Responding after the Opponents Overcall our Major Part 2
Opponents overcall 2 of a minor
In the previous part we discussed responding after the opponents make a 1-level overcall to our opening major. Those circumstances were pretty easy to describe and define responses after the interference. However, what if the opponents overcall at the 2-level? This has blocked our non-forcing NT, extensile 2♣ and probably other bids (depending on their overcall). How should we deal with a 2 of a minor overcall?
We'll step away from our Extensile 2
, GF 2
, 2-face 2
systems. The opponent has tipped information about their hand. They should have 10 or more HCP and a good 5-card minor suit (and likely a 6-card suit). You also know quite a bit about your partner's hand; they have a 5 card or better major suit and 11+ HCP (13+ total points considering the distribution). How should we respond?
Our first responsibility as a responder is to show a fit with partner; We need to tell them that their suit is agreeable for a contract our direction. The second responsibility would be to communicate the strength of our hand (<6 HCP, 6-9, 10-12 or more). Finally, if we are unable to agree with partner's suit, we would propose an alternative suggestion or suggest a penalty of the overcaller (with strength in that suit).
Let's consider the resonses (in a logical order).
Simple Raise Most often, you will have 6-9 HCP and 3-card support for the opening suit. Raise partner's suit with a 2-level bid. If you have 6-9 HCP and fewer than 3 support cards, you will probably end up passing. If you have a good 5-card suit and some distribution (shortness in opponents suit), you can introduce a new suit. If you have go up to the 3-level (e.g. 3 clubs), you will want a more solid suit or a good 8-9 HCP.
The Double Doubling the opponents overcall should show shortness in their suit (fewer than 3) and deny support for the opener (again fewer than 3). That leaves the unbid suits at roughly the same length. The negative double should show 8-11 HCP. We want a few extra HCP here. With 5-7 HCP, pass and sit back to see how the auction progresses. Worst case, the opponents are playing for 8 tricks in a minor hoping for 90-110 points, unless partner has opening extras, we are not likely to vie for better scores and might give up 100 or 200 in a set contract if we compete too high.
Jump Raise This case is less common, but the opponents have shown some HCP, it is possible that you have good (4 card) support for partner, but very few HCP, too weak to make a simple raise. The jump raise shows that our side has a 9-card (or better) fit, but few points. The theory of The Law of Total Tricks is that 9-card trump fits should be ok at the 3-level. The related Law of Symmetry indicates that the opponents might also have a 9-card fit (in a minor), you want to make them guess if the 4-level is safe for their 9-card fit. This assumes that the balance of HCP are approximately equally split between the sides.
The Unassuming Cue-Bid Some pairs might play the cue-bid of the minor suit as a 'limit raise of partner and 10-12 HCP'. Others play it as limit-raise or better. We like the Unassuming Cue. This means that we are showing 11-13 HCP (slightly higher strength) and likely 3 card support, but could be 2 card support. The 'unassuming' part is that partner should not rocket to the game level in their suit based on assuming 3 card support and 11 HCP. The cuebid is replacing our bids for limit raise hands (that would have used the extensile 2♣) and forcing hands (that would have used GF 2♦). If you consider hands that have a singleton or void in the opening suit and such strength. They should be able to consider a better bid than a cuebid. They will have at least a 5 card suit (and if it is in the opponent's suit, they can/should consider the value of a trap pass and trust a reopening double from their partner). Alternately, based on vulnerability, they might be able to see the value of responding 3NT based on a vulernable 3NT game receiving plus 600 and setting the minor doubled only producing +500 (or +200).
A new suit Bidding a new suit after the overcall is constructive (8-11 HCP). It would deny support for the opening major and shows an alternative suggestion for trump. It is not forcing, partner can pass, rebid their major or bid notrump.
In the next article, we'll discuss the response of 2NT and how we can use this in a Modern Major manner.