-----What does an standard overcall require ? I will not try to explain all details of an overcall here but just want to emphasise on one kind of overcall after your partner pass.
If you have below 5 points after your partner pass it is clear that opps have at least zone points. So, you can not just pass with suitable hand and watch them how they gonna reach their zone,slam or grandslam. You should make things harder for them.
For example: What would you do with this hand after your partner Pass and RHO open 1♦ at vul:All
W-----N-----E-----S----Vul:All
--------P-----1♦----?-----Dealer:N
♠T87543
♥KJ5
♦8632
♣-
I know it is very hard for you to make an overcall with this hand but you dont need to be ashamed from your hand, your shape is good enough for an overcall and have 4 pts! Actually, it would be better or more exciting! if there is no K of ♥ but anyway take a deep breath and bid 1♠.
This was what I did while were are playing against Senior players at Ankara Winter Teams Semi Finals. Then bidding went on:
W-----N-----E-----S------Vul:All
--------P-----1♦----1♠-----Dealer:North
P------P-----dbl----All Pass
After ♦ lead both hands:
♠92
♥QT763
♦J5
♣AT52
---N
---S
♠T87543
♥KJ5
♦8632
♣-
After a short play I managed to get 3 tricks for a down 4 and -1100 for us. So, why did the things go wrong ? Is it all about overcalling with this hand ?
Now folks, If you think that you are comfortable with this hand below after opps have caught you at 1♠ dbl and think that "here is the best place I can play" you need a change of heart. It is one of the most serious things to be caught at 1 level and players never make joke at this level so you should think that 1♠ dbl will be fatal for you. What you gonna do is simple, just rdbl to find another suit.
♠92
♥QT763
♦J5
♣AT52
Now lets look at the all hands:
--------------♠92
--------------♥QT763
--------------♦J5-------------------------Vul:All
--------------♣AT52---------------------Dealer:North
♠AKQJ6-----------------♠-
♥4---------------N--------♥A982
♦T9--------W------E----♦AKQ74
♣J9864--------S--------♣KQ73
---------
--------------♠T87543
--------------♥KJ5
--------------♦8632
--------------♣-
At the other room our team mates reached perfect(!) contract 3NT with the creative bidding below:
W-----N-----E-----S
--------p------1♦-----p
1♠-----p-----2♥
2nt----p-----3nt*
*Partner I have 5-4-2-2(!)
When East did not bother to bid his ♣ suit they had no way to find 6♣.
