When the opponents open the bidding, any bid you make afterward is considered an overcall.
To determine whether your hand is suitable for an overcall, evaluate it the same way you would for an opening bid—by counting your points.
The number of points required for an overcall varies depending on individual preferences. What’s most important is that you and your partner share a clear and consistent understanding of your overcall style. By following these guidelines, you will align with the approach used by most partners. If asked, you can describe your overcall style as “standard.”
Overcalling with 12 or more points
How many points do you need for an overcall? Here are some key guidelines to help you determine whether your hand qualifies.
The first guideline is: 12 points and a five-card suit are sufficient for a one-level overcall, such as 1♦, 1♥, or 1♠.
Here are two 12 point hands worth a 1♠ overcall.
| ♠ T 8 7 4 2 ♥ K Q 2 ♦ Q 6 ♣ A J 3 |
| ♠ J 6 5 4 3 ♥ A 2 ♦ A Q 6 ♣ J 8 7 |
Pretty poor spade suits, aren’t they?
But 12 points is enough.
Overcalling with 10-11 points
You can overcall on hands with 12+ points and a five card suit.
A one-level overcall is also possible with 10-11 points, provided the hand has additional value, such as a strong five-card suit, favorable distribution, or well-placed honors that enhance its potential.
Let’s take a look at the different kinds of plus values:
GOOD SUIT
1) The first plus value is a good suit. “Good” means at least 2 of the top 3 honors (or 3 of the top 5 honors) in a suit that has 5 or more cards. These are good suits:
♠ A K x x x (2 of the top 3 honors)
♥ A Q x x x (2 of the top 3 honors)
♦ K Q x x x (2 of the top 3 honors)
♣ A J T x x (3 of the top 5 honors) Yes, the T is considered an honor.
♠ K J T x x (3 of the top 5 honors)
♥ Q J T x x (3 of the top 5 honors)
Here are two examples of 10-11 point hands that qualify for a 1♠ overcall, based on the strength of the spade suit you are overcalling.
| ♠ K Q 9 8 4 ♥ K 3 2 ♦ 3 2 ♣ Q 3 2 |
| ♠ A 9 8 7 4 ♥ Q 7 2 ♦ 9 ♣ K J T 3 |
These 10-11 point hands qualify for 1♠ overcalls because the first hand gains additional value from a strong diamond side suit, while the second hand gains additional value from a strong club side suit.
EXTRA LENGTH
3) Another type of extra value comes from additional length. This could be a sixth card in the suit you are overcalling or a fifth card in a side suit, both of which enhance the potential strength of your hand.
| ♠ K 9 8 7 6 4 ♥ K 2 ♦ 9 8 7 ♣ A 6 |
| ♠ Q J 8 7 4 ♥ 9 ♦ A Q 5 4 2 ♣ J 3 |
These 10-11 point hands qualify as 1♠ overcalls because the first hand benefits from extra length in spades, while the second hand gains value from additional length in the diamond side suit. The diamonds in the second hand also feature strong honors, providing two added values for the diamonds.
SINGLETON OR VOID
4) The fourth type of extra value is a singleton or void. If you have a five-card suit with 10-11 points, the presence of a singleton or void adds value to the hand, making it strong enough for an overcall.
| ♠ K T 8 7 4 ♥ A 6 5 4 ♦ T ♣ K J 3 |
| ♠ 9 8 7 4 2 ♥ – ♦ A J 5 4 ♣ A J 9 6 |
Each of these 10-11 point hands qualifies for a 1♠ overcall.
The first hand gains additional value from a singleton diamond, while the second hand benefits from a void in hearts.
Summary
If you have 10-11 points and a five card suit, one plus value is enough to qualify the hand for a one level overcall.
Let’s practice counting points and plus values:
| ♠ K Q 8 6 4 ♥ Q 8 2 ♦ 5 ♣ A 9 3 2 |
This hand has 11 points and two added values: strong honors in the spade suit and a singleton diamond.
I will denote this as 11++.
| ♠ 4 ♥ Q T 9 ♦ A K T ♣ J 7 6 4 3 2 |
This hand also has two additional values: a singleton spade and extra length in clubs. Diamonds do not count as a plus since the suit does not contain at least four cards.
10++
| ♠ 4 3 2 ♥ A K 9 7 ♦ K J T 8 5 4 ♣ – |
This hand has four additional values: strong honors in diamonds, extra length in diamonds, strong honors in the heart side suit, and a void in clubs.
11++++
Overcalling with 8-9 points
Sometimes you may have fewer points but still consider making an overcall. With 8-9 points, an overcall is still possible if you have either a strong five-card suit or at least two additional values that enhance your hand’s potential.
