Responses overcalled
This chapter covers 1NT - 2♣ (Stayman) or a transfer, then RHO doubles or overcalls before opener rebids. Competition directly over 1NT is in its own chapter.
Wbridge5 follows two principles here.
- A double leaves room, so systems are on. Opener gives the undisturbed answer (systems on), and the redouble and the pass take the hands that have nothing to show.
- An overcall takes away room. Opener shows the fit as cheaply as it can and doubles mainly with length in the overcalled suit. Some doubles over Stayman show shape instead.
The probes dealt opener 15–17 HCP with 2–5 cards in every suit at no vulnerability. A spot check over 1NT - 2♣ (2♥) with both sides vulnerable gave the same calls. So did 1NT - 2♣ (2♦) against opponents playing SAYC (236 of 236 hands). The range “points” means HCP plus 1 point per doubleton, as in Hand evaluation.
Stayman doubled
| 1NT - 2♣ (X) | |
|---|---|
| XX | 0–3♥, 0–3♠, ♣ stopped |
| 2♦! | 0–3♥, 0–3♠, ♣ unstopped |
| 2♥ | 4=♥, 0–3♠ |
| 2♠ | 4=♠, 0–3♥ |
| 2NT! | 4=♠, 4=♥ |
| 3♣! | MIN, 5=♥ |
| 3♦! | MIN, 5=♠ |
| 3♥ | MAX, 5=♥ |
| 3♠ | MAX, 5=♠ |
Apart from XX and 2♦, these are the undisturbed answers. The major answers ignore the club stopper. Opener never passes.
- ♠AK2 ♥Q3 ♦Q7532 ♣KJ6: XX.
- ♠A64 ♥AJ7 ♦KQ542 ♣Q10: 2♦, clubs unstopped.
- ♠A85 ♥KQ65 ♦KQJ7 ♣83: 2♥, even without a club stopper.
Stayman overcalled
1NT - 2♣ (2♦)
Opener answers Stayman as undisturbed but shows a 5-card major at the 3 level at any strength. Without a 4-card major, the double mostly shows 3-3 in the majors, so responder can still bid a 5-card major. With 2-2 in the majors, it usually doubles with 5 diamonds and passes with 5 clubs. The double does not depend on a diamond stopper.
| 1NT - 2♣ (2♦) | |
|---|---|
| P | 0–3♥, 0–3♠, a doubleton major |
| X | 3=♥, 3=♠ or (2=♥, 2=♠, 5♦) |
| 2♥ | 4=♥, 0–3♠ |
| 2♠ | 4=♠, 0–3♥ |
| 2NT | 4=♠, 4=♥ |
| 3♥ | 5=♥ |
| 3♠ | 5=♠ |
- ♠KQJ ♥1082 ♦K542 ♣AKJ: X.
- ♠AK2 ♥Q3 ♦Q7532 ♣KJ6: Pass, although diamonds are stopped.
1NT - 2♣ (2♥)
Opener usually passes without 4 spades, even with 4 or 5 hearts. Wbridge5 doubles or bids 2NT only with 4+ hearts and a stopper, and only sometimes. The data shows no strength or shape rule that separates these three calls.
| 1NT - 2♣ (2♥) | |
|---|---|
| P | 0–3♠ |
| X | PEN, 4+♥, 0–3♠ |
| 2♠ | 4=♠ |
| 2NT | NAT, 4+♥, ♥ stopped, 0–3♠ |
| 3♠ | 5=♠ |
- ♠J4 ♥AK95 ♦92 ♣AQJ92: X.
- ♠A72 ♥K985 ♦K10 ♣AQ76: 2NT.
- ♠J5 ♥AK63 ♦KQ108 ♣K96: Pass.
1NT - 2♣ (2♠)
| 1NT - 2♣ (2♠) | |
|---|---|
| P | 0–3♥ |
| X | PEN, 4+♠, 0–3♥ |
| 2NT | NAT, 4+♠, ♠ stopped, 0–3♥ |
| 3♥ | 4+♥ |
- ♠AQ64 ♥AJ ♦J8543 ♣A6: X.
- ♠AK9 ♥10932 ♦AJ ♣QJ85: 3♥.
1NT - 2♣ (3♦)
With 4+ diamonds, opener doubles even with a 4-card major. With 3 diamonds and a major, it either doubles or bids the major.
| 1NT - 2♣ (3♦) | |
|---|---|
| P | 0–3♥, 0–3♠, ♦ short or unstopped |
| X | 3+♦, ♦ stopped |
| 3♥ | 4+♥, 0–3♠, 2–3♦ |
| 3♠ | 4+♠, 0–3♥, 2–3♦ |
| 3NT | 4=♠, 4=♥, 2–3♦ |
- ♠AQ64 ♥AJ ♦J8543 ♣A6: X.
