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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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Suit OvercallsThe 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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 K 7 8 7 6 A Q 6 5 8 6 4 2 |  | A Q J 8 6 5 J 2 4 3 A 9 3 |
| 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. East’s overcall is toward the minimum range so he passes.
2.
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| 9 7 6 4 A 4 K J 3 Q 8 7 4 | | A 2 K Q J 8 7 5 7 6 A 6 2 |
| 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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| A K J 8 5 9 6 2 J 8 2 9 4 | | 10 7 4 A 4 A K Q 7 6 5 3 2 |
| 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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| A 7 6 5 Q 8 4 A 6 10 9 8 2 | | K 8 3 A K J 10 7 4 2 Q J 3 |
| 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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| 9 7 2 A K 4 2 9 6 4 A J 3 | | K 4 9 5 A J 8 K Q 10 8 6 5 |
| 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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Takeout DoublesAnother 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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| 8 4 10 6 5 3 A Q 7 3 J 8 4 | | A J 9 6 A Q 9 2 10 8 5 2 7 |
| West 3 | North 3 Pass | East Dbl Pass | South Pass |
East’s hand barely qualifies for a double and West chooses to bid an unbid major suit instead of diamonds.
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| 7 4 K 9 3 10 8 7 3 A J 9 8 | | A K Q 5 4 2 A 9 2 K 7 5 4 |
| 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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| A Q 10 8 4 2 10 9 3 Q 7 5 3 | | J 9 6 A Q 5 4 8 2 A K J 4 |
| 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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Notrump OvercallsIf 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 is Stayman and transfers apply if you use them). |
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| A 9 7 2 J 8 7 4 2 K 9 6 2 | | K 5 A Q 9 2 K 10 4 A J 8 4 |
| 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.
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| Q 9 7 6 5 4 4 J 6 2 8 7 3 | | A 3 K J 7 2 Q 9 5 A K J 2 |
| West 3 | North 2 Pass | East 2 NT 3 | South Pass |
If you play Jacoby, West’s 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. |
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| 8 4 K 10 5 4 2 J 6 K 10 7 3 | | K 7 A 9 A K Q 10 8 7 6 4 2 |
| 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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Jump Suit OvercallsThe 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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| 9 9 8 4 3 7 6 4 3 A K 8 4 | | A K Q J 7 5 2 A K 2 7 6 5 |
| 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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Two-Suited OvercallsA 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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| 3 J 9 7 Q 7 3 A 9 8 6 5 3 | | A Q 10 7 5 K Q 10 8 4 2 K 2 |
| 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 ) shows both minors. |
14.
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| J 8 4 A 9 7 6 2 4 10 9 6 5 | | 2 3 A K 9 7 6 3 K Q J 8 7 |
| 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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Optional DoublesIf 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 or 4 shows 15+ HCP. This is optional — it does not ask partner to bid.
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| 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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| Q J 10 8 3 2 K 9 7 3 7 4 2 | | K 9 6 A 4 A Q 10 5 Q 10 8 5 |
| 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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| A 7 5 3 8 2 J 7 3 K 10 8 2 | | J 8 6 2 A 4 K Q 9 5 A Q 7 |
| 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 (but not over 4 ) is a takeout for all unbid suits. |
17.
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| 10 9 8 3 A 10 9 6 Q 7 2 8 3 | | — Q J 8 5 A K 8 6 5 A J 9 6 |
| 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