best to get your suit in early" . I agree in theory with the "shape before strength" for single suited hands as this style is called but do not over do it. The litmus test goes back to the quality of your HCP's.  When they are quick tricks ( controls ) choose a double rather than an overcall. A T/O double implies two things in the game of  Bridge. Support for the unbid suits & defence measured in quick  tricks. When  I do not have much defence , I usually choose to overcall. Overcalls are offensive hand types , doubles are more defense orientated with respect to HCP’s ( quality & total ) .  Bidding based on totalling HCP's is a Goren concept. Bidding based on the quality of HCP's is a Culbertson concept. I think the double is flexible enough to also show the quality of your HCP's ( quick trick combinations ) . Announcing your defensive values via a double is valuable information for partner.

              Here is a hand from the Gandolfo match in the GNT in Las Vegas.  ♠K109xxx ♥AQJx ♦Axx ♣void with everybody vul 3♣ by the opponent & your bid ? Doubles vrs overcalls.  Making these decisions in part come from evaluating your HCPs . You are all  controls which equates to defence . You have 2 1/2  quick tricks outside of your spade suit !  An overcall normally means a single suited hand with a decent suit. You normally "live" there. This hand ,you have support for all the unbid suits. Say you overcall 3♠ & partner has no spade fit ♠x ♥Kxxxx ♦KJ10 ♣xxxx . Partner will pass & +1430 in hearts makes your way !  Worse still with this hand is you set partner up for failure as she will make the wrong decision. You are describing your hand to yourself as true "solo  artists" do all the time but not to partner . Keep partner guessing is the call of modern bidders ! Say the auction takes off after the "modern" 3♠ overcall. Partner likes her stiff spade &  with her ♦KQ10xxx & scattered values she doubles them as they are just too high. . Wrong , as  they make their contract for -750 &  +1370 in diamonds makes your way . By overcalling  spades you are not showing where you live or even close to describing your hand to partner. There are 10 HCP's in spades in the deck & you have 3 HCP's there. You are misleading partner again with your HCP concentration. Same distribution ♠KQJxxx ♥KQJx ♦QJx ♣void. This is a 3♠  overcall but it pales in comparison with the other hand due to lack of controls ( quick tricks ) .

         Some say what if partner passes 3♣ double they lament. Happiness  ! We cannot make anything because of the club duplication of value &  since partner has quick tricks for the double they are looking at -1100 when you convert for penalty with ♣QJ1087 or the like. A  3 spade overcall with this hand is for modern :solo artists &  there are many of those types around unfortunately. Fuzzy thinkers is a synonym for modern garbage bidders in my opinion. They avoid describing their hand to partner like the plague. Tom's partner Doug Deschner doubled with this hand making it easy for them to reach slam in a crowded auction. The initial action is so important when the auction gets very crowded.