Source: http://www.bawa.asn.au
East dealer :North-South vulnerable
| West | North | East | South |
1 |
? |
What should South do with: J75 
AQ982 
KJ72 
6
There are some players who simply cannot bear to pass (I can relate to that), but it is vital to recognize when discretion is the better part of valour. On this deal from the 2002 European Open Teams, South fell from grace and paid the price.
At most tables East opened 1, South passed and EastWest landed in 4. There is no threat to this contract and generally ten tricks were made. One South could not help himself:
(1) Double for takeout
(2) Pass for penalties
Lead: A
West switched to the 10 at trick 2. Declarer took the A and played a spade. East rose with the K and played the 4. This was ducked to West’s J and back came another club. South ruffed and led another spade. West took the Q and, to prevent a spade ruff, exited with the 5.
Declarer won with the Q in hand and led a low diamond. West ruffed and played the Q. South discarded the J, but to no avail. South continued clubs and declarer could make only four hearts and the A. That was –800 and 9 Imps away.
What is so bad about the 2 overcall? Firstly, the spade holding is a worry. Length in opener’s suit is a danger sign for a marginal overcall. Secondly, the vulnerability should make you very conservative about overcalling on borderline hands.
Thirdly, the heart suit is not very strong. The Suit Quality Test helps here to check whether your suit is strong enough for an overcall. Add the number of cards in the suit you intend to bid to the number of honours in that suit. If the answer equals or exceeds the number of tricks for which you are bidding, the suit is adequate.
Here South is bidding for eight tricks, but the suit quality of the hearts is only seven (five cards, two honours). Mind you, even if South had A-Q-10-xx or A-Q-J-x-x, the spade holding should make South wary of overcalling. By contrast if South’s pattern were 1-5-4-3, the overcall is much safer.