These two 8-9 point hands qualify as 1♠ overcalls because…
| ♠ A K 8 7 3 ♥ J 8 2 ♦ T 9 3 ♣ 6 2 |
| ♠ Q 9 8 7 3 ♥ K Q 6 5 ♦ Q 7 3 ♣ 5 |
The first hand has a good suit.
And the second hand has two positive features (strong side suit, singleton).
Review: Overcalling at the one level
You can make a one-level overcall (1♦, 1♥, or 1♠) with a five-card or longer suit if you have…
- 12 or more points, or…
- 10-11 points, with one plus value, or…
- 8-9 points with a good five card suit, or TWO plus values.
| ♠ A Q 8 5 4 ♥ Q 8 2 ♦ 5 3 ♣ 6 4 2 |
8+ (good spade honors)
With a good suit to overcall, you don’t need more pluses.
Overcall 1♠
| ♠ K 9 8 5 4 ♥ A Q 8 2 ♦ 5 ♣ 6 4 3 |
9++ (good heart honors, singleton)
8-9 points with two pluses is enough to overcall.
Overcall 1♠
| ♠ A 8 5 4 3 ♥ K 8 2 ♦ 7 ♣ Q J 3 |
10+ (singleton)
With 10-11 points, one plus is enough.
Overcall 1♠
Why is it OK to overcall on less strength than we require for an opening bid?
- Your overcall may help partner defend better. For example, partner might lead the suit you overcall, resulting in the defeat of their contract. Without your overcall, partner wouldn’t have known which suit to lead. Your overcall was a good “lead director,” guiding partner to the best defense.
- Your overcall makes it more difficult for the opponents to bid to their best contract. For example, if they open 1♦ and you overcall 2♣, responder can no longer bid 1♥ or 1♠ to explore for a major suit fit.
- You might find a fit and actually buy the contract.
Practice hands for one level overcalls
Example 1
| ♠ Q 8 7 4 3 ♥ A K 2 ♦ 5 2 ♣ J T 3 |
Count the hand. Do you overcall 1♠?
Example 2
| ♠ 9 8 7 4 3 2 ♥ A K 2 ♦ Q 2 ♣ J 3 |
Do you overcall 1♠?
Example 3
| ♠ K J T 4 3 ♥ 2 ♦ A 2 ♣ T 9 7 5 3 |
Do you overcall 1♠?
Example 4
| ♠ A J 9 8 7 6 ♥ 4 ♦ Q T 9 8 7 ♣ 8 |
Do you overcall 1♠?
Example 5
| ♠ A K T 9 3 ♥ 7 ♦ A Q T 2 ♣ Q 8 6 |
The opponents open 1♥ . Do you overcall 1♠?
Example 6
| ♠ T 9 8 7 6 ♥ A 9 ♦ Q J 2 ♣ K Q 3 |
Do you overcall 1♠?
Two level overcalls (2/1)
When your suit ranks lower than your opponents’ one-level opening, your overcall will need to be made at the two level. This is referred to as a “two over one” (2/1) overcall. For a 2/1 overcall, add two points to the evaluation formula.
Overcall with:
- 14 (or more) points, and any 5 card suit, or…
- 12 (or more) points, any 5 card suit, and one plus value, or…
- 10 (or more) points and a good 5 card suit, or…
- 10 (or more) points, any 5 card suit, and two plus values.
Example 7
| ♠ K 8 ♥ 9 5 ♦ K Q T 9 2 ♣ Q T 8 6 |
The opponents open 1♥ . Do you overcall 2♦?
Example 8
| ♠ K 8 ♥ 9 5 ♦ Q T 9 8 2 ♣ K Q T 6 |
This hand is almost the same as example 7. Do you have enough to overcall 2♦?
Example 9
| ♠ K 8 ♥ 9 5 ♦ Q T 9 8 2 ♣ K Q T 6 |
The opponents open 1♥ . Do you overcall 2♦?
Example 10
| ♠ K 8 ♥ J T 3 ♦ K Q J 9 7 3 2 ♣ 6 |
| West | North | East | You |
| – | P | 1♥ | ? |
What’s your call?
Two level jump overcall
A two-level jump overcall is similar to a weak two opening bid. It indicates a strong six- or seven-card suit and 5-9 points.
| ♠ K Q 5 4 3 2 ♥ 3 2 ♦ 3 2 ♣ 4 3 2 |
Having two of the top three honors in a six-card suit is sufficient for a two-level jump overcall.
