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Lesson 5F by Richard Pavlicek
Preemptive opening bids and weak two-bids by the enemy make it difficult for you and your partner to reach the best contract. If you pass you might miss a game, and if you bid you might get overboard. There is no perfect defense; if there were, players would stop making weak bids.
The methods described in this lesson are the best available and used by almost all of the top players.
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The most common defense to an enemy weak bid is to overcall in a suit. Generally this shows opening-bid values and a 6+ card suit or a strong 5 card suit.
A nonjump suit overcall shows 13 to 18 points. |
Partner should usually respond (below game) with 8+ points. |
1.
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West 3 ![]() | North 2 ![]() Pass | East 2 ![]() Pass | South Pass |
West should not pass with 9 points. It is acceptable to raise with a doubleton honor (or any 3+ cards) since East should have a substantial suit. Easts overcall is toward the minimum range so he passes.
2.
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West 3 NT | North 3 ![]() Pass | East 3 ![]() Pass | South Pass |
West chooses 3 NT instead of a heart raise to protect his diamond holding. This contract may fail if North does not lead a diamond, but it is clearly the best chance to make game.
A new-suit response to an overcall is forcing below game by an unpassed hand. |
3.
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West 3 ![]() | North 3 ![]() Pass | East 3 ![]() 4 ![]() | South Pass |
Rather than raise diamonds West bids his spade suit (forcing) and East raises with three trumps.
With 11+ points bid game, or make a forcing response and be sure to reach game later. |
4.
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West 4 ![]() | North 2 ![]() Pass | East 2 ![]() Pass | South 3 ![]() |
West would bid 3 with 8-10 points so with 11 points he should go to game. The enemy 3
raise is basically ignored.
5.
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West 3 ![]() Pass | North 2 ![]() Pass | East 3 ![]() 3 NT | South Pass Pass |
West does not want to commit the hand to 5 and he has no 5+ card suit to bid. The 3
cue-bid is a general game force. East bids 3 NT to show his spade stopper and West is happy to pass.
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Another common defense to an enemy weak bid is to double. This is almost the same as a double made at the one level. It is for takeout through the level of 4 .
A takeout double requires 13+ points with 4+ cards in each unbid suit; 15+ points with 3+ cards in each unbid suit; or 19+ points with any hand pattern. |
Partner should respond at the cheapest level with 0-9 points. |
6.
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West 3 ![]() | North 3 ![]() Pass | East Dbl Pass | South Pass |
Easts hand barely qualifies for a double and West chooses to bid an unbid major suit instead of diamonds.
7.
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West 3 NT | North 3 ![]() Pass | East Dbl Pass | South Pass |
Since West must bid at a high level, it is better to bid 3 NT with the heart stopper than to go to 4 . If West held four hearts, he might pass the double for penalty.
With 10+ points bid game (or with 10-12 jump below game). You also may cue-bid the enemy suit if unsure of the best contract. |
8.
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West 4 ![]() | North 3 ![]() Pass | East Dbl Pass | South Pass |
West has only 8 HCP but with distribution his hand is worth 10 points so he jumps to game in his sturdy spade suit.
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If an opponent opens with a weak bid, an overcall of 2 NT or 3 NT is a natural bid promising a stopper in the enemy suit. Typically this is the same as a 1 NT opening bid.
An overcall of 2 NT shows 16 to 18 HCP. |
Partner should respond using the same system as after your 2 NT opening (3 ![]() |
9.
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West 3 ![]() 4 ![]() | North 2 ![]() Pass Pass | East 2 NT 3 ![]() Pass | South Pass Pass |
East shows a strong notrump opening and West uses Stayman to locate the 4-4 heart fit, a superior game contract.
10.
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West 3 ![]() | North 2 ![]() Pass | East 2 NT 3 ![]() | South Pass |
If you play Jacoby, Wests 3 response shows at least five spades and East dutifully bids 3
. West will then pass.
An overcall of 3 NT shows 16 to 24 HCP. This may be a balanced hand or it may contain a 6+ card minor suit. |
11.
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West Pass | North 3 ![]() | East 3 NT | South Pass |
After the 3 bid the most likely chance for game is 3 NT so East takes a chance and bids it. West should not bid 4
.
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The adage never preempt over a preempt applies here. A jump suit overcall indicates a good hand.
A jump suit overcall shows a self-sufficient 6+ card suit and within one trick of the bid made. |
12.
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West 4 ![]() | North 2 ![]() Pass | East 3 ![]() Pass | South Pass |
East shows 8 tricks (1 less than his bid). West can provide 2 tricks so he raises to game; trump support is not required.
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A couple of seldom-used bids are used to show two-suited hands with 16+ points and at least 5-5 shape:
A cue-bid of a minor suit shows both majors. |
13.
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West 4 ![]() | North 3 ![]() Pass | East 4 ![]() Pass | South Pass |
East shows at least five hearts and five spades. West clearly prefers hearts so he bids 4 , the optimum contract.
A bid of 4 NT over a major suit (except 4 ![]() |
14.
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West 5 ![]() | North 3 ![]() Pass | East 4 NT Pass | South Pass |
East indicates clubs and diamonds, and West takes the obvious preference.
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If the enemy bid is 4 or 4
, you may still overcall (if you dare); but usually the only sensible action is to double to indicate a good hand.
A double of 4 ![]() ![]() |
Partner may bid over an optional double only if he has a 6+ card suit or a 5+ card spade suit. |
15.
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West 4 ![]() | North 4 ![]() Pass | East Dbl Pass | South Pass |
East doubles to show 15+ HCP and West uses good judgment to bid his spade suit. 4 rates to go down, but the good news is that 4
probably would make.
16.
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West Pass | North 4 ![]() | East Dbl | South Pass |
West should pass the double with only four spades. The 4 contract should be defeated, probably two tricks.
A bid of 4 NT over 4 ![]() ![]() |
17.
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West 5 ![]() | North 4 ![]() Pass | East 4 NT Pass | South Pass |
With a spade void East judges correctly to compete. 4 NT asks West to bid any unbid suit hearts included.
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© 2013 Richard Pavlicek