Overcall
Bidding or Doubling After an Opening Bid on Your Right
11
   If your right-hand opponent opens the bidding, you must count
your Playing Tricks as well as your Total Points. This is because
your left-hand opponent now has a good idea what your right-hand
opponent has, and will be able to double you for penalties if you
make a bid without the tricks to back it up.

    If your opponent has opened with a suit bid at the one (or two)
level, a double from you has a special meaning: it shows support
for the other 3 suits (usually), and asks your partner to bid
partner's best suit. This is called a Take-Out Double.

94
2
1 of a suit
opened ?
1
Did your right-hand opponent open with one of a suit ?

1
1NT opened ?
1
Did your right-hand opponent open with 1 No Trump ?

1
Flannery Opened ?
1
Did your righ-hand opponent open with a Flannery 2D bid ?

2
Weak 2-bid
opened ?
1
Did your right-hand opponent open with a weak 2-bid ?

2
3 of a suit
opened ?
1
Did your right-hand opponent open with a 3-level shutout bid ?

2
Strong two-
bid opened ?
1
Did your right-hand opponent open with a strong two-bid ?

2
2NT or
3NT ?
1
Did your right-hand opponent open with 2NT or 3NT ?

1
Ghestem ?
2
Are you playing Ghestem overcalls, with 5-11 High-Card Points and a
two-suited hand (5-5 or better in two unbid suits)?

3
LM5ème
two-
suiter ?
4
Playing La Majeure Cinquième, with 12+ Total Points if not vulnerable or with
15+ Total Points vulnerable, if you have 5-5 in clubs and another unbid suit 
over a major opening, or 5-5 in hearts and another unbid suit over a minor
opening, make a two-suited overcall.

3
Bid
LM5ème
two-suiter
2
Bid 2NT to show the two lowest unbid suits.  Over 1$C/1$D, bid 2$D to show
hearts and spades.  Over 1$H/1$S, cuebid to show the other major and clubs.

2
Bid
Ghestem
4
Over 1$C, bid 2$D to show hearts and spades, bid 2NT to show hearts and
diamonds, or bid 3$C to show diamonds and spades.  Over 1$D/1$H/1$S, bid
2NT to show the two lowest unbid suits, bid 3$C to show the two highest
unbid suits, or cuebid to show the lowest and highest unbid suits.

1
Strong Michaels ?
5
Do you have a strong Michaels hand?
Michaels is a cue-bid of RHO's suit.  If RHO opened a minor, 2 of that
minor shows 5-5 in the majors. If RHO opened a major, 2 of that major shows
5 cards in the other major and a 5 card minor.
A strong Michaels hand has 16+ HCP.

1
Strong Unusual 2NT ?
3
Do you have a strong Unusual 2NT hand?
Unusual NT shows 5-5 shape in the two lowest unbid suits.
A strong Unusual NT hand has 16+ high card points.

3
9+ Playing
Tricks or
22+ TP ?
2
With nine or more Playing Tricks, or 22 or more Total Points,
cue-bid your opponent's suit, to force to game

2
Can you
bid 1NT ?
4
Add 1 High-Card Point for Kx or Qxx in your opponent's suit.
Overcall 1NT with (i) 16-18 High-Card Points ; (ii) Kx, Qxx, Jxxx, or
better in your opponent's suit ; (iii) no singletons or 6-card suits ;
and (iv) no 5-card major that can be bid at the one-level.

2
3-suited
hand ?
1
Do you have 3 or more cards in each unbid suit, and no 6-card suit?

2
5-card
suit ?
1
Do you have an unbid 5-card suit ?

2
Natural
2C/1C ?
6
Can you make a natural 2C overcall of a 1C opener, when playing
Ghestem or La Majeure Cinquième?  You need at least a 5-card Club suit.
You can overcall if you are within 2 Playing Tricks of your contract
if vulnerable, or 3 Playing Tricks if non-vulnerable. You can also
overcall with 14 High-Card Points and 5 cards to the Queen or better,
or 12 High-Card Points and a 6-card suit.

