PDF File - Better Bridge

Q. West opens 1♦, North overcalls 1♠, and East passes. What call does South start with?A. 2♦.• The cuebid shows at least interest in game.Q. West passes, North rebids 2♠, and East passes. What call does South make?A. 4♠.• Even if North has a minimum overcall with about 7 or 8 points, there should be enoughcombined strength for game.Q. Why didn’t South simply jump to 4♠ right away?A. Too strong.• An immediate jump to 4♠ would be preemptive, showing a weak hand.• South wants to show a strong hand in case North has enough to consider a slam contractor to bid again if East-West compete to 5♦, for example.Observations• With support for partner’s suit and about 10 or more points, advancer cuebids theopponents’ suit to show interest in reaching game.• The cuebid allows the partnership to stop at a safe level when the overcaller has less thanthe values for an opening bid but to reach game if the overcaller or advancer has someextra strength.Closing InstructionsPick up all the bids and put them back in the Bidding Boxes. Pick upyour suit from the South hand. Each player has one suit.97