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Board 06 Wed 23 July 2025

Showing your strength
 

Here's the makings of a short but perfectly formed auction involving an overcall from the opps. The thing about overcalls is that they're supposed to get in your way, but they can also be turned to your advantage. This is particularly true when the openers have a fit, as here.

Once North has overcalled 1 over your partner's 1 opener, any direct raise of her diamonds is essentially weak, so that there won't be much difference in point-count between 2, 3 or even 4: the higher raises will simply be more distributional (or, put another way, with fewer losers).

Once you reach the magic point-count of 10, however, your hand counts as stronger - ie at least strong enough for an uninterrupted raise to 3. In that case, instead of making a direct raise you bid the overcaller's suit, using the oddly named unassuming cue bid, or UCB, to show a decent, chunky raise. *

Here, then, you bid 2, promising partner at least 4 diamonds and at least 10 points. You're also, incidentally, denying any interest in a major (with 4 spades you would have used the negative double) and you're handily preventing South from raising her partner to the 2 level.

Which is exactly what your partner wants to hear. She has a very nice balanced 17 count with just 4 diamonds, including the ♠AKx and AQx. So if you've got good diamonds plus at least 10 points (which will presumably be mostly in diamonds and clubs), she's going straight to 3NT. Which, as you'll see if you take a look at the whole deal, is the best place to be. **
 

How might it go?

You have nine tricks off the top - 5 diamonds, 3 spades and one heart - so you're not going off, but you're making at least 10 tricks on the expected heart lead, and if North instead decides to cash her ♣AK you get a 10th trick in clubs instead.

What about 5? Even if it makes, it won't score as much as 3NT+1 (just 600 instead of 630), but it doesn't, as you lose two clubs and a heart trick for one off. It's the usual story of NT being a better bet than a minor game.
 

What happened on the night?

On the posh night, 7 of the 8 EW pairs reached 3NT, all making 10 tricks. The other pair languished in 3.

In AP, two pairs reached 3NT, making 10 and 9 tricks. At the other 3 tables, EW played in 3 (x2) and 5, all making 10 tricks.
 

Conclusion

Those in 3 presumably made a direct raise in diamonds over the heart overcall, showing a weak hand, instead of the UCB, promising 10+ points. The results suggest that the UCB is alive and well amongst our posher members, and it's a weapon well worth adding to your armoury if you want to avoid missing game. 

cj


* Here are a couple of useful HOTWs on the subject of the UCB. They can be found here.

  • Two kinds of raise (January 2016)
  • The UCB (again) (April 2016)

** So what happens here if there isn't a heart overcall? In that case, you would raise directly to 3, showing a chunky, 10-point-ish diamond fit with no interest in any other suit. And with her balanced 17-count and the majors well stopped, partner will again convert to 3NT. Which is exactly why we use the UCB after an overcall: I would have raised you to at least the 3-level, partner.

Board 14 – Wed 16 July 2025

A spanner in the works
 

What are your thoughts sitting South when your right-hand opponent opens 1♠? I'm thinking that between us, my partner and I have probably got a decent fit in at least one of the minors - and that the same doubtless applies to the opps in at least one of the majors (though either is going to split badly, as you don't have any to speak of!). So what to do?

You could just overcall 2 and then, if they get into a major game, bid 5♣, giving partner a choice of 5♣ and 5. Trouble is, 2 isn't going to stop them sorting out their major fit. 

Another possibility, for those who play the Ghestem * convention, would be to bid 2NT, which promises at least 5-5 in the minors and invites partner to pick the one she prefers. Nothing wrong with that, except that - like 2 - it still leaves room for them to negotiate in the majors.

A more pre-emptive option might be to go straight to 5. If West has hearts but not spades, she's going to have to show them at the five level. And even if she has spades with her partner, 5♠ might be beyond her comfort zone.

Of course, you're taking a bit of a punt here. If partner is short of diamonds (eminently possible!) and has decent clubs, you'd obviously rather be in clubs. Wouldn't it be nice if you could show both minors and at the same time stop them bidding 4 or 4♠, all in one bid? Well, as it happens, you can - but we'll come back to that at the end.

Meanwhile, let's see what happens if you bid 5 - take a look at the whole deal.
 

How might it go?

Well, it turns out that East has a huge 20-count, but chose to open 1♠ instead of 2NT because of her singleton Q. 

