Advancing overcalls
This chapter covers advancer’s calls after partner’s simple or weak jump overcall of a natural 1-of-a-suit opening, then the overcaller’s rebid and advancer’s next call. The ranges come from probing Wbridge5 5.12 as advancer or overcaller with nobody vulnerable, unless stated otherwise. The opponents play Wbridge5’s own default system. Ranges are in HCP because a raise’s strength in support points depends on shortness.
Advancing a 1-level overcall
Wbridge5 raises a 1-level major overcall at three levels: the cheap raise, the jump raise, and the cuebid. How much the jump raise shows depends on vulnerability (see below). The cuebid shows either a good raise or a strong hand with a suit of its own.
| (1♣) 1♥ - | |
|---|---|
| 1♠ | 6–16 HCP, 5+♠ |
| 1NT | 9–14 HCP, ♣ stopper |
| 2♣! | Cuebid, 11+ HCP with 4♥, 9+ HCP with 5♥, 13+ HCP with 3♥, or a strong hand with a long suit |
| 2♦ | 5–15 HCP, 5+♦ |
| 2♥ | 5–11 HCP with 3♥, or 5–10 HCP with 4♥ |
| 2NT | 14–16 HCP, ♣ stopper |
| 3♣! | Jump cuebid, 14–17 HCP, 3+♥, usually balanced |
| 3♥ | 4+♥, 5–13 HCP, usually 8+ |
| 3♠! | SPL, 13–16 HCP, 0–1♠, 5+♥ |
| 4♣♦! | SPL, 11–15 HCP, 0–1#, 4+♥ |
| 4♥ | 5+♥, 5–13 HCP |
| (1♥) 1♠ - | |
|---|---|
| 2♠ | 3–9 HCP, 3–4♠ |
| 2♥! | Cuebid, 12+ HCP with 4♠, 9+ HCP with 5♠, usually 14+ HCP with 3♠, or a strong hand with a long suit |
| 3♥! | Jump cuebid, 13–17 HCP, 3+♠ |
| 3♠ | 4♠, 3–12 HCP, preemptive or invitational |
| 4♣♦♥! | SPL, 11+ HCP, 0–1#, 4+♠ |
| 4♠ | 5+♠, 3–13 HCP |
With 3-card support and 10–13 HCP, Wbridge5 usually bids 1NT rather than raising or cuebidding, e.g. ♠KT9 ♥KQT2 ♦532 ♣AJ6 bids (1♥) 1♠ (P) 1NT. With 3-card support and 3–6 HCP, advancer passed on 9 of 45 boards.
The jump raise of a major is not limited to preemption. With four trumps at none vulnerable, 3♠ took hands from ♠Q954 ♥7532 ♦9 ♣JT42 (3 HCP) to 11 HCP. With 10–11 HCP and four trumps, 3♠ was bid on 32 of 38 boards.
Vulnerability
Unfavorable vulnerability raises the floor of the jump raises. The probe compared (1♥) 1♠ (P) with 3+♠ and 3–10 HCP at none vulnerable and at unfavorable vulnerability, 300 boards each.
- With 4♠ and 3–7 HCP, 3♠ was bid on 20 boards at none vulnerable and on none at unfavorable. Those hands raise to 2♠ instead. At unfavorable vulnerability, 3♠ needs 8+ HCP.
- With 5+♠ and 3–8 HCP, 4♠ was bid on 31 boards at none vulnerable and on 2 at unfavorable. There, those hands bid 3♠, and 4♠ usually needs 9+ HCP.
- With 3♠ and 3–7 HCP, advancer passed 9 boards at none vulnerable against 24 at unfavorable.
Favorable vulnerability lowers them a little. On the same 300 boards:
- With 4♠ and 3–7 HCP, 3♠ was bid on 33 boards against 20 at none vulnerable, e.g. ♠J987 ♥Q32 ♦J1054 ♣Q4.
- With 3♠ and 3–7 HCP, advancer passed only 3 boards, all with 3 HCP, and raised to 2♠ otherwise.
- With 5+♠, nothing changed.
