Friday, September 12, 2003 12:51 AM

Hand Evaluation – Suit Overcalls & INT

PITBULLS:

There is a very frequent auction that comes up with simple overcalls which should be discussed by established partnerships. The opponents open , partner overcalls & RHO bids 1NT with you in the sandwich position. 1♦-1♠-1NT-? . A simple raise is obviously just competitive . What are all the other bids ? A jump raise should be pre-emptive as is a game raise . The Q bid in my opinion , still should be the very offensive limit raise or better . A new suit should be non forcing so just making a nuisance of yourself as you did not double .

The double should be thoroughly discussed . Partner did not make a weak jump overcall so the weak one suiter is taken out of the equation in these auctions. Partner can still have a pretty weak hand but with a second suit . Therefore , you can double 1NT for penalty without a fit if you have an opening bid or better . Partner should pull to her second suit if 1NT doubled is not to her liking . Partner can double with a fit as long as she has a defensive hand ,10+ HCP’s with an honour in partners suit. This bid is preferable to a Q bid as 1NT doubled might be a nice spot to play the hand . In addition, you describe your HCP & defense to partner .

Quite often players say why double 1NT as they will not stay in 1NT X anyway ? There is a fallacy in that way of thinking as bidding 1NT in any auction involves some element of risk . Why rescue them by bidding if you have a nice defensive hand that you want to describe to partner ? They can run out of 1NT X right into your partners 2^ND suit so have absolutely no place to go . I think the double of 1NT is a very under used bid . When they are vul , make them pay for light 1NT bids or openers.

O.K. what about the re-opening double when 1NT gets around to the overcaller ? You have some inferences on what partner did not do so you have to be careful. If you have a good hand , a good suit with a stopper in their suit , double again for penalty. You bid again with a long suit & distribution , otherwise you put the green card on the table and say “your lead partner” . Passing will be your most frequent bid of choice as partner has conveyed quite a bit of information by taking no action. Misfits should be played by the opponents .