Defense

Opener doubles. They probably have extras, or maybe a penalty double of one of the suits shown. Or opener may have 3 card support for responder.

If advancer has three, four or five in one of the suits, no problem, he just bids it.

If advancer has 3 - 2 distribution in the two suits, or (gag) 2 - 2, or even 3 - 4 in a flat hand, redouble by advancer asks for overcaller's 5 card suit.

If advancer cue-bids opener's suit, it is to play, with extreme length.

If advancer bids 2NT, it is likely a preempt, but could be extreme length in both of overcaller's suits (4 - 4 or better). It asks for overcaller's longer suit. This bid would also work if advancer had 3 - 4 distribution in the shown suits.

If advancer cue-bids responder's suit, he is suggesting play in 2NT, with at least 4 cards in opener's suit. This is especially relevant when the pair is playing Scaramuz overcalls, where advancer would have needed only 6 pts. and shortness in opener's suit to take action.

Opener passes. Less options, less exciting.

Advancer just bids an unbid suit, if he can.

A cuebid of opener's suit is natural and to play. They must be informed of this, when it happens.

A cuebid of responder's suit suggests 2NT to play.

2NT asks for overcaller's longest (or strongest) suit.

All jumps in the "agreed" suits are to play. Jumps in NT are preemptive, asking for overcaller's long suit. To play in NT, advancer must start by cuebidding responder's suit.

A jump in responder's suit is a transfer to 3NT, presumably to play.

A jump in opener's suit is a transfer to responder's suit, why, I have no idea. I assume it is to play. It certainly could happen playing Scaramuz overcalls, where jump overcalls are either two-suiters or intermediate.

Other redoubles

A definition of the redouble after the double of the 1NT overcall is above. Since overcaller's hand is known, all later redoubles are for "business".

To the contents page