The Retropoet
Scaramuz
Convention Card, part 5
SIMPLE OVERCALL
- 1 level overcalls 10-14 HCP (usually)
- 1 level overcalls are often 4 cards
- 1 level overcalls are very light in style (8 HCP mininum)
Advances
- New Suits
- New suit at the one level is not constructive. It strongly suggests 2 or fewer cards in overcaller's suit.
- (alert) New suit at the two level (non-jump) is natural, but shows support of overcaller's suit (3+) (alert: FLOWER BID)
- New suit with a jump is a splinter bid (4+ card support, invitational or better values)
- (alert) 1NT is artificial and forcing (alert): Overcaller is expected to rebid 2C.
- 1NT may be a relay to a 5(+)-card suit runout.
- 1NT may be a raise with strength in opener's suit. Will rebid in overcaller's suit.
- 1NT may be an invitational hand in a suit that could not otherwise be bid as such.
- 1NT may be an invitational hand in NT.
- Cue bid (non-jump) is a strong, no-fit game try. Advancer is looking for game either in notrump or in his own suit.
- 2NT is an artificial raise, with an opening hand. Game values unless overcaller rebids a minimum.
- With all those other ways to raise invitationally, a jump raise should be Blocking/to play (with 5-card support).
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The Overcall Structure
The Overcall Structure, Official Text
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Simple Overcall / Retropoet / Geocities / retropoet@oocities.com / revised month 1998