Sacrifice
Over (1♠) 2♥ (4♠), advancer with 3+ hearts and 0–10 HCP bids 5♥ as a sacrifice, passes, or doubles with 3+ spades. Favorable vulnerability adds sacrifices with 5 hearts.
| (1♠) 2♥ (4♠) | None | Favorable |
|---|---|---|
| 5♥, 3♥ | 5 of 139, 7–10 HCP | 5 of 139 |
| 5♥, 4♥ | 34 of 97, mostly 7+ HCP | 38 of 97, from 3 HCP |
| 5♥, 5+♥ | 39 of 64, from 3 HCP | 57 of 64 |
| X | 38, 3+♠, 3–10 HCP | 40 |
With 5 hearts and 4–8 HCP, 17 of 27 hands passed at none vulnerable and 2 at favorable, e.g. ♠Q4 ♥AJ1098 ♦984 ♣J85 bids 5♥ only at favorable.
Minor overcall
Over (1♣) 1♦, the jump raise is preemptive and a 5-card fit jumps to game.
| (1♣) 1♦ - | |
|---|---|
| P | 5–11 HCP, 0–3♦, usually long clubs |
| 1♥ | 5–16 HCP, 5+♥ |
| 1♠ | 5–16 HCP, 5+♠ |
| 1NT | 8–14 HCP, ♣ stopper |
| 2♣! | Cuebid, 12+ HCP with 4+♦, 14+ HCP with 3♦, or a strong hand with a long suit |
| 2♦ | 6–12 HCP, 3–4♦ |
| 2♠ | Jump, 12–13 HCP, 6♠, seen on only 2 boards |
| 2NT | 12–16 HCP, ♣ stopper |
| 3♣! | Jump cuebid, 11–16 HCP, 4+♦ |
| 3♦ | PRE, usually 5–7 HCP, 4+♦ |
| 3NT | 15–17 HCP, ♣ stopper |
| 4♦ | PRE, 5–13 HCP, 5+♦ |
For example, ♠42 ♥732 ♦AQ865 ♣K84 bids 4♦, but ♠54 ♥J8 ♦AJ986 ♣T982 bids only 3♦. With four diamonds, 3♦ shows 5–7 HCP and 2♦ shows 7–11 HCP.
Advancing without a fit
Over (1♥) 1♠ with at most two spades, new suits are natural and nonforcing over a wide range.
| (1♥) 1♠ - | |
|---|---|
| P | Up to 9 HCP, 0–2♠ |
| 1NT | 9–13 HCP, ♥ stopper |
| 2♣♦ | 6–16 HCP, 5+# |
| 2♥! | Cuebid, 10–17 HCP, usually 13+, unbalanced |
| 2NT | 13–16 HCP, ♥ stopper, 2♠ |
| 3♣ | Jump, 10–12 HCP, 6+♣ |
| 3♦ | Jump, 7–15 HCP, 6+♦ |
| 3NT | 16–17 HCP, 2♠ |
The overcaller’s rebids after a new suit are below.
2-level overcalls
Over (1♥) 2♣, Wbridge5 raises clubs freely and keeps 2NT and 3NT natural.
| (1♥) 2♣ - | |
|---|---|
| P | 5–10 HCP |
| 2♦ | 5+♦, seen on only 8 boards |
| 2♥! | Cuebid, 10+ HCP, usually 13+ |
| 2♠ | 6–14 HCP, 5+♠ |
| 2NT | 10–14 HCP, ♥ stopper |
| 3♣ | 5–12 HCP, 3+♣, usually 4+♣ |
| 3♥! | Jump cuebid, 13–17 HCP, seen on only 9 boards |
| 3♠ | Jump, 11–15 HCP, 6+♠ |
| 3NT | 12–17 HCP, ♥ stopper |
| 4♣ | PRE, 6–8 HCP, 5+♣ |
Over (1♠) 2♥, 2NT is the constructive raise and the cuebid is rare.
| (1♠) 2♥ - | |
|---|---|
| P | Up to 13 HCP without a fit, or up to 10 HCP with 3♥ |
| 2♠! | Cuebid, 12–16 HCP, 0–2♥, seen on only 5 boards |
| 2NT! | Raise, 8+ HCP with 3♥, 7+ HCP with 4+♥ |
| 3♣♦ | 5–15 HCP, 5+#, 0–2♥ |
| 3♥ | PRE, 5–10 HCP, 4+♥ |
| 3NT | 11–17 HCP, ♠ stopper, 0–2♥ |
| 4♣♦! | SPL, 11–16 HCP, 0–1#, 3+♥ |
| 4♥ | 5+♥, 5–14 HCP |
Of 130 boards with 2NT, 129 had 3+♥. The range runs from 7 HCP, e.g. ♠86 ♥AT653 ♦K965 ♣T3, to 17 HCP, e.g. ♠KQJ ♥T82 ♦K542 ♣AKJ. The overcaller answers it as a feature ask; see below.