2
Double
or pass
1
Double with 17 or more High Card Points, otherwise pass.

2
Less than 7
Playing Tricks ?
4
Check for a strong jump overcall or a strong take-out double
With less than seven Playing Tricks (or with less than 9 Playing Tricks
if you are playing weak jump overcalls), you will want to overcall at the
lowest level

2
Strong enough
for overcall ?
11
If you are overcalling at the one level, you need
(1) 13 total points and a 5 card suit
(2) 10 high card points and a 6 card suit
(3) 10 high card points and a solid 5 card suit
(4) 11 high card points and a decent 5 card suit
At the two level you need an additional point for each bid.
These values are adjusted based on your overcalling agreesiveness settings.
If you are very agressive you need 2 points fewer for each bid.
If you are aggressive you need 1 point less for each bid.
If you are conservative you need an extra point for each bid.
If you are very conservative you need 2 extra points for each bid.

2
Make simple
overcall
1
Make a simple overcall in your longest suit.

2
Four-Card Suit
Overcall ?
1
Are you playing and do you have a hand suitable for overcalling with a four-card suit?

1
Hearts or Spades?
1
Make your four-card overcall

1
Michaels cue-bid ?
5
Do you have a hand suited for a Michaels cue-bid?
Michaels is a cue-bid of RHO's suit.  If RHO opened a minor, 2 of that
minor shows 5-5 in the majors. If RHO opened a major, 2 of that major
shows 5 cards in the other major and 5 cards in an unspecified minor.
To bid Michaels you need at least 3 HCP or 5 HCP if vulnerable.

1
Unusual 2NT ?
2
Do you have a hand suited for Unusual 2NT ?
Unusual 2NT shows 5-5 distribution in the two lowest unbid suits.

2
Weak jump 
overcall ?
4
Are you playing weak jump overcalls?
If you are, do you have a hand suited for such a bid?
A weak jump overcall hand is a hand with 6 or more cards in a suit and
less than 11 total points.

2
Find 
a bid
5
Check to make sure that your suit quality is good enough to avoid a large
penalty double against you. Depending on your preemptive riskiness
settings and the length of your suit, suit quality requirements vary greatly.
If you have a 6 card suit that you must pre-empt at the 3 level your suit
quality must be very good.

2
6-card
suit ?
1
With no 6-card suit, or if playing weak jump overcalls, double

2
9+ Playing
Tricks ?
2
With nine or more Playing Tricks, cue-bid your opponent's suit,
to force to game

1
Cue-bid
1
Cue-bid your opponent's suit, to force to game

2
Jump
overcall
0

2
Take-out
double ?
10
Make a take-out double with:
(i) 10 or more High-Card Points outside your opponent's suit, and 4 or more
    cards in each unbid suit ; or
(ii) 12 or more High-Card Points outside your opponent's suit, and 4 or
     more cards in each unbid major ; or
(iii) 13 or more High-Card Points outside your opponent's suit, and no more
      than one unbid 3-card suit ; or
(iv) 16 or more High-Card Points
(You may count an Ace or a guarded King in your opponent's suit
as High-Card Points outside your opponent's suit)

2
Can you
double ?
2
Double with #3 or more High-Card Points and #4 or more likely tricks
(but you cannot double to show strength when playing D.O.N.T.)

