Source: http://www.vba.asn.au
Nil vulnerable![]()
That 2
bid is usually played as weak: about 6-10 HCP and a decent 6-card suit, just like an opening bid of 2
. Its primary purpose is to make life miserable for your side, and it often succeeds.
What are your options as responder? Well, bidding a new suit (necessarily at the 3-level) shows quite a bit of strength, given the bidding has been jacked up high: certainly at least 10 HCP, and usually at least a 5-card suit.
Notrump bids are natural and non-forcing, as is a supporting bid in diamonds.
Then there’s the negative double: this shows points, at least 8 HCP, as again the bidding is up higher, and specifically interest in any unbid major. In this particular auction, at least 4 hearts is guaranteed. (In an auction where your partner opens a minor, and they intervene in the other minor, things are more difficult, as there are now two unbid majors.)
And when all else fails, and you have only a moderate hand, you can always pass: partner is still there. You certainly don’t have to bid with around 6-9 HCP, if nothing fits.
How do you cope with the weak jump overcall with each of these hands?

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(a)
A 7 4 3
8 5 2
K J 6
Q 4 2
(a)
832
AQ94
K876
104 Double. This is the way to show your hearts. The short clubs is not really a problem: if partner bids 3
, you can convert this to 3
, a non-forcing bid.
(b)
832
1043
Q76
AQ104 Pass. A perfectly good hand (you were about to respond 1NT to partner’s opening bid), but nowhere to go after the pre-empt. Let’s see what partner bids, if anything. This auction could get sticky later, but nothing good can come of you mis-describing now.
(c)
8432
K4
K76
KQ104 3
. Another awkward hand, and this time you are too strong to pass. 3
usually indicates a 5-card suit, but there is no ‘never’ in bridge. A negative double is out: you cannot control things if partner bids hearts. If partner rebids 3
over 3
, you can pass.
(d)
832
A4
KQ876
A104 3
. You have enough points for a game, but where? 5
is a strong possibility, but you have to keep open the possibility of 3NT if partner has a spade stopper. The 3
bid gets the job done: it logically shows diamonds (if you’d had some other suit, you would have bid it), and enquires about a spade stopper.
(e)
KJ976
1043
76
A104 Pass. You really want to play 2
doubled, but a double here is not for penalties. You need to hope that partner can come back with a takeout double: quite likely, as he is short in spades. Then pass with a sadistic smile.
(f)
AQ107
K4
K76
Q1042 3NT. You could pass, hoping that partner doubles: the carnage would be something to behold. But who wants to take years off their own life by waiting for partner to re-open? You simply cannot risk defending 2
passed out. So bid what you know you can make.