Weak jump overcalls
Advancer treats a weak jump overcall as a weak two opening, systems on.
| (1♣) 2♥ - | |
|---|---|
| P | Up to 15 HCP without a fit |
| 2NT! | 13+ HCP, usually 3+♥ |
| 3♥ | PRE, 6–15 HCP, 3–4♥, more often 3♥ |
| 4♦! | SPL, 15–16 HCP, 0–1♦, 6+♥, seen on only 2 boards |
| 4♥ | 4+♥, any strength, usually 5+♥ |
Advancer did not cuebid 3♣ or bid 3♦ on any of 300 boards, and bid 2♠ twice. The 3♥ raise takes 3-card support more often than after an opening. The 2NT is the feature ask of a weak two, and the overcaller answers it as an opener would.
Passed advancer
A passed hand cuebids to show a fit and jumps in a new suit with a fit. The unusual 2NT shows the minors.
| P (1♥) 1♠ - | |
|---|---|
| 1NT | 9–11 HCP, ♥ stopper, 0–2♠ |
| 2♣♦ | 8–11 HCP, 5+# |
| 2♥! | Cuebid, 9–11 HCP, 3+♠ |
| 2♠ | 7–9 HCP, 3–4♠ |
| 2NT! | UNT, 5+♦, 5+♣, seen on only 3 boards |
| 3♣♦! | Fit jump, 8–11 HCP, 5+#, 3+♠ |
| 3♥! | SPL, 9–10 HCP, 0–1♥, 4+♠ |
| 3♠ | 7–8 HCP, 4♠ |
| 4♠ | 7–11 HCP, 5+♠ |
For example, ♠9843 ♥5 ♦KQ654 ♣A83 bids 3♦. ♠KQ4 ♥842 ♦T93 ♣AJ72 bids 2♥.
Interference
Over a double
When responder doubles a 1♠ overcall, the redouble shows support.
| (1♥) 1♠ (X) | |
|---|---|
| XX! | Support, 7+ HCP with 3♠, usually 8–13; 7–9 HCP with 4♠; or 13+ HCP with 0–2♠ |
| 1NT | 9–13 HCP, ♥ stopper, 0–2♠ |
| 2♥! | Cuebid, 12+ HCP with 4♠, 9+ HCP with 5♠, or usually 14+ HCP with 3♠ |
| 2♠ | 5–8 HCP, 3–4♠ |
| 3♥! | Jump cuebid, 14–17 HCP, 3+♠ |
| 3♠ | 5–12 HCP, 4♠ |
| 4♠ | 6–13 HCP, 5+♠ |
For example, ♠T876 ♥AJ3 ♦QT94 ♣Q5 redoubles.
Over a raise
| (1♥) 1♠ (2♥) | |
|---|---|
| X | 9–15 HCP, 0–2♠, usually both minors, seen on only 5 boards |
| 2♠ | 5–13 HCP, 3♠, sometimes 4♠ |
| 2NT | 12–16 HCP, ♥ stopper, 2♠, seen on only 6 boards |
| 3♥! | Cuebid, 11+ HCP, 3+♠ |
| 3♠ | 5–12 HCP, 4♠ |
| 4♠ | 6–15 HCP, 5+♠ |
Advancer passes 12–16 HCP hands with heart length, e.g. ♠J7 ♥AT95 ♦K94 ♣AQJ4: 10 of the 18 such hands with 0–2 spades passed. Some bid 2NT instead, e.g. ♠J5 ♥AK63 ♦KQT8 ♣K96.