This hand has only 5 points, but it meets the requirements for a 2♠ jump overcall.
| ♠ K J T 8 4 2 ♥ T 7 5 ♦ 3 ♣ K 8 6 |
7+++
This hand is not strong enough for a 1♠ overcall, but it clearly qualifies for a 2♠ jump overcall.
Example 11
| ♠ J T 8 6 4 2 ♥ Q 9 5 ♦ K 3 ♣ K 6 |
| West | North | East | You |
| – | P | 1♥ | ? |
What’s your call?
Example 12
| ♠ Q J T 8 6 4 ♥ 9 ♦ K T 3 ♣ K 8 7 |
| West | North | East | You |
| – | – | 1♥ | ? |
What’s your call?
Example 13
| ♠ Q J T 8 6 4 ♥ 9 ♦ K T 3 ♣ K 8 7 |
| West | North | East | You |
| – | P | 1♥ | ? |
What’s your call?
The 1NT overcall
The 1 no trump overcall is one of the simplest to learn. It follows the same principles as the 1NT opening bid, but you also need a stopper (a high card capable of winning a trick) in the opponents’ opening suit.
Make a 1NT overcall with a balanced hand of 15-17 points and a stopper in the opponents’ suit.
- Aces are obvious stoppers.
- We also count kings as stoppers because of the advantage of playing last when they lead the suit they have bid.
- Qxx and Jxxx are not certain stoppers, but add just one more honor – QJx and JTxx are good enough.
| ♠ A Q 7 ♥ A T 9 ♦ K J 8 ♣ Q J 6 5 |
This hand is ideal for a 1NT overcall. You have a balanced hand with 15-17 points and a stopper in the opponent’s opening suit.
| ♠ A K ♥ K 9 3 ♦ T 6 2 ♣ A Q 8 7 6 |
This balanced hand with 15-17 points can only overcall 1NT if the opponents don’t open in diamonds. After a 1♦ opening, you should overcall 2♣ because you lack a diamond stopper for the 1NT overcall.
| ♠ A K ♥ K 9 6 3 ♦ T 6 2 ♣ A Q 8 7 |
Now let’s examine a hand very similar to the previous one. What would you do if the opponents open 1♦? Without a diamond stopper for a 1NT overcall and lacking a five-card suit to bid, your options are limited.
If your hand doesn’t meet the requirements for an overcall, you can always choose to PASS—yes, even with a strong point count.
What might happen after you pass? The bidding isn’t over yet. Your partner might find a bid, giving you an opportunity to make a strong response. And if not, the opponents might overbid. Sometimes your best outcome comes from playing defense (even though some may find defense less exciting).
More practice
Example 14
| ♠ K 8 ♥ K T 9 6 3 ♦ K 2 ♣ Q 8 7 6 |
| West | North | East | You |
| – | P | 1♥ | ? |
What’s your call?
Example 15
| ♠ Q 9 8 ♥ 7 3 ♦ A 6 ♣ K Q T 8 7 4 |
| West | North | East | You |
| P | P | 1♠ | ? |
What’s your call?
Example 16
| ♠ Q 9 8 ♥ 7 3 ♦ A 6 ♣ K Q T 8 7 4 |
| West | North | East | You |
| – | P | 1♦ | ? |
What’s your call?
Example 17
| ♠ Q T 8 7 3 ♥ T ♦ A K T 9 5 ♣ 5 2 |
| West | North | East | You |
| – | – | 1♣ | ? |
What’s your call?
Example 18
| ♠ T 3 ♥ A T 9 5 4 ♦ A J T 9 ♣ T 8 |
| West | North | East | You |
| – | – | 1♣ | ? |
What’s your call?
Example 19
| ♠ 5 ♥ A J T 9 5 4 ♦ 9 7 6 2 ♣ T 8 |
| West | North | East | You |
| – | P | 1♣ | ? |
What’s your call?
Using Judgment
Experienced players often use their judgment to decide whether to pass even when their hands meet the bidding requirements or to bid when their hands fall short.
For example, let’s revisit hand #4 that was discussed earlier on this page.
| ♠ A J 9 8 7 6 ♥ 4 ♦ Q T 9 8 7 ♣ 8 |
Some might choose to overcall 1♠ with this hand (7+ points), while others might opt for a jump to 2♠.
It does not satisfy the requirements for either bid.
I recommend simply following the guidelines and passing in this situation. By consistently adhering to the guidelines and analyzing the outcomes, you can gradually develop strong judgment.
Making bids that don’t align with your partnership’s agreed standards can undermine your partner’s trust in your bidding. While you might avoid a bad score on this particular hand, it could lead to a lack of trust in future hands when you genuinely hold the values you’ve “promised.”