This article accompanies the quiz 'The Overcall'.

An overcall is a bid of a new suit after your opponent opened the bidding, at any level. In this article we'll concentrate on a 1 level opening by opponent, resulting in an overcall by the player sitting in the 2^nd seat. 

Some useful terms:

Opener – player who opens the bidding
Overcaller – player who overcalls after an opponent's opening bid
Responder – opener’s partner
Advancer – overcaller’s partner

What do you need for an overcall if opponent opens 1♥?

Five or more good cards in the suit you bid (normally with at least 2 honors on top) and 9-16 points if the overcall is at 1 level, 12-16 points if the overcall is at 2 level.

• This hand would be suitable for a 1♠ overcall after opponent's 1♥ opening:

• The next hand would be good for a 2♣ overcall (or 2♦ if the long suit were Diamonds), after opponent's 1♥ opening. For this you need 5 or more good cards in the suit you bid (with normally at least 2 honors on top) and 12-16 points:

Comments:

a. Some players have other agreements about the range of overcalls. Note that the above suggested range is the preferred range in relation to partner's possible responses to it. If the range is too wide (some use a 7-18 range), then the advancer has a problem to bid their hand especially if there’s a misfit.

b. There are 3 reasons to use an overcall:

1. Lead-directing or asking for a lead (you want partner to lead the overcall suit you bid when opponents get the contract and your partner leads). You really need a good suit (if not, you’re better off passing). If you bid with a bad suit and opponents get the contract, partner will almost certainly lead your suit, which could well cost a trick (or tricks) and help the declarer make the contract (while another lead might set).
   
   
2. To compete for part score contract, again you need a good suit.
   
3. For a sacrifice bid later on (especially if you’re not vulnerable); opponents bid game and your partner think that bidding higher might result in a better score even if they doubled and you go down (which is why, once again, the suit should be good, as partner is counting on it by bidding high).

c. If you’ve more points you should double first. By doing so you know the bidding will return to you: if opponent passes after you, then partner must bid (even with 0 points – see Take Out double here). If opponent bid after your double, then partner can pass. But, either way, bidding will return to you.

Bidding double first and then bidding a new suit later means you have a "Big Double" hand (a Super Overcall), showing an overcall hand with 17-20 points.

Say your hand is:

Here you’re showing 5+ cards in Spades and 17-20 points. If you had same hand with 9-16 points you’d bid a 1♠ overcall after opener's 1♥.

d. If your hand is not suitable for an overcall, a take out double or a 1NT overcall (15-18 points and stopper(s) in opponent's suit) then you’ve got to Pass. If the opponent after you also passes – then your partner can reopen the bidding (called balancing) with much less, taking in account that you must have points but no suitable bid.

In other words: 2^nd hand bids, such as overcall (including 1NT overcall) or take out double, must be solid. 4^th hand bids (again, after 2 consecutive passes) can be lighter in order to protect partner on the 2^nd seat after their first-round pass.

e. An overcall where you jump to the next level (called a weak jump overcall) is the same as a weak 2 opening. Say opponents open 1♥ and you bid 2♠ - this would be a weak jump overcall (while 2♣/♦ would have been a normal 2 level overcall).

So what are the advancer's (your partner’s) possible responses to your overcall?

a. To a 1 level overcall: Opponent opened 1♦ and you overcalled 1♥, showing 9-16 points and 5+ cards in Hearts:

1. Supporting your suit at the 2 level shows 6-9 points and 3 cards in Hearts.
2. With 10+ points they can support your suit using a Cue Bid: this involves bidding opponent's suit in 2 level (cue bid) and shows 3+ cards in your suit and 10+ points:
   
   

   Note: Opener is sitting East, Overcaller or You are sitting South, Responder is sitting West, Advancer is sitting North.

   
   Partner's 2♦ cue bid shows 3+ cards in Hearts and 10+ points. If you have a minimum overcall (9-11 points) then you should rebid 2♥ and partner can pass if they have minimum too (10-11 points). If you have more than minimum, then you should bid higher (you can even go straight to 4♥ if you have about 14 points, or fewer points with good distribution, like longer trumps or shortness in side suits).
   
