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Opponents opened at the three-level


First of all a reminder that any intervention over the enemy’s weak opening bid suggests a good hand - at least opening values.

With no more than a five-card suit it will be relatively rare that you make a suit overcall on less than fifteen points.


There is nothing original on this page:-


a new suit at the lowest level is natural and non-forcing (it might only be five-card);

a jump in a new suit is stronger and longer than a simple overcall;

3NT is to play promising 16 or so points, a stopper in the opponents’ suit, and ideally a potential source of tricks;

opponent’s suit is a game-forcing two-suiter (see below);

double is for take-out, and over three of a major it should in principle promise four cards in the other major (again, see below).

A 7 5 3

A T 4

K Q 2

A 8 7

RHO opened 3 (weak).

3NT is possible, although I can only see four tricks.

Alternatively, pass!

Partner must strive to make a take-out double in the fourth seat, which you will pass for penalties.

A K J 5 3

T 4

K J 2

A 8 7

RHO opened 3 (weak).

Bid 3.

Of course it’s not cast-iron, but if you don’t find a bid on this the preemptor will always get the better of you.

5

A K J 4

K Q J 2

A T 9 8

RHO opened 3 (weak).

Double, promising four hearts in a good hand, and prepared to stand a response in anything except spades.

J T 5

A K J 4

K Q 9 2

A 8

RHO opened 3 (weak).

Double, promising a good hand with no more than two clubs, and prepared to stand a response in any of the other suits.

5

A K J T 4

K Q J 9 2

A 8

RHO opened 3 (weak).

Bid 4 showing a game-forcing two-suiter (but see below).

In the simplest implementation partner will usually bid 5, after which 5 will put him fully in the picture.


3NT


As noted above a bid of 3NT is to play and represents a realistic shot at making a game.

Note that it is reasonable to hope for at least eight points in partner’s hand following the opponents’ limited opening bid.

As little as Ax represents a realistic stop in the preemptor’s suit.  Ducking once will be sufficient to stop the suit if LHO has no more than two cards in the suit - a fair bet.


Double


Double requires just a few more words.

It will be primarily for take-out in as much as it suggests a shortage in the opponents’ suit and a readiness to play in any of the other three.  However, it should normally contain some good defensive values as partner will not infrequently choose to convert it to penalties by passing.

A helpful rule of thumb is ‘double a three-opener if you would have doubled a one-opener’ - but note the requirement of four cards in the other major.


Optional double


A few partnerships like to define their double as ‘optional’ at this point in the auction.

An optional double is a variety of take-out double which promises sufficient defence to be able to stand a penalty pass from partner if that is his choice.


It is not a term I like.  To my mind all varieties of take-out double are optional.  You are inviting partner to bid in any of the other three suits, or in no trumps, but he can always pass for penalties if he sees that as the most lucrative option.


But if you choose as a partnership to think of your doubles at this point in the proceedings as ‘optional’ then the mind-set might change just a little.  Perhaps the penalty pass will becomes just a little more likely, and it becomes correspondingly more important that the doubler’s hand should contain sound defensive values.

5

A K T 4

K Q J 2

A J 9 8

RHO opened 3 (weak).

A clear double, whether you regard it as ‘take-out’ or ‘optional.

I would still make a take-out double on this ideal shape with four points less.

Intermediate and above

Two-suited holdings


The basic idea as given above (that a cue-bid of opener’s three-level opening bid is game-forcing with at least 5-5 shape) is more or less universal.


However, it does not take much imagination or additional memory work to add considerably greater precision to the concept.


Opponents opened three of a minor


The cue-bid should promise a major two-suiter.


If the opponents open three of a minor then four of their minor will promise both majors.

A K J 9 8

A K Q J 2

T 4

5

RHO opened 3 (weak).

Bid 4 promising both majors.

Beginner and above

Advancer’s next bid

This page last revised 17th Sep 2020


Opponents opened three of a major


Method 1


Simplest is for the cue-bid to promise 5-5 shape in any two suits.

A K J 9 8

T 4

A K Q J 2

5

RHO opened 3 (weak).

Either bid 4NT promising diamonds and a major,

or just bid 3.

My choice is 3.  (Anyone for 4?)


A possible extension of the idea is that a bid of 4NT will promise the other minor and one of the majors.


This is a good idea up to a point, but it inevitably takes a major suit contract to the five-level.  You may well prefer just to bid your five-card major and hide your second suit unless your hand is potentially of slam-going strength.

5

A K J T 4

K Q J 9 2

A 8

We met this example above.

RHO opened 3 (weak).

Bid 4 showing a game-forcing two-suiter.

Partner will usually bid 5, after which 5 will put him fully in the picture.


Better - but still not best - is for the cue-bid to promise 5-5 shape in the other major and an unspecified minor.

A K Q J 2

5

T 4

A K J 9 8

RHO opened 3 (weak).

Bid 4 promising spades and an unspecified minor (but see below).


Method 2


The method above is straightforward and effective as far as it goes, but the unspecified minor suit is a weakness, and over 3 a heart contract will be forced to the five-level.


Much better is to play 4 and 4 as ‘non-leaping Michael’s’.  (c.f. Leaping Michael’s.)

With this agreement the bid of the minor suit at the four-level will promise 5-5 shape in the bid minor and the other major.

Context - overcaller - opponents opened with a weak bid.

A K Q J 2

5

T 4

A K J 9 8

RHO opened 3 (weak).

Bid 4 (non-leaping Michael’s) promising spades and clubs.

Partner now has a clear picture of your hand, and you can reach a game contract in either suit at the lowest level.


4NT


A bid of 4NT over three of a major can be used to show 5-5 in the minors - like an unusual no trump only strong.

If you have adopted non-leaping Michaels then you might prefer to use the immediate cue-bid to give the same message slightly more cheaply.

5

T 4

A K Q J 2

A K J 9 8

RHO opened 3 (weak).

Bid 4NT or 4 (whichever you have agreed) to give partner a choice between the minor suits.