overcalls

[mike777]

With basically any 5 card major do you try and overcall at the one level?

 

 

This means any vul, any game, direct or 4th seat.

 

Vandy......unfav vul......(1d)=p=(1h)=?

[straube]

No. Can I play against you?

[655321]

No, but it sounds like you have a particular hand in mind. Why don't you post that hand instead?

[jjbrr]

I feel like I'm in the minority, but I try to overcall aggressively at the 1 level and tend to be sound for my jump overcalls. in fact, i prefer intermediate jumps unfavorable.

 

So a hand like KQxxxx xx xxx xx I feel more comfortable overcalling 1♠ than I am overcalling a weak 2♠. even a 6331 hand with similar honor structure, to me, looks more like a 1♠ overcall.

 

I guess this means I try to overcall a major liberally, considering I can have very few HCP to overcall at the one level, but I certainly don't consider myself a crazy overcaller.

[the hog]

Mike if you look at hand records of World Champs etc, you will see that very strong players overcall pretty light. I think we have had this discussion before. That doesn't mean any 5 card suit, but its relatvely close to that.

[mike777]

this post is from an offhand comment by PeterGill....granted offhand.... during vugragh

 

that Italy overcalls with any 5 card major...

 

 

I forget the exact hand but roughly:

 

 

unfav vandy:

 

 

1d=p=1h=?

 

 

 

 

south has around:

 

 

76542

void.

KJx

Axxxx

 

again roughly.....

[jjbrr]

this post is from an offhand comment by PeterGill....granted offhand.... during vugragh

 

that Italy overcalls with any 5 card major...

 

 

I forget the exact hand but roughly:

 

 

unfav vandy:

 

 

1d=p=1h=?

 

 

 

 

south has around:

 

 

76542

void.

KJx

Axxxx

 

again roughly.....

I would not overcall that hand in that position. I would expect partner to have a pretty decent hand to bid there.

[the hog]

this post is from an offhand comment by PeterGill....granted offhand.... during vugragh

 

that Italy overcalls with any 5 card major...

 

 

I forget the exact hand but roughly:

 

 

unfav vandy:

 

 

1d=p=1h=?

 

 

 

 

south has around:

 

 

76542

void.

KJx

Axxxx

 

again roughly.....

Well yes, that hand is a clear overcall. However from your op I assumed you meant that you overcall anytime you have a 5 card suit, regardless of the rest of your hand.

[mich-b]

When considering an overcall , there are several things to look at. Some of them are (not necessarily in this order):

1. Your strength (hcp).

2. Your shape (5332 not so good , 5530 much better).

3. The vulnerability.

4. Suit quality (of the suit you are going to overcall in).

5. Suit rank (a spade overcall is more attractive than a diamond overcall).

 

So , yes, Suit quality is an issue , and having a weak suit is a negative factor, but if there are other considerations that make the overcall attractive, go ahead and overcall.