Over a new suit
Over a 1♠ response, the double was never seen in 300 boards. Advancer has two cuebids: 2♣ in opener’s suit and 2♠ in responder’s.
| (1♣) 1♥ (1♠) | |
|---|---|
| 1NT | 10–14 HCP, ♠ stopper |
| 2♣! | Cuebid, 11+ HCP, usually 3+♥ |
| 2♦ | 6–15 HCP, 5+♦ |
| 2♥ | 5–10 HCP, 3♥, sometimes 4♥ |
| 2♠! | Cuebid, 9–13 HCP, 4+♥ |
| 2NT | 14–16 HCP, ♠ stopper |
| 3♣! | Jump cuebid, 14–17 HCP, 3+♥ |
| 3♥ | 5–13 HCP, 4+♥ |
| 4♥ | 5–13 HCP, 5+♥ |
Advancer passes strong hands with spade length, e.g. ♠AKJT64 ♥A9 ♦K8 ♣832.
Over a Rodrigue 2♣
By default the opponents play Rodrigue: over (1♣) 1♠, responder’s 2♣ shows 5+ hearts. Hearts are then an adverse suit, and advancer has two cuebids. The probe held advancer to 4–14 HCP.
| (1♣) 1♠ (2♣!) | |
|---|---|
| P | 0–2♠ |
| 2♦ | 6–14 HCP, 5+♦, 0–2♠ |
| 2♥! | Cuebid, usually 12+ HCP, 3+♠ |
| 2♠ | 4–14 HCP, 3♠, sometimes 4♠ |
| 3♣! | Cuebid, 9+ HCP with 5+♠, or 13+ HCP with 4♠ |
| 3♥! | Jump cuebid, 14 HCP, 3+♠ (8 boards) |
| 3♠ | 4–12 HCP, 4♠ |
| 4♠ | 5–13 HCP, 5+♠ |
Opponents playing SAYC or SEF have no Rodrigue, and their 2♣ raises clubs. Probing Wbridge5 5.12 shows that 227 of the same 300 hands then called the same. The differences:
- 2♥ is natural, 5–14 HCP with 5+♥.
- 3♣ is the only cuebid, with 12+ HCP and 3+♠. With 5 spades and 9–11 HCP, advancer bids 4♠ instead.
- 3♥ is natural, 11–13 HCP with 6+♥.
For example, ♠A42 ♥43 ♦KQ73 ♣AJ97 cuebids 2♥ over Rodrigue but 3♣ over a natural 2♣. ♠8 ♥AJ973 ♦K1065 ♣J63 passes Rodrigue but bids 2♥ over a natural 2♣. ♠KQ1084 ♥105 ♦KQ83 ♣96 bids 3♣ over Rodrigue but 4♠ over a natural 2♣.
Overcaller’s rebids
These auctions were probed with Wbridge5 as the overcaller, whose hand was limited to 9–15 HCP for a 1♠ overcall and 10–15 or 11–15 HCP for the others.
After a raise
The overcaller seldom moves after a simple raise. It passed 200 of 230 boards, including 6 of 15 with 15 HCP.
| (1♥) 1♠ (P) 2♠ (P) | |
|---|---|
| P | 9–15 HCP |
| 3♠ | 10–15 HCP, 6♠ or a 5♠ unbalanced hand |
| 4♠ | 12–15 HCP, 6+♠ |
After a cuebid
After a cuebid, the overcaller’s rebid in its own suit covers the whole range. Notrump shows a stopper, and a cuebid of opener’s suit denies one.
| (1♥) 1♠ (P) 2♥! (P) | |
|---|---|
| 2♠ | 9–15 HCP, 5–6♠ |
| 2NT | 9–12 HCP, ♥ stopper, 5♠ |
| 3♣♦ | 9–15 HCP, 4# |
| 3♥! | 12–13 HCP, balanced, no ♥ stopper, seen on only 5 boards |
| 3NT | 11–15 HCP, ♥ stopper, 5♠ |
| 4♠ | 10–15 HCP, 6+♠ |
| (1♣) 1♦ (P) 2♣! (P) | |
|---|---|
| 2♦ | 10–13 HCP, usually 6♦ |
| 2NT | 10–13 HCP, ♣ stopper, 5♦ |
| 3♣! | 13–15 HCP, balanced, no ♣ stopper |
| 3♦ | 12–15 HCP, 6+♦ |
| 3NT | 12–15 HCP, ♣ stopper |
| 5♦ | 7+♦ |
After a 2-level overcall, 2NT and 3NT show a stopper and the cuebid denies one. The rebid at the 2-level in a 3-card major also denies a stopper, with 5♣ and a balanced hand.
