Overcalling - Bidding on Defense

Many beginning bridge players can get confused about the rules of Bridge changing depending on whether you are the 'opener-responder' or 'the defense'. This lesson explains the bidding rules for the defense

Overcalling

So far we have only learnt how to open the bidding and how to respond to partner’s opening bid. It’s much more fun, though, if everyone is bidding. If you bid after your opponents have opened the bidding, you are an overcaller.

The rules are now different. Instead of trying to get to game, you are attempting to:

Steal the contract
Obstruct the opponents
Suggest a lead to partner

Guidelines for Overcalling at the Level of 1

Suit Length	Overcall at the One Level
5 cards	Have at least two honors in the suit or a strong hand
6 cards	Suit can be very weak

If you have a good 5-card suit (good = 2 honor cards) you can simply bid that suit even with less than 12 TP. All you promise is a good suit, so partner shouldn’t expect a lot of points. A good rule of thumb for a good suit is that you should have 2 honors.

Instant Progress Quiz - Check all correct answers

Question:West opens the bidding 1C and East responds 1D - what should you bid with this hand? Your Hand "X" A negative double "X" A takeout double 1H Pass - as your heart suit isn't good enough

Your right-hand opponent bids 1 ♥

What's your overcall?

♠ K Q J 10 9
♥ A 6 2
♦ 8 7 4
♣ 9 3

Overcall 1♠. You have a good suit and points aren’t as important when you are overcalling. Even if you changed in your hand the A♥ to the 9♥ you could still overcall 1♠.

Practice This Lesson

Practice Overcalling

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Extra for Experts

A different game on the same subject as this lesson, with questions for community discussion in the comments area below.

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