Forum Question 20 – Annoying Overcall
Forum Question 20 - Annoying Overcall
This question was asked to: Julian Pottage
Question
Hi Julian,
13 tricks are straightforward for North/South on this deal and you would want to be in the Grand Slam. Two pairs bid a Grand Slam and 6H+1 was no better than 50%. Unfortunately, we were playing one of the weaker pairs, who chose this deal to experiment with a two club overcall on a four-count!
The overcall, inhibits our bidding - partner downgrades her Qx club holding for example. Is there any reasonable way of bidding the Grand, given the overcall?
An uninterrupted auction is also interesting after a 1S-2H start in Acol. Is South too strong for an immediate four hearts rebid? What should South do instead:
- Four diamonds (it will be interpreted as a splinter)?
- Three diamonds (chosen by one of the pairs who bid to seven hearts)?
- Two no trumps (forcing) - with the plan to follow up by supporting hearts at the next turn? We have discussed this idea, but it has never come up at the table.
Answer
If North checks on key cards and finds South with two aces and two kings, you could bid the grand slam. West’s overcall makes it likely that the king missing is in clubs. If your methods allow you to show specific kings, that is even better.
After the 5D cue bid, you might still bid the grand slam. If North cue bids 5S, South can bid 6D. North is no longer worried about possible diamond loser but has to infer that South has the HA.
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