| (1♦) 2♣ (P) 2♦! (P) | |
|---|---|
| 2♥♠ | 11–15 HCP, 3#, 5♣, balanced, no ♦ stopper |
| 2NT | 11–15 HCP, ♦ stopper, usually 6♣ |
| 3♦! | 11–15 HCP, 6♣, no ♦ stopper |
| 3NT | 11–15 HCP, ♦ stopper, 5♣ |
| 5♣ | 7♣ |
For example, ♠K4 ♥Q5 ♦A75 ♣QT8754 rebids 2NT. ♠K ♥53 ♦9642 ♣AKQ865 rebids 3♦. The probe held the overcaller to 0–3 cards in each major, so 4-card majors were not seen.
| (1♠) 2♥ (P) 2♠! (P) | |
|---|---|
| 2NT | 11–13 HCP, ♠ stopper, 5♥ |
| 3♣♦ | 11–15 HCP, 4# |
| 3♥ | 11–15 HCP, usually 6+♥ |
| 3♠! | 11–15 HCP, 5♥, balanced, no ♠ stopper |
| 3NT | 12–15 HCP, ♠ stopper, 5♥ |
| 4♥ | 12–14 HCP, 7+♥ |
Advancer bids (1♠) 2♥ (P) 2♠ on only about 2% of boards, so this table describes a rare auction.
After a new suit
A new suit at the 2-level is not forcing. The overcaller passed with 9–14 HCP on 100 of 230 boards.
| (1♥) 1♠ (P) 2♣ (P) | |
|---|---|
| P | 9–14 HCP |
| 2♦ | 11–15 HCP, 4♦ |
| 2♥! | Cuebid, 12–15 HCP, usually 4♣ |
| 2♠ | 10–12 HCP, 6♠ |
| 2NT | 11–15 HCP, ♥ stopper |
| 3♣ | 9–15 HCP, 4♣ |
| 3♠ | 10–15 HCP, 6+♠ |
After the 2NT raise
The overcaller answers the 2NT raise of a 2-level overcall as a feature ask. A minimum rebids the suit. A maximum shows a singleton or void first, then an ace or king in a minor, and bids 3NT with neither. The probe held the overcaller to 11–16 HCP, 5+♥ and 0–3♠ (420 boards).
| (1♠) 2♥ (P) 2NT (P) | |
|---|---|
| 3♣! | MAX, 11–16 HCP, ♣A or ♣K, no ♦A or ♦K |
| 3♦! | MAX, 12–16 HCP, ♦A or ♦K |
| 3♥ | MIN, 11–13 HCP, rarely 14 |
| 3♠! | MAX, 11–15 HCP, 0–1♠ |
| 3NT | MAX, 12–16 HCP, no singleton or void, no A or K in a minor |
| 4♣♦! | MAX, 11–15 HCP, 0–1# |
With 11–12 HCP, the overcaller rebid 3♥ on 137 of 188 boards; with 14–16 HCP, on 8 of 148. A singleton lifts some 11–12 HCP hands into the maximum. With both minor features, 3♦ was bid (24 boards), never 3♣.
- ♠J53 ♥AJ532 ♦K94 ♣KT: 3♥.
- ♠A43 ♥KJ987 ♦A9 ♣Q63: 3♦.
- ♠4 ♥AKQJ93 ♦QJ53 ♣52: 3♠.
- ♠T8 ♥AK9753 ♦2 ♣AQ65: 4♦.
- ♠Q93 ♥AKQT95 ♦Q4 ♣Q4: 3NT.