2
Playing
Cappelletti ?
1
Are you playing Cappelletti ?

2
Playing
D.O.N.T. ?
2
Are you playing D.O.N.T. (Disturbing Opponents' No Trump, sometimes called
Bergen over No Trump)?

3
Bid,
double,
or pass
12
With less than 6 High-Card Points, pass.
With any 6-card suit, bid 3 of that suit with 6-14 High-Card Points and
5+ Playing Tricks (6+ if vulnerable vs. not) in that suit, or double with 
4+ Playing Tricks (5+ if vulnerable vs. not) overall.
With 5-5 in any two suits and 3+ Playing Tricks (4+ if vulnerable
vs. not), bid 2$C with clubs and another suit, bid 2$D with diamonds
and a major, or bid 2$H with both majors.
With 5-4 in any two suits and 4+ Playing Tricks (5+ if vulnerable 
vs. not), bid 2$C with clubs and another suit, bid 2$D with diamonds 
and a major, or bid 2$H with both majors.
With 5+ spades and 4+ Playing Tricks (5+ if vulnerable vs. not), bid 2$S.
Otherwise, pass.

1
Playing Multi-Landy ?
1
Are you playing Multi-Landy?

3
Bid,
double,
or pass
6
2$C shows both majors.
2$D shows a single-suited major.
2$H is hearts and a minor.
2$S is spades and a minor.
2NT is both minors.
Dbl is penalty.

2
Playing
Astro ?
1
Are you playing Astro?

2
Bid or
pass
12
With less than 6 High-Card Points, pass.
With a 6-card suit and 5+ Playing Tricks (6+ if vulnerable vs. not) in that
suit, bid 3 of that suit.
With 5-5 in any two suits and 3+ Playing Tricks (4+ if vulnerable
vs. not), bid 2$C with hearts and a minor, or bid 2$D with spades and
another suit.
With 5-4 in any two suits and 4+ Playing Tricks (5+ if vulnerable 
vs. not), bid 2$C with hearts and a minor, or bid 2$D with spades and
another suit.
With 5+ hearts and 4+ Playing Tricks (5+ if vulnerable vs. not), bid 2$H.
With 5+ spades and 4+ Playing Tricks (5+ if vulnerable vs. not), bid 2$S.
Otherwise, pass.

2
Playing
Brozel ?
1
Are you playing Brozel?

3
Brozel
two-
suiter ?
2
Do you have 6 or more High-Card Points, two five-card (or longer) suits, and
3+ Playing Tricks (4+ if vulnerable vs. not)?

2
Show
suits
3
Bid 2$C to show hearts and clubs, 2$D to show hearts and diamonds,
2$H to show hearts and spades, 2$S to show spades and a minor, or 2NT
to show both minors.

2
Long
suit ?
2
Do you have 13 or more Total Points and a six-card suit?  If so, double ;
you will show your suit on the next round.

2
Three
suits ?
2
Do you have three four-card (or longer) suits and 16 or more Total
Points ?

3
Jump
in short
suit
1
Jump to three of your void or singleton.

1
Cappelletti ?
5
Can you make a Cappelletti overcall ?
(If playing Cappelletti, with 13 or more total points:
--- bid 2 of a major with 5 cards in that major and a 4-card minor ;
--- bid 2$D with 5 cards in each major ;
--- bid 2$C with any 6-card suit.)

1
Bid Cappelletti
0

1
Jump to 3?
3
Do you have a jump to the 3 level?
To jump to the level you need a suit with at least 5 playing tricks (6
if vulnerable) and at least 7 cards in the suit.

2
Landy
2$C ?
2
If you are playing Landy, can you make a Landy 2$C bid, showing 4-4 or better
in the majors and 13 or more Total Points?

1
Playing Hello ?
1
Are you playing the Hello convention?

2
Bid or 
pass ?
8
If you are strong enough for an overcall, make one of the following bids:
2$C shows either a single suited diamond hand or a major/minor two suited hand.
2$D shows a single suited heart hand.
2$H shows both majors.
2$S shows spades.
2NT shows a single suited club hand.
3$C shows both minors.
Otherwise, you should pass.

