Question for Heidi

Hi Heidi,

North has one of your favourite hands, 16 HCP balanced hand with 5-card Spades. There is a twist. The RHO (West) has opened 1♥.

a. Should North overcall with a bid of 1♠ or 1NT?

b. North bid 1♠ in our case, how should South respond in this case with balanced hand and three ♠?

c. Would a bid of 1NT by East change South's bid?

NS vulnerable, E is dealer:

	North ♠AK762 ♥AT7 ♦J8 ♣A54
West ♠JT ♥QJ862 ♦K975 ♣KQ		East ♠954 ♥K5 ♦A632 ♣9862
	South ♠Q83 ♥943 ♦QT4 ♣JT73

N	E	S	W
	Pass	Pass	1♥
???

Heidi's Answer 1a

I think overcalling 1♠ or 1NT depends entirely on your style.

I have Aces rather than slow values (Queen's and Jack's) and I like Aces in suit contracts better. So I would probably overcall 1♠.

Both are correct.

Heidi's Answer 1b

I don't like South's hand at all. They are too balanced and have Queen's and Jack's and not very many points at all.

If I had the South hand I would "Pass" my Partner's 1♠ overcall. If Partner was VERY STRONG they would have started with a "Double" to show a hand too good to overcall. So there is NO WAY we have a game with this hand.

I will support Partner later on if the Opponents bid. But I don't need to right now.

Heidi's Answer 1c

Over the 1♠ overcall a bid of 1NT by East would show 6 to 10 HCP PLUS a stopper in the suit the Opponents overcalled. So a guaranteed winner in the ♠ suit. East has the values but no stopper in the ♠ suit so they would have to "Pass" 1♠.

Suggested Auction

	North ♠AK762 ♥AT7 ♦J8 ♣A54
West ♠JT ♥QJ862 ♦K975 ♣KQ		East ♠954 ♥K5 ♦A632 ♣9862
	South ♠Q83 ♥943 ♦QT4 ♣JT73

N	E	S	W
	Pass	Pass	1♥
1♠	Pass	Pass	Pass

Here N/S can make 1NT but they also make 2♠. 2♠ will score better than 1NT.