26 English Bridge December 2016 www.ebu.co.uk

L

ast issue we looked at making two-suited

overcalls, particularly the Michaels Cue Bid to

show the major suits. This week we are going

to look at tricky competitive situations where it

occurs at higher levels and you feel like you want to

bid again.

Sitting East, what would you do with this hand?

In each case you should double to lay claim to

ownership of the hand. Note that the higher up you

double the more likely partner is to pass it - when

you double 4® he will pass unless he has a good fit,

when you double 5® he will pass unless he has an

enormous fit. It would be wrong for partner to bid

5™ over 5® directly on a Yarborough with six small

hearts. He should pass awaiting your double if you

have a good hand and then take it out.

Note that partner is expecting you to have aces

and kings in your suits - if he has a misfit then he

knows they are standing up and he should pass the

double, if he has a big fit then he knows they are not

and should take it out.

What about if instead of having extra values you

have extra shape? Can you carry on bidding on your

own then?

The answer is yes, but remember you need to try

and give partner a chance to show preference when

he can . . .

Imagine you have this hand:

´ A K J 9 6

™ A K Q 10 3

t 4 3

® 4

´ A K Q 9 4

™ A J 9 7 5 4 3

t 5

® -

High two-suited overcallsby Michael Byrne

Traps for the Unwary

Traps for the Unwary

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link

West North East South

1® 2® 3®

Pass Pass ?

Holding a chunky 17 count (not to mention those

major suit intermediate cards) you want to bid

again, and many players would bid 3™ 'asking

partner to choose'. The trouble is, bidding 3™ does

not ask partner to choose, it follows the simple rule

that when you show two suits and then bid one of

them again, it shows you have more cards there,

typically 6-5.

The solution to the hand above is to double 3® to

show a strong hand and invite partner to take some

action. Note that whilst a double from partner

would be penalties (since you have defined your

hand clearly) it doesn't make sense to play a double

by a hand that has ten major suit cards as penalties,

since partner is always able to judge the situation

better than you.

Let's keep the same hand but make the auction

higher:

West North East South

1® 2® 4®

Pass Pass ?

OR:

West North East South

1® 2® 5®

Pass Pass ?

After 1® on your right you overcall 2® to show

the majors - although a 7-5 hand is often best

played in the 7 card suit, you need to get both your

suits in for later, in case the opponents start bidding

and partner needs to make a judgement.

The auction continues 3® on your left passed

back to you:

West North East South

1® 2® 3®

Pass Pass ?

Easy enough - you can bid 4™. Just as double

would show extra values, leaping to game shows

extra playing strength. It is unlikely you can make a