1
Playing Robinson ?
1
Are you playing the Robinson defense to 1NT?

2
Make Robinson
overcall
9
Playing Robinson:
Double shows a five-card or longer minor and a four-card major.
2C shows both majors at least 5-4.
2D shows a single-suited major.
2H shows five or more hearts and a four-card or longer minor.
2S shows five or more spades and a four-card or longer minor.
2NT shows at least 5-5 in the minors.
All of these bids generally require at least 8 HCP nad 10 total points.
More distribution is needed if your side is vulnerable.

1
Playing Meckwell ?
1
Are you playing the Meckwell convention?

2
Make Meckwell
overcall
9
Playing Meckwell:
Double shows a single-suited minor or both majors
2C shows 5+ clubs and a 4+ card major.
2D shows 5+ diamonds and a 4+ card major.
2H is natural and shows a single-suited heart hand.
2S is natural and shows a single-suited spade hand.
2NT shows at least 5-5 in the minors.
All of these bids generally require at least 8 HCP nad 11 total points.
More distribution is needed if your side is vulnerable.

2
Good
suit ?
2
You need a 6-card suit or a very good 5-card suit (KQJ10x or better)
to overcall 1NT

2
Bid if
you can
1
Bid to within one trick if vulnerable, two tricks if non-vulnerable

2
Can you
bid 2NT ?
3
Overcall 2NT with (i) 16-19 High-Card Points ; (ii) Kx, Qxx, Jxxx, or
better in your opponent's suit ; (iii) no singletons or 6-card suits ;
and (iv) no 5-card major that can be bid at the two-level.

2
Can you
bid 3NT ?
3
Overcall 3NT with (i) 20-22 High-Card Points ; (ii) AK, KJx, QJxx, or
better in your opponent's suit ; (iii) no singletons or 6-card suits ;
and (iv) no 5-card major that can be bid at the two-level.

1
Leaping Michaels ?
4
Do you have a Leaping Michaels hand and are you playing the Leaping Micahels convention?
If RHO has opened 2$H or 2$S and you have a strong hand with a five-card minor and
five-cards in the other major, you can make a jump to four of your minor to show this
hand type.

2
Make Leaping
Michaels Bid
2
Your hand has been classified as one well suited for a Leaping Michaels bid
so make the corresponding conventional call.

2
4-4 majors,
20+ TP ?
1
Are you at least 4-4 in the majors with at least 20 total points ?

2
3-suited
hand ?
1
Do you have 3 or more cards in each unbid suit, and no 6-card suit ?

2
5-card
suit ?
1
Do you have an unbid 5-card suit ?

2
Strong
enough ?
5
You can overcall if you are within 2 Playing Tricks of your contract if
vulnerable, or 3 Playing Tricks if non-vulnerable. You can also overcall at
the 2-level if you have 13 High-Card Points, or 12 High-Card Points and a
6-card suit ; or at the 3-level with 16 High-Card Points and 5 cards to the
Ace and Queen, or 15 High-Card Points and a 6-card suit.

2
Less than 7
Playing Tricks ?
1
With less than seven Playing Tricks, overcall at the lowest level.

2
6-card
suit ?
1
With no 6-card suit, double

2
9+ Playing
Tricks ?
2
With nine or more Playing Tricks, cue-bid your opponent's suit,
to force to game

2
Take-out
double ?
8
Make a take-out double with:
(i) 12 or more High-Card Points outside your opponent's suit, and 4 or more
    cards in each unbid suit ; or
(ii) 14 or more High-Card Points outside your opponent's suit, and 4 or
     more cards in each unbid major ; or
(iii) 15 or more High-Card Points outside your opponent's suit, and no more
      than one unbid 3-card suit ; or
(iv) 18 or more High-Card Points

1
13+ points ?
3
To overcall at the 3 level you need a minimum of 13 points if partner
is an unpassed hand.
If partner is a passed hand you need a minimum of 14 points.

1
NT overcall ?
2
Can you overcall 3NT?  A 3NT bid shows a stopper, a balanced hand with
no biddable 5 card major, and a minimum of 20 HCP.