After a natural 2NT
Over (1♥) 1♠, advancer’s 2NT is natural, 14–16 HCP with a heart stopper. The overcaller, held to 9–15 HCP, 5+♠ and 0–3♥ (302 boards), accepts with almost everything. It passed only with 9 HCP, on 14 of 50 such boards.
| (1♥) 1♠ (P) 2NT (P) | |
|---|---|
| P | 9 HCP, 5♠ |
| 3♣♦ | 12–15 HCP, 5♠, 4# |
| 3♥! | 11–15 HCP, usually 7♠ |
| 3♠ | 10–15 HCP, 6♠ |
| 3NT | 9–15 HCP, 5♠ |
| 4♠ | 10–14 HCP, 6+♠ |
With 5♠ and a 4-card minor, 12–15 HCP hands bid the minor on 30 of 56 boards and 3NT on the rest, e.g. ♠AKT85 ♥975 ♦T98 ♣K7 bids 3NT and ♠KQ932 ♥842 ♦K ♣AK86 bids 3♣. Six of the seven 3♥ bids held seven spades, e.g. ♠AKJ9842 ♥76 ♦J9 ♣K9.
After a weak jump overcall
The overcaller answers 2NT exactly as a weak two does. A feature may be in opener’s suit, and so may the shortness.
| (1♣) 2♥ (P) 2NT (P) | |
|---|---|
| 3♣♦! | MAX, A or K in the suit |
| 3♥ | MIN, 5–8 HCP |
| 3♠! | MAX, 0–1♠ |
| 3NT | MAX, no singleton or void, no A or K in a minor |
| 4♣♦! | MAX, 0–1# |
The probe held the overcaller to 6♥, 0–3♠ and 5–11 HCP (243 boards). As over a weak 2♥ opening, 3♠ shows shortness, so a spade feature bids 3NT (8 of the 25 3NT bids). The overcaller never rebid 3♥ with 9+ HCP (0 of 38), but did on 43 of 71 boards with 7 HCP. For example, ♠Q83 ♥KQ8763 ♦63 ♣64 bids 3♥, ♠J9 ♥KJ6532 ♦94 ♣A95 bids 3♣, ♠3 ♥AJ9853 ♦92 ♣Q854 bids 3♠, and ♠T76 ♥KQJ932 ♦K643 ♣– bids 4♣.
| (1♦) 2♠ (P) 2NT (P) | |
|---|---|
| 3♣♦♥! | MAX, A or K in the suit |
| 3♠ | MIN, 5–9 HCP, usually 5–7 |
| 3NT | MAX, no singleton or void, no side A or K |
| 4♣♦♥! | MAX, 0–1# |
The probe held the overcaller to 6♠, 0–3♥ and 5–11 HCP (233 boards). A maximum usually holds 8–11 HCP, and a singleton or void lifts some 5–7 HCP hands. With 8 HCP the overcaller showed a maximum on 35 of 52 boards, with 7 HCP on 10 of 53. For example, ♠QT8765 ♥763 ♦A53 ♣2 bids 3♠, ♠KT6543 ♥93 ♦A8 ♣Q93 bids 3♦, ♠AJ9762 ♥K4 ♦85 ♣J52 bids 3♥, and ♠AJT865 ♥KT7 ♦6 ♣643 bids 4♦.
Advancer’s second call
After the cuebid and the overcaller’s 2♠, advancer never passed on 190 boards. The cuebid is therefore at least invitational.
| (1♥) 1♠ (P) 2♥! (P) 2♠ (P) | |
|---|---|
| 3♠ | INV, 10–15 HCP, usually 3–4♠ |
| 4♠ | 10–17 HCP, usually 4+♠ |
| 4NT! | RKCB, seen on only 2 boards |
The overcaller answers 4NT as RKCB in its suit. Probing Wbridge5 5.12 with a direct (1♥) 1♠ (P) 4NT shows RKCB 0314 answers, counting the ♠K, on 226 of 227 boards. The other board, ♠A98743 ♥AJ106 ♦- ♣A62, bid 6♦ with 3 keys and a diamond void.
Not probed
- Vulnerability beyond the raises over (1♥) 1♠ and the sacrifice over (1♠) 2♥ (4♠), and both vulnerable anywhere
- Advances of 2♦ overcalls and of 1♥ over (1♦), and the 3-level overcalls
- The overcaller’s rebids after jumps, 1NT, and fit jumps by advancer, and advancer’s call after the overcaller answers 2NT
- Redoubles and doubles over interference after a 2-level overcall, and the double after a 1NT or 2-level response by responder
- Overcaller’s rebids with a 4-card side major after a cuebid over a 2-level overcall
- Advancer’s later calls other than after (1♥) 1♠ (P) 2♥ (P) 2♠ (P)