Natural Overcall
Requirements
Simple suit overcalls are natural:
- 1-level (6)10-16
- 2-level 12-16 5 cards or 10-16 6+ cards
Simple NT overcalls shows (15)16-18 bal / semi-bal
- Natural in sandwich position
- 13-15 in balancing position
- System on
1-Level Overcalls
(1♣) 1♦ (P)
1M (NS at 1-level / Non-JS at 2-level) Nat. Usually 5+M. Constr NF - 1N
9-11. Could hide 4-card major - 2♣
F1 with ♦ support. Usually Bal - 2♦
Nat. Wide range. Less than inv 2M (JS at 2-level / NS at 3-level) GF 5+M - 2N
Bal inv - 3♣
Art. Mixed raise - 3♦
Preempt
(1m) 1M (P)
- 1♠
Nat. Usually 5+ ♠. Constr NF - 1N
9-11. Could hide 4=oM - 2♣
- 2♦
Art. 13+ with 5+oM. Natural continuation - 2♥
(After 1 ♠). Constructive NF. 2M Nat. Wide range. Less than inv - 2N
Limit raise+. Offensive hand 3m Mixed raise if 1m is nat, else Nat GF 3om/oM Nat GF 3M Preempt
(1m) 1M (P) 2♣
- 2♦
Art. 12+ 2M 9-11 3-card support 2oM Nat. 4+oM (may be bad 5). F1 - 2N
GF. Bal / misfit 3om Nat GF 3m Ask for stopper 3M Fit M GF - 3N
/4M To play
2M Less than 11 and nothing special - 2♥
(After 1 ♠) 8-11 5+♠ 4+♥ - 2N
6+M max 3X Nat 5-5 not the worst hand 3M 6+M Good suit NF
(1♥) 1♠ (P)
- Similar to (1m) 1M except
- 2♦
Nat 5+ ♦ F1 - 2♥
Art. 5+ ♣ F1
2-Level Overcalls
(1M) 2m
P Non-descriptive NS F1 - 2N
Nat inv 2M (Cue) Inv+. Support or bal without stopper 3m Constructive raise JS Fit jump shift. GF+ 3M (Jump cue) Art. 4=oM COG. No stop Game To play
(1♠) 2♥ (P)
- 2♠
10+. Usually no ♥ fit - 2N
3m 5+m. GF - 3♥
Constructive raise - 3♠
Ask for stop for 3 N. (Then 4m is NF) - 3N
To play
3rd Seat Reacts
The advancing methods are different.
3rd Seat Dbl / Bids a Suit
Dbl / Rdbl Strength. Usually no fit - 1N / 3N
Natural - 2N
Inv with 4+ support Raise Blocking Suit Competitive Cue open Fit. Inv+ Tends to be balanced Cue resp Fit. Inv+ 5+ in the unbid suit
If Responder Raises
Dbl Strength. No convenient bid - 2N
Art. Support. Offensive Non-JS Comp JS / 3X GF Raise Comp - 3N
To play Cue Fit. Inv+. Tends to be bal