What is West to say over 5? She has loads of hearts, but that's irrelevant, really, because she also has 4 spades. Only 4 points, but at the same time only 6 losers. In her seat I'm saying 5♠ ...

Which brings us to the crucial bit. Does North raise her partner to 6? Probably not, because she's flat and weak - though she does have 4 diamonds. But that doesn't stop a frisky South from now bidding 6♣, giving partner a choice of minor suits. And, doubtless with a sinking heart, North will bid 6.

And in that case, does East, with all those high cards, now punt 6♠? It's a real nail-biter.

As things lie, EW can make 5♠ but not 6♠ (and 5 but not 6 - unless played by East, which it won't be). In 6 (which will be doubled for penalties!) South can make 10 tricks, but only if West leads her singleton ♣3 for a ruff; if she leads her partner's suit - spades - South can make 11 tricks. So 6X will go for -100 or -300, both a great score compared with EW getting 450 for 5♠ making. 
 

What happened on the night?

On the posh night, most of the above possibilities happened: one lucky South was doubled in 5 and made it; one lucky East was left in 5♠ and made it; three NS pairs went either 1 or 2 off in 6X; and one unlucky East went 1 off in 6♠. 

In AP, three EW pairs were allowed to make 4♠ or 4, and another made 5♠. One NS pair went 1 off in 6X, for an outright top - well bid!

cj


* A couple of recommended HOTWs for the Ghestem convention. Go here and pick the following titles (in the order below)

  • Showing a 2-suiter with Ghestem (August 2016)
  • An unusual no trump (November 2019)
  •  

Postscript: an alternative overcall for South

 

It's worth knowing that bidding NT is often used to show the minor suits. If there's a situation where a no trump bid can't be natural, then that's what it's likely to mean. It's called the unusual no trump

Here, South's most preemptive overcall is not 2NT - which we've seen would promise the minors but doesn't put a big enough spanner in the works - but 4NT. Seems odd at first, but when you think about it, it can't be natural, can it? With a strong balanced hand with a spade stop, South would say 3NT, not 4NT. 

So what can 4NT mean? Well, it's not natural and it sure ain't Blackwood ... so it must be the unusual no trump, promising both minors and offering partner a choice between 5♣ and 5

The beauty of it that it offers a choice of minors (and North will feel much more comfortable knowing that they have a fit in both minors, not just one) but it also forces EW up beyond 4♠.

It won't come up that often, but when it does it's worth its weight - and will lead you unerringly to 6, where you want to end up. 


PS For a further example of the unusual NT, this time as an overcall over an opp's 1NT opening, go here and pick Minor Choice (March 2018)

Board 05 Wed 09 July 2025

Just in case

Here's a situation that comes up time and time again. Your partner opens 1♠ and with 10+ points you're strong enough to show your lowest 4-card suit: 2. Your partner now bids 2NT. What do you say now? Why? Pick from the list:

(a) Pass   (b) 3   (c) 3♠   (d) 3NT

Well, the one thing you mustn't do is pass. Both of you should be aware that you're in a game-forcing situation: your partner's NT rebid promises at least 15 points (she might even have as many as 19 - see below) and your 2 response promises at least 10, so you both know that you have at least 25 points between you and therefore should be in game.

OK. What about showing your 4-card major, then? 3? Well, you could, but it would be a waste of time, as partner can't have 4 hearts. Why not? Because if she had 5-4 in spades and hearts, she would have rebid 2 instead of 2NT. And if she had 4-4 in spades and hearts, she would have opened 1 in the first place.

That said, concentrating on possible major fits is always a good idea. So what about 3♠? With only 3 spades, you didn't support spades to start with, but if your partner has 5 spades, which she might well have, she'll want to know that you have 3, as with a spade fit 4♠ is likely to do better than 3NT ...

... which is why 3♠ is a better bid than 3NT: if there's a possible major fit, check it out - don't just give up and go for no trumps. 

But what if she passes 3♠? you may ask. Well, she won't, will she? We've just agreed that 1♠ - 2 -2NT is a game-forcing sequence on both players.

So you bid 3♠ and, as you'll see if you look at the whole deal, with a 5-card spade suit, partner raises you to 4♠.
 

What happens? 

In 4♠ you're going to lose one heart, one diamond and one club - there are no spade losers, as East's ♠Q drops harmlessly. Contract bid and made.

