What to bid Over a Weak 2?

Here is your hand:

♠KQ5
♥A742
♦A4
♣A763

You have 17 HCP with a balanced hand. You are about to open 1NT but Dealer is to your right. You have to wait your turn. Sadly your RHO opens the bidding 2♥. You ask your LHO what the bid means and the answer is "weak 2". This means that your RHO has six ♥ and a weak hand (about 6 to 10 HCP). Now it is your turn to bid. You can no longer open the bidding 1NT. What is your call?

Show Answer

Bid 2NT.

A 2NT bid opening bid means you have 20 or 21 HCP with a balanced hand. But over a weak 2 bid it is unlikely you will have this many points. A much more common hand to have is a 1NT opening bid. But since the weak 2 made it so you couldn't open 1NT you have to be content overcalling 2NT. This shows the exact same hand as a 1NT overcall. 15 to 18 HCP with a balanced hand and a stopper in the opponent's suit.

A good thing to discuss is whether or not you would play systems on over this overcall. Do you know? Discuss with Partner. Would 3♣ be Stayman? Would Jacoby transfers be on?