3. Bidding a new suit at the 1 level shows 4+ cards in their suit and 9+ points :
   
   
   
   Partner's 1♠ shows 4+ cards in Spades and 9+ points. Note that a new suit by responder as a response to an opening (12+) needs 6+ points, but a new suit by advancer as a response to a 1 level overcall needs 9+ points, as the overcaller might have 9 points too. That’s why the advancer needs a stronger hand to respond. With fewer than 9 points and no fit, partner (the advancer) will usually pass, given they know we don’t have game values (as your overcall shows maximum 16 points). 
   
4. Bidding 1NT shows 9-12 points, a stopper in opponent's suit, no 3 cards support to your suit and no 4 cards in Spades. The advancer needs at least 9 points which is 3 more points than the usual response points, as the overcaller can also have 9 points, which is 3 fewer than the usual opening points.
   
5. Bidding 2NT shows 13-14(15) points (if the overcall was on 1 level), stopper(s) in opponent's suit, no 3 cards support to your suit and no 4 cards in Spades.
   
6. Bidding 3NT shows at least (15)16 points (if the overcall was on 1 level), stopper(s) in opponent's suit, no 3 cards support to your suit and no 4 cards in Spades.
   
7. Bidding a new suit at the 2 level shows 12+ points and 5+ cards in the bidden suit.
   
   
   
   Partner shows 5+ cards in Clubs and 12+ points. Note that a new suit as a response to an opening (12+) needs 10+ points (or 13 if playing 2/1), whereas responding with a new suit as a 1 level overcall needs 12+ points, because the overcaller might have 9 points too. In this situation the advancer needs a stronger hand to respond (some players agree on 10+ points or another range).
   
8. Bidding your suit at the 3 level is preemptive, showing 4 card support and a maximum of 6 points.
   
9. Bidding opponent's suit at the 3 level (cue bid in a jump) shows 7-10 points and a 4+ card fit (called a "mixed raise"). This bid is partly constructive, showing points, good support, and partly preemptive (as it disturbs opponents bidding). It’s best to agree with partner to play mixed raise as suggested.
   
10. Bidding you partner's suit at the 4 level is preemptive, showing 5 card support and a weak hand (normally maximum 6 points). If they have more than 6 points they can use a mixed raise followed by bidding at the 4 level later even if you try to sign off, example:
    
    
    
    Partner's 3♦ cue bid shows 4+ cards support and 7-10 points. Then they rebid 4♥ even if you tried to sign off in 3♥. It means that partner has 5 card support with more than 6 points.

b. Advancer's possible responses to a 2 level overcall: Opponent opened 1♦ and you overcalled 2♣, showing 12-16 points and 5+ cards in Clubs:

1. Support for your suit at the 3 level shows 6-9 points and 4 cards in Clubs (you can have agreement with partner for fewer points or another range).
2. Support for your suit with 10+ points can be done using a Cue Bid – that is bidding your opponent's suit at the 2 level and shows 3+ cards in your suit and 10+ points:
   
   
   
   Partner's 2♦ cue bid shows 3+ cards in Club and 10+ points. If you have a minimum overcall (12-13 points) then you should rebid 3♣ (or 2NT if you have a Stopper(s) in Diamonds and only 5 Clubs) and partner can pass (or correct to 3♣ if you’d bid 2NT) if they have minimum points too (10-11 points). If you have more than minimum, then you should bid higher.
   
3. Bidding a new suit at the 2 level shows 5+ cards in their strongest suit and 10+ points :
   
   
   
   Partner's 2♥ shows 5+ cards in Hearts and 10+ points, and is similar to responding to an opening bid, as a 2 level overcall has at least 12 points.
   
4. Bidding 2NT shows 10-12 points, a Stopper in opponent's suit and no 3 cards support for your suit - similar to a 2NT response to an opening bid.
5. Bidding 3NT shows 13-15 points,  a Stopper in opponent's suit and no 3 cards support for your suit - similar to a 3NT response to an opening bid.

Have a go at putting this into practice

About the Author

Oren Lidor is considered one of the best bridge teachers in Israel, is the author of 5 bridge books, and teaches bridge to people from all over the world on BBO.