It has become popular in the bridge community that partnerships employ strong, artificial opening bids, generally a 1 Club opening. The opponents or defenders require a means of entering the auction, either as bidders for the final contract or to prepare for a sacrifice, and/or to obstruct the auction of the opening partnership.

Purpose of Inclusion

Within the bridge community there are several methods of defending against a strong, artificial opening bid, which are based on the concept that the defending side can justifiably enter the auction to its benefit when holding either a one-suited or two-suited holding.

One method, devised by Mr. Alan Fraser Truscott, by which the defending side is able to show a one-suited or two-suited hand, is that 1) a jump overcall is natural and 2) a simple overcall shows length in the bid suit and the suit that ranks just above it.

When the overcall is an immediate overcall, then the following method is recommended by Mr. Alan Fraser Truscott.

Opponent		Defender	Meaning
1			A strong, artificial 1 Club opening bid.
		Double	A double promises both rounded suits - Clubs and Hearts.
		1	Promises both red suits - Diamonds and Hearts.
		1	Promises both Major suits - Hearts and Spades.
		1	Promises both black suits - Clubs and Spades.
		1 NT	Promises both pointed suits - Diamonds and Spades.
		Cuebid	Per partnership agreement.
		2	A jump overcall, which is always considered natural. Promises a minimum of a 6-card suit with working values in the bid suit.
		2	A jump overcall, which is always considered natural. Promises a minimum of a 6-card suit with working values in the bid suit. Etc.

Extension

When the overcall is not an immediate overcall, then the following method is recommended by Mr. Alan Fraser Truscott.

Opponent		Overcaller		Opponent		Advancer		Meaning
1								A strong, artificial 1 Club opening bid.
		Pass		1				A response per conventional approach.
						Double		Promises a two-suiter with Diamonds and Spades.
						1 NT		Promises a two-suiter with Clubs and Hearts.

 

 

If you wish to include this feature, or any other feature, of the game of bridge in your partnership agreement, then please make certain that the concept is understood by both partners. Be aware whether or not the feature is alertable or not and whether an announcement should or must be made. Check with the governing body and/or the bridge district and/or the bridge unit prior to the game to establish the guidelines applied. Please include the particular feature on your convention card in order that your opponents are also aware of this feature during the bidding process, since this information must be made known to them according to the Laws of Duplicate Contract Bridge. We do not always include the procedure regarding Alerts and/or Announcements, since these regulations are changed and revised during time by the governing body. It is our intention only to present the information as concisely and as accurately as possible.