1
Simple overcall ?
2
Do you have a 5 card suit you can bid at the 3 level or a 6+ card suit
you can bid at the 4 level?

1
which suit ?
1
Bid your longest suit as cheaply as possible.

1
Take-out Double ?
5
Do you have a take-out double ?
To make a take-out double you need at least 3 cards in each of the unbid suits.
If you are doubling 3H or 3S you need at least 15 points and 4 cards in the
other major. If you have 2 or more cards in the opening suit you need extra
strength to compensate.

1
Michaels ?
2
Are you playing Michaels?  If yes, do you have 5-5 in the majors if RHO
opened a minor, or 5-5 in a major/minor if RHO opened a major?

1
Make cue bid.
1
Cue bid the opponents suit.

1
Strong double ?
1
With 18+ HCP you should make a double to show your strength.

2
Take-Out
Double ?
2
A Take-Out Double shows at least 4 cards in each unbid suit, and 15 or more
High-Card Points

2
Very good
suit ?
2
To bid a suit, you need seven cards in the suit, or a very good 6-card
suit (KQJ9xx or better)

2
Bid it if
you can
1
Bid to within two tricks if vulnerable, three tricks if non-vulnerable

3
Can you make
a contract
by yourself ?
3
Do you have enough Playing Tricks to make a contract in your own hand, and
a trump suit that is good for 5 Playing Tricks by itself ? If so, bid your
suit rather than doubling the opponents.

2
Bid what you
can make
0

2
Can you
double ?
3
Double of 4$C, 4$D or 4$H shows 17 or more High-Card Points, and Kxx or better
in each unbid major. Double of a higher bid is for penalties, and shows
enough Quick Tricks to set the contract.

2
Bid a good suit
if you can
4
Now that you have decided you are unable to double, you can bid a very
strong suit (good for 5 Playing Tricks by itself) if you are within 2
Playing Tricks of your contract vulnerable, or 3 Playing Tricks non-
vulnerable

1
Find bid
8
Your bid choices are:
(1) Double to show a strong diamond hand.
(2) Bid 2H to show a 3 suited take-out.
(3) Bid 2S to show a good hand with both minors.
(4) Bid 2NT with a normal 2NT overcall.
(5) Bid 3C to show a club suit.
(6) Bid 3D to show a weak diamond hand.
(7) Bid 3NT with a balanced hand, stoppers, and 20+.

