Structure 7G78 Main |
| ![]() |
A common practice is to use a three-level cue-bid overcall (e.g., 1 3
) to ask partner to bid 3 NT with a stopper in the enemy suit. Overcaller implies a long, running minor, needing only a stopper for nine tricks. A reasonable treatment, but too narrow in scope.
I define the bid more generally as any strong one-suiter (excluding the cue-bid suit). My intention could be the same (to reach 3 NT); or I could have a major suit intending to bid it next (thereby distinguishing a good hand versus a direct bid of game); or with extreme distribution, a minor suit with no desire to play in notrump. I also designed specialized responses, not only to show a stopper but to indicate the number of aces (slam is sometimes in reach).
After an enemy suit opening bid, a 3-level cue-bid as our sides first action shows a 1-suited hand (not suit bid) with 9+ playing tricks and at most 1 loser in the long suit. Typically this is to seek a stopper for 3 NT. If overcaller bids 4 or 4
next, he confirms a splinter in the cue-bid suit, else start with double.
1 ![]() | 3 ![]() | Pass | ? |
3 ![]() 3 ![]() ![]() 3 NT 4 ![]() 4 ![]() 4 ![]() ![]() 4 NT | | no ace, no stopper 6+ cards, F stopper 1 ace, no stopper 2 aces* 7+ cards, NF king stopper + 1 ace, NF |
1 ![]() | 3 ![]() | Pass | ? |
4 ![]() 4 ![]() 5 ![]() Other | | no ace, no stopper 1 ace, no stopper 2 aces* analogous to above |
1 ![]() | 3 ![]() | Pass | ? | analogous for 1 |
Cue Other | | 2 aces* analogous to above |
*Showing 2 aces overrides stopper showing, since suit game should be assured, and slam likely.
1 ![]() | 3 ![]() | Dbl | ? | analogous for any opening |
Pass Rdbl Other* | no stopper, no values ace in that suit unchanged |
*except cheapest minor shows at least a king, else pass
1 ![]() | 3 ![]() | 3 ![]() | ? | analogous for any 3-level bid |
Pass Dbl 3 NT 4 ![]() 4 ![]() Other | | weak penalty (trump stack) stopper in openers suit 1 ace, no stopper 2 aces unchanged |
1 ![]() | 3 ![]() | 4 ![]() | ? | analogous for any 4-level bid |
5 ![]() 5 ![]() Other | | 1 ace, no stopper 2 aces analogous to above |
Important: These agreements apply to any 3-level cue-bid (jump or not) as our first action. Hence it could occur after both opponents have bid, or over opening two-bids but it must be at the 3 level.
Structure 7G78 Main | ![]() | Top Three-Level Cue-Bid Overcall |
© 2019 Richard Pavlicek