In no trumps, it's a different story. West will lead her 4th highest club - the ♣6 - and EW will eventually come to 5 tricks - 4 clubs and the K - taking the contract 1 off.
 

Points to take from this hand

  • In this situation, South's 2NT rebid could be anything from 15 to19 points. So many? With 18 or 19 surely she goes straight to 3NT? Well, no. If she's got 5 spades, she'll still want to preserve bidding room just in case her partner has 3 spades. If she goes straight to 3NT you'll never find your spade fit. And because 2NT is game-forcing anyway, there's no danger of missing game.
  •  A similar situation arises when responder is the one showing a major. Say you have a balanced 18-count with 4 or 5 clubs: you open 1♣, partner responds 1 and you rebid 2NT. If partner now bids 3, she's saying 'OK, partner, we're in game, but just in case you have 3 hearts, I'm telling you that I've got 5 of them. Please choose between 4 and 3NT.'
  • All of this is just another manifestation of the bidding system's preference for playing in a major fit if there is one. You haven't got a 4-4 fit, but maybe you have a 5-3 fit. Same old same old - but on this deal it's worth the effort.
     

What happened on the night?

On the posh night, just 4 of the 9 NS pairs found 4♠, all making 10 or 11 tricks. 4 others were in 3NT, all going off. (Some of these might have been playing a strong {15-17} NT - if South opens 1NT it's harder to find the spade fit). And one somehow stopped in 1NT.

In AP, no one found game at all! Three pairs were in 2♠ or 3♠, all making at least 10 tricks, one was in 2 and one was in 2NT. Bid up, guys!

cj

Board 02 – Wed 02 July 2025

Take the money

Here's an unusual situation. Sitting West, you've picked up an opening hand with a splendid spade suit ... and after your partner's opening pass, South opens 2NT, showing 20-22 points.

With at least half the points with the opposition, it would be dangerous to punt 3♠, so you pass (if possible without a significant pause), North raises her partner to 3NT ... and after a couple more passes it's your bid again. What do you do? And why?

Well, it's your lead, and with a bit of luck (ie if neither opponent holds ♠Jxxx) you're going to take the first 6 tricks, so it's very tempting to double for penalties. 3NTX-2 vulnerable will earn you a chunky 500 points.

Trouble is, you'll never collect it. Imagine South's hand: a balanced 20-count with not so much as point in spades. It's reasonable for her to expect some of her partner's 5+ points to be in spades, so she's quite happy to be playing in 3NT. But if you X her 3NT contract, it won't take her long to work out that you must have strong spades - why else would you double? - and she'll run for cover. With you holding all those spades, they must have a fit somewhere, and with all those points, they're probably going to make their 4♣ , 4 or (heaven forbid!) 4, whichever it is. A plus score for them, then, instead of a pretty iron-clad +200 for you.

So pass and take the money. If you go for the pot of gold, you'll end up with nothing.
 

Where do they go?

Take a look at the whole deal. I think you'll agree that if she's doubled, South will twig what's going on ... and will wriggle to get out of it.

She's got two choices: one is simply to punt 4 in the hope that her partner has hearts too. The other is to ask partner to pick a suit, via the little-used  Redouble. *. With 5 clubs, North will bid 4♣ and NS will be on their way to +130 instead of -200. Thanks for the tip, opp!
 

What happened?

On the posh night, 5 out of the 6 pairs went 2 off in 3NT undoubled. The other pair somehow ended up in 3 - no, I've no idea how.

In AP, 3 pairs went 2 off in 3NT for -200 and one wriggled into 4♣ for a very nice +130, but the top NS score went to a pair in 2! There's no justice.
 

Nowhere to run to ...

So when should you double for penalties? Answer: when they've nowhere to run to. For instance:

  • You've bid to a solid 4 after they've overcalled in clubs, and they bid 5♣ as a sacrifice. If you don't think they're going to make it, double. Where can they go?
  • They've bid to what they think is a solid 4 (eg 1 - 3  - 4) and you're sitting there with 5 good hearts plus a few points (or partner's overcalled on the way). Again, they've nowhere to run to.

But when they're strong enough to find another place to play, as here, keep quiet and take the money.

cj


* If you're happy to play in a doubled contract, you'll usually simply pass and let things roll. This leaves the  Redouble. as a way of asking for help: Get me out of here, please partner! Have you got a suit we can run to?