- ♠AKQ2 ♥AQ108 ♦J7 ♣973: 3NT.
- ♠KQ6 ♥AK3 ♦J6 ♣KJ963: Pass.
1NT - 2♣ (3♠)
Without 4 hearts, the double is cooperative. Opener passes mostly with 15 HCP and a doubleton spade.
| 1NT - 2♣ (3♠) | |
|---|---|
| P | MIN, usually 2♠, 0–3♥ |
| X | Cooperative, 0–3♥ |
| 4♥ | 4+♥ |
- ♠AK ♥K32 ♦A74 ♣Q10764: X.
- ♠J2 ♥AK8 ♦Q82 ♣AJ932: Pass.
Transfer doubled
Opener sorts hands first by support, then by a stopper in the doubled suit. Here M is the major that responder has shown.
| 1NT - 2♦♥ (X) | |
|---|---|
| P | 2=M, doubled suit unstopped |
| XX | 2=M, doubled suit stopped |
| 2M | 3–4M, 15–16 points |
| 2NT | 17 HCP, 3=M or 4-3-3-3 |
| 3M | 4+M, 17+ points |
Opener jumps to 3M with every 5-card fit. Over 2♦ (X), opener with 5 spades and 2 hearts bids 2♠ instead of passing or redoubling.
The jump needs less than an undisturbed super acceptance. With 4 hearts, 16 HCP and a doubleton, opener jumps. With 4-3-3-3 and the same 16 HCP, it bids only 2♥.
- ♠AQ64 ♥AJ ♦J8543 ♣A6: XX over 2♦ (X).
- ♠AQ54 ♥J3 ♦64 ♣AKQ62: Pass over 2♦ (X).
- ♠AK9 ♥10932 ♦AJ ♣QJ85: 2♥ over 2♦ (X).
- ♠J5 ♥AK63 ♦KQ108 ♣K96: 3♥ over 2♦ (X).
- ♠KQ6 ♥AK3 ♦J6 ♣KJ963: 2NT over 2♦ (X).
- ♠AQ987 ♥109 ♦AJ6 ♣AJ9: 2♠ over 2♦ (X).
Transfer overcalled
Overcall in responder’s major
The overcall of 2♥ over 2♦, or 2♠ over 2♥, takes away the acceptance. The double replaces it.
| 1NT - 2♦ (2♥) 1NT - 2♥ (2♠) | |
|---|---|
| P | 2=M |
| X | 3–4M, 15–16 points |
| 3M | 4+M, 17+ points |
- ♠AK2 ♥Q3 ♦Q7532 ♣KJ6: X over 2♥ (2♠).
- ♠AQ64 ♥AJ ♦J8543 ♣A6: 3♠ over 2♥ (2♠).
Other overcalls
Opener accepts at the 3 level with any 3-card support. With a doubleton, opener doubles a 3-level overcall when holding 4+ cards in that suit. Opener never doubles 1NT - 2♦ (2♠), even with 4–5 spades.
| 1NT - 2♦ (2♠ 3♣) 1NT - 2♥ (3♣ 3♦) | |
|---|---|
| P | 2=M |
| X | PEN, 2=M, 4+ in the overcalled suit, 3-level only |
| 3M | 3+M |
- ♠AQ54 ♥J3 ♦64 ♣AKQ62: X over 2♦ (3♣), but Pass over 2♦ (2♠).
- ♠AK9 ♥10932 ♦AJ ♣QJ85: 3♥ over 2♦ (2♠).
Minor transfers
1NT - 2♠ (X)
| 1NT - 2♠ (X) | |
|---|---|
| XX | 2=♣, ♠ stopped |
| 2NT | 16–17 HCP, 4+♣ |
| 3♣ | Acceptance |
The acceptance includes doubleton clubs with spades unstopped. The 2NT super acceptance is the undisturbed one.
- ♠AQ64 ♥AJ ♦J8543 ♣A6: XX.
- ♠KQ6 ♥AK3 ♦J6 ♣KJ963: 2NT.
1NT - 2♠ (3♣ 3♦)
| 1NT - 2♠ (3♣ 3♦) | |
|---|---|
| P | Default |
| X | PEN, 5♣ over 3♣, 4+♦ over 3♦ |
1NT - 3♣ (X)
Opener always relays 3♦, the undisturbed rebid.
Not probed
- Responder’s continuations, e.g. after opener passes a doubled transfer.
- Overcalls of 2NT, 3♣, or 3♥ over Stayman, and overcalls over 1NT - 3♣.
- An overcall in responder’s artificial suit, e.g. 1NT - 2♦ (3♦).