1
2NT
0

1
1NT
0

1
2$C
0

1
Pass
0

1
Double
0

1
Double
0

1
3NT
0

123
0 0 0 1 37 1 3
7 1 0 2 3 1 2
10 2 0 -1 -1 -1 -1
8 1 -1 4 5 1 2
9 2 -1 -1 -1 -1 -1
11 1 -2 6 7 1 2
30 2 -2 -1 -1 -1 -1
12 1 -3 8 9 1 2
87 2 -3 -1 -1 -1 -1
13 1 -4 10 11 1 2
30 2 -4 -1 -1 -1 -1
14 1 -5 12 13 1 2
88 2 -5 -1 -1 -1 -1
15 1 -6 14 16 1 2
32 2 -6 15 16 1 2
92 3 -6 -1 -1 -1 -1
16 2 -7 17 34 1 2
19 3 -7 18 29 1 2
20 4 -7 19 20 1 0
21 5 -7 -1 -1 -1 -1
22 4 -6 21 22 1 0
23 5 -6 -1 -1 -1 -1
24 4 -5 23 24 1 0
30 5 -5 -1 -1 -1 -1
25 4 -4 25 26 1 0
87 5 -4 -1 -1 -1 -1
26 4 -3 27 28 1 0
27 5 -3 -1 -1 -1 -1
90 4 -2 -1 -1 -1 -1
28 3 -8 30 33 1 2
29 4 -8 31 32 1 2
30 5 -8 -1 -1 -1 -1
31 4 -9 -1 -1 -1 -1
91 3 -9 -1 -1 -1 -1
17 2 -8 35 36 3 2
89 1 -8 -1 -1 -1 -1
18 2 -9 -1 -1 -1 -1
1 -1 0 38 67 3 0
33 -2 0 39 40 3 2
91 -3 0 -1 -1 -1 -1
34 -2 -1 41 44 3 2
47 -3 -1 42 43 3 2
48 -4 -1 -1 -1 -1 -1
49 -3 -2 -1 -1 -1 -1
35 -2 -2 45 121 1 2
36 -1 -2 -1 -1 -1 -1
39 -2 -4 47 48 1 2
40 -1 -4 -1 -1 -1 -1
41 -2 -5 49 56 1 2
42 -1 -5 50 51 1 2
43 0 -5 -1 -1 -1 -1
44 -1 -6 52 53 1 2
92 0 -6 -1 -1 -1 -1
45 -1 -7 54 55 1 2
46 0 -7 -1 -1 -1 -1
90 -1 -8 -1 -1 -1 -1
50 -2 -6 57 58 3 2
89 -3 -6 -1 -1 -1 -1
51 -2 -7 59 60 3 2
52 -3 -7 -1 -1 -1 -1
53 -2 -8 61 62 3 2
54 -3 -8 -1 -1 -1 -1
55 -2 -9 63 64 3 2
56 -3 -9 -1 -1 -1 -1
57 -2 -10 65 66 3 2
58 -3 -10 -1 -1 -1 -1
90 -2 -11 -1 -1 -1 -1
2 -1 1 68 69 1 0
86 0 1 -1 -1 -1 -1
3 -1 2 70 92 3 1
59 -2 2 71 72 2 3
87 -2 1 -1 -1 -1 -1
60 -3 2 73 74 3 0
93 -4 2 -1 -1 -1 -1
61 -3 3 75 76 3 0
62 -4 3 -1 -1 -1 -1
63 -3 4 77 78 3 0
30 -4 4 -1 -1 -1 -1
64 -3 5 79 81 3 0
70 -4 5 80 81 3 0
92 -5 5 -1 -1 -1 -1
65 -4 6 82 91 3 0
66 -5 6 83 90 3 0
67 -6 6 84 85 3 0
21 -7 6 -1 -1 -1 -1
68 -6 7 86 89 3 0
69 -7 7 87 88 3 0
30 -8 7 -1 -1 -1 -1
31 -7 8 -1 -1 -1 -1
91 -6 8 -1 -1 -1 -1
90 -5 7 -1 -1 -1 -1
18 -4 7 -1 -1 -1 -1
4 0 2 93 106 1 0
71 1 2 94 105 1 2
72 2 2 95 96 2 1
93 2 1 -1 -1 -1 -1
73 3 2 97 98 2 1
74 3 1 -1 -1 -1 -1
75 4 2 99 100 2 1
91 4 1 -1 -1 -1 -1
76 5 2 101 102 2 1
77 5 1 -1 -1 -1 -1
78 6 2 103 104 2 1
91 6 1 -1 -1 -1 -1
90 7 2 -1 -1 -1 -1
90 1 1 -1 -1 -1 -1
5 0 3 107 112 1 0
79 1 3 108 109 1 0
92 2 3 -1 -1 -1 -1
80 1 4 110 111 1 0
81 2 4 -1 -1 -1 -1
90 1 5 -1 -1 -1 -1
6 0 4 113 116 3 0
80 -1 4 114 115 2 3
81 -1 3 -1 -1 -1 -1
90 -2 4 -1 -1 -1 -1
82 0 5 117 118 3 0
83 -1 5 -1 -1 -1 -1
84 0 6 119 120 3 0
91 -1 6 -1 -1 -1 -1
85 0 7 -1 -1 -1 -1
37 -2 -3 122 46 1 2
38 -1 -3 -1 -1 -1 -1
2
0 13 16 2 1 1 -7
0 78 81 0 3 -3 6
