ACBL10 – Bidding: Overcalls, Takeout Doubles Ward Trumbull
and Cue Bids Nov 6, 2011
Page 1 of 4
“If you want your partner to bid, tell him/her.”
An overcall is not a request for partner to bid. A takeout double is. It is partner’s option whether or not to respond bid to an overcall. Likewise, most responses to an overcall are not forcing and can be passed by the overcalling partner.
RHO Opens the Bidding
When your right hand opponent (RHO) opens the bidding (whether or not partner has passed), you have the following options:
A. Options to opponent’s 1 level opening bids
Pass You have no special thing about your
hand to tell your partner.
Overcall at 1 Level You have up-to an opening hand (i.e., 6
to12 HCP max) and a 5+ card suit with at
least 2 honors. Think of it as a suit you
would like partner to lead.
Suit Takeout Double This indicates you have an opening hand
(13+ HCP). If it’s a one-suited hand, you
can bid that suit next time. The HCP bid
is more important here than the suit bid.
Notrump Takeout If you double RHO’s opening one
Double notrump bid, you indicate you have 15+
HCP and may or may not have notrump
distribution. Partner has Stayman and
See ACBL04J transfer options which MUST be alerted
if they are used.
ACBL10 – Bidding: Overcalls, Takeout Doubles Nov 6, 2011
And Cue Bids Page 2 of 4
RHO Opens the Bidding
A. Options to opponent’s 1 level opening bids
Notrump Takeout Double (continued)
Note: If it is not a notrump distribution,
you ignore partner’s convention response
(after alerting) and bid your long suit.
Overcall 1 Notrump You have a balanced hand, 15-18 HCP and
hopefully stoppers in RHO’s bid suit. That
is, 1 stopper over a minor or two stoppers
over a major. Partner has Stayman and
transfer options.
Cue Bid RHO’s Suit This is a Michaels cue bid with 8+ HCP.
(Michaels) 1. If it is a minor suit, you indicate that you
have 5+/5+ cards in the majors.
See ACBL15M 2. If it is hearts, you indicate that you have
5+ spades and 5+ cards in a minor.
3. If it is spades, you indicate that you
have 5+ hearts and 5+ cards in a minor.
Overcall at 2 Level You have the same type of hand that you
Without a Skip would have overcalled at the 1 level,
except the HCP range should be higher,
about 8 to12.
Overcall at 2 Level You have a weak two bid type hand, that
With a Skip is, a 6 or 7 card suit and 5-10 HCP.
Bid 2 Notrump This is an Unusual Notrump hand. You
With a Skip have 5+/5+ cards in the two lower unbid
See ACBL15M suits.
ACBL10 – Bidding: Overcalls, Takeout Doubles Nov 6, 2011
and Cue Bids Page 3 of 4
RHO Opens the Bidding
A. Options to opponent’s 1 level opening bids
Preempt at 3 level Single jump bid - you have a 6-7 card suit
with 5-10 HCP, a weak 2
hand.
Double jump bid – you have a 7+ card suit
with 0-10 HCP, on the
high side if vulnerable.
Preempt at 4/5 You have a 7, 8 or 9 card suit and 5-10
Level HCP, AND you are NOT vulnerable.
You would make this preempt jump bid
because you suspect the opponents have a
game or even slam, especially if partner
has already passed.
With more HCP you would have an opening
hand, in which case you should have
overcalled or doubled.
NOTE: You do not preempt with
opening hands.
B. Options to opponent’s 2 level opening bids (weak 2s)
Overcall With 8-12 HCP overcall at the 2 or 3 level,
with 5+ card suit and 2+ honors.
Double With 12+ HCP make a takeout double.
It might even be10-11 HCP with 4+
cards in both majors over an opening
weak 2 diamond bid.
NOTE: Partner’s response to that double
might be a Lebensohl 2 Notrump.
ACBL10 – Bidding: Overcalls, Takeout Doubles Nov 6, 2011
and Cue Bids Page 4 of 4
RESPONSES to Partner’s Overcall, Takeout Double or Cue Bid
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The responses to the bids listed above are in the following handouts.
ACBL03C -- Bidding: Lebensohl 2 Notrump
ACBL10ROV – Bidding: Responses to Partner’s Overcalls
1. Response to Partner’s 1 Level Overcall
2. Response to Partner’s 1 Notrump Overcall
3. Response to Partner’s 2 Level Overcall
Without a Skip
4. Response to Partner’s 2 Level Overcall
With a Skip
5. Response to Partner’s 2 Notrump Overcall
With a Skip
6. Response to Partner’s 3 Level Preempt Overcall
7. Response to Partner’s 4/5 Level Preempt
Overcall
ACBL10RTO – Bidding: Responses to Partner’s Takeout
Doubles and Cue Bids
1. Response to Partner’s Takeout Double of a Suit
2. Response to Partner’s Takeout Double of
Notrump
3. Response to Partner’s Takeout Double of Weak
2 Bid
4. Response to Partner’s Cue Bid
ACBL15M – Bidding: Michaels Cue Bid & Unusual Notrump