What to Overcall?

Playing matchpoints. You are vulnerable and the Opponents are vulnerable.

Here is your hand:
♠9
♥AT7
♦AKQJT862
♣4

Your RHO (Right Hand Opponent) opens the bidding 1♠. What is your call?

Show Answer

I'm good with a couple of bids.

2♦ shows an opening hand with a good five (probably six) card suit. This is an option.

I like 5♦ also. This puts MAXIMUM pressure on the Opponents and they have to decide whether or not to let you play (maybe Doubled?) or to bid further in ♠? With no room to explore, maybe they will guess wrong.

A bid I am NOT okay with is 3♦. This shows a WEAK hand with a seven (maybe even six on the auction!) card suit. Your hand is too strong.

If you bid 2♦ you might discover your seven-three ♥ fit. You can take 11 tricks in either red suit.

If you bid 5♦ you may or may not get Doubled (not many people were) but you can take 11 tricks so you will make your contract in any case.

If you bid 3♦ the Opponents have room to discover their ♣ fit and they can take 11 tricks in ♣. Ooops! Even if you bid 5♦ now they will just bid 6♣ and go happily down one.