Structure 7G78 Main

Three-Level Cue-Bid Overcall

by Richard Pavlicek

In a Nutshell

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).

In Detail

After an enemy suit opening bid, a 3-level cue-bid as our side’s 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
3 NT
4
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 3

Cue
Other •
2 aces*
analogous to above

*Showing 2 aces overrides stopper showing, since suit game should be assured, and slam likely.

After interference

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 opener’s 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