Source: ACBL
Overcalls — Easy as Pie
If you’d like to bid after an opponent’s three-level preempt, think 3NT. 4
and 4
are usually the most desirable game contracts, but once an opponent shows a seven-card suit, you should reconsider. 3NT is now the #1 priority. Why?
When one opponent shows a long suit and several short suits, you have good reason to be concerned about ruffs and bad trump splits. These would be a big problem in a suit contract but notrump is a different story. If you’re concerned about their long suit in notrump, don’t worry. It’s very unlikely that the preemptor will ever get in to run his long suit. Entryless defenders are harmless in notrump.
A 3NT overcall includes a very wide range of high-card points and distribution. With a balanced hand, 16 HCP is the usual minimum, while the maximum is a lot higher. It is comforting to have two stoppers, but one is okay. A–x or A–x–x is the most desirable single stopper because a holdup play will cut the opponents communication.
| West | North | East | South |
| 3 |
? |
Q842 A9 
AKJ 
KQ52; Bid 3NT.
You might belong in spades, but if partner holds K653, you could have three trump losers. You have no such worry in notrump. If you double and partner bids 4 or 4 , you are not well placed.
K6 A85 AKQJ84 J2 Bid 3NT.
Definitely gorgeous diamonds, but the time to talk about them is when they’re on your finger. Picture partner with just the A and decide where you’d like to play after a heart lead.
K93 KJ5 J AKJ952. Bid 3NT.
Many players would be afraid to overcall 3NT with a singleton. Bidding 4, however, would represent «scared bridge.» The opponents will not know that you have only one diamond. Your chances of making 3NT are infinitely better than making 5.
Look, Ma — no stopper
You don’t need a stopper in opener’s suit to balance with 1NT. All you need is 10 to 14 HCP. Once your right-hand opponent passes opener’s bid, you know partner must have some values. He’ll often have good cards in their suit. If you don’t have a suit to bid or the right shape to double, a stopperless 1NT is your only alternative to a pass.
By the way: As a passed hand, you need only 9 to 11 HCP to balance with 1NT.
| West | North | East | South |
| 1 |
Pass | Pass | ? |
Bid 1NT with AJ10 K7 KJ53 6432 and also with A2 QJ43 A1042 J75
| West | North | East | South |
| 1 |
Pass | Pass | ? |
Bid 1NT with K652 Q2 1064 AKJ9 and A4 AQ10 984 J7643.
| West | North | East | South |
| 1 |
Pass | Pass | ? |
Bid 1NT with K4 8742 KQ94 A73 and 74 972 AJ108 AQ92.
| West | North | East | South |
| 1 |
Pass | Pass | ? |
Bid 1NT with 8432 K5 AQ9 KJ84 and J94 92 AK87 A1062.
Don’t force the issue
After partner overcalls at the one level, the bid of a new suit should not be forcing. I don’t recommend that a new-suit bid be forcing, even by an unpassed hand. The opening bidder has promised the values to open the bidding, but partner has not. After an auction such as:
| West | North | East | South |
| 1 |
1 |
Pass | ? |
4 KQ10732 843 A52 I’d like to bid 2 and show my nice suit without forcing North to bid again when all he has is a minimum overcall.
A4 KQ10732 A83 A5 Cuebid 2. You have such a great hand that you can’t risk partner’s passing a 2 response. If partner rebids 2, you’ll bid 3 —- which is 100% forcing.