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
click
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