[pclayton]

Here’s a few ideas I’ve come up with recently to possibly improve OS. I've been in contact with a few of the players that use Overcall Structure for their views as well. Let me know what you think:

1. Instead of a 1N overcall to be a lite, shapely takeout, use the next immediate suit ((1♦) - 1♥), sort of like a Fishbein takeout. I can see several advantages:

----->It allows you to play at the one level. Sometimes playing OS you wander into a misfit auction with a non-descript 4-4-3-2 and get handed your head at the 2 level.

----->It allows responder to play in the overcalled suit if necessary.

----->It right-sides the NT. On the rare occasions where responder wants to pass 1N, the stopper is on the table, ready to be led through.


2. The 1N overcall takes the place of the direct cue-bid. So, (1♦) - 1N now shows ♣’s and ♥’s (longer / better ♣’s). This has one primary advantage; you can play the long suit at the 2 level. This isn't substantially different from Raptor, and I think it could also be played identically as Raptor, so that 1N shows clubs + a major. This would free up (1♦) - 2♠ as well, but I like the idea of having the direct call show specific suits, although in OS, the 2N overcall shows a hidden suit.

3. A direct cue-bid is now freed up and becomes a “multi” preempt in the next two possible other suits. (1♦) - 2♦ shows either a jump overcall in ♥’s or ♠’s. This allows OS users to bring jump overcalls back into play. I’ve kibbed Garozzo and he uses a direct Q the same way. Alternately, this could be used to fill in the gap left by not playing IJO's.

4. A double is either: 15+ generally balanced OR a simple one-level overcall in the immediate suit. While on the surface this may seem unplayable, I think it can work fine. Responder assumes the overcall, and typically responds as if the doubler is making a simple overcall. The doubler then rebids something else with the true power double. Obviously this limits responder’s ability to make a preemptive jump raise without some extra values. If the doubler had a legitimate power double, I suppose that our side is vulnerable to preemption as well. We lose the rare ability to saw off the opponents at the one level. I don’t think the responses would be difficult to work out, although I haven’t figure out the details.

I think that 1, 2 and 3 are definite improvements, and 4 just needs to be refined a little.

Would like to hear everyone's input on this - especially if you play or have toyed around with OS.

[mike777]

Thank you for this interesting post.

Could you please elaborate on points 1 and 4.
1a) what is minimum and maximum "lite, shapely takeout'?
1b) what do first responses show?
1c) rebid of new suit or raise shows what?
4) Would you please show list of many common responses to x?

Thank you in advance.

[pclayton]

In response to the takeout; responder usually bounces with a weak shapely hand and goes slower with a stronger or non-fitting hand. I'll use the 1N overcall for takeout for reference, although in my post, I suggested using the next suit as the takeout:

a) Assume RHO opened 1♠ and its IMPs at equal vulnerability. Our guidelines are:

with a doubleton; it should be an 11-12 count; xx, AQx, Kxxx, QJxx
with a stiff, a 9-10 count is OK: x, AQxx, KJxx, xxxx
with a void, an 7-8 is ok: ---, AQxx, Qxxxx, xxxx

The maximum is generally a 14 count with a doubleton, a 16 with a stiff and an 18 with a void. This sounds backwards. I'll post more on this logic later.

b ) After (1♠) - 1N - Pass - ?

Bid 3♣ with hands like: xx, Kxx, xxx, KQxxx
Bid 4♣ with hands like: x, Kx, xxxx, KJxxxx
Bid 2♥ with Qxxx, Qxxx, xx, xxx
Bid 2♠ with: xxx, KJxx, KQxx, Axx

c) If the 1N overcaller raises responder's suit; it generally shows extra trump. If overcaller bids a new suit, it shows a max and a 5 card suit.

d) If the double is 15+ as it currently is, the responses are:

new suit or 1N - 0-6
jump in suit or 2N - 7-8
cue: 9+

[awm]

It seems to me that overcall structure is trying to do two things:

(1) Find some way to bid the "raptor" type hands. There are lots of methods for doing this, but it seems hard to describe all of these hands without losing on some hand where "standard" methods do fine.

(2) Reverse the meanings of 1NT and double (well, the power double hands still double).

I've always believed that (2) was a bad idea, except for its effect on opponents who didn't look at the CC before the round started and discuss a defense. It gets you one level higher on misfit auctions, and lets opponents explore for a partial on hands where standard bidders would've overcalled 1NT and ended the auction. Occasionally the double gets wins by penalizing at the one level or by avoiding 1NTX, but again this has more to do with unprepared opponents than advantages of the method. I think Phil's post is more or less agreeing with this point, when giving his reasons for moving the 1NT bid to the lowest call.

As for (1), a lot of people have tried and there just don't sem to be enough bids. It might be best to have different methods for competing after different openings. One suggestion:

Over minors, use the double for takeout since can get out at one level. Can also double with 4 spade and 5 hearts, since partner will always strive to respond in a major anyway (and can use equal level correction). Strong notrump, since it takes so much space. Use the cuebid as multi, showing a weak two in either major (or possible strong meanings?). Use major suit jumps to show four cards in the bid major plus greater length in the other minor.

Over majors, use the "power" double. Opponents have already taken up space for you, and have found a major fit if they have one. Also they have no place to run at the one level if partner wants to penalize. Let 1NT show four cards in the other major and four-plus cards in a minor (sort of a takeout double/raptor combination).

[pclayton]

I've never thought of (1 minor) - 1N as preemptive, but I do agree that it tends to shut out the opponents. The 15 count on your right will be passing along with the 7-8 count on your left.

Dunno; I still like the Raptor idea over 1 of a minor. There are several bids where you take your life in your hands in OS - one is the lite, not quite 4441 1N overcall and the other is the Roman jump into the 4 bagger - which forces the action to the 3 level if the only fit responder has is for overcaller's 5 bagger.

I think I'm gravitating toward Raptor over 1 of a major too.

How about this: 1N is regular raptor. Direct cue is weak jump overcall in one of 2 suits. Jump overcall shows the IJO (hey; its probably our hand - lets control the auction). Double is either 15+ balanced or 11+ shapely. Double is NEVER a GOSH. I still love the idea of putting the opening hand on lead whenever possible. Perhaps a double jump overcall can shows the Namyats type hand in an unknown suit, since Namyats overcalls are midchart. I'll play them where allowed.

2N can still be the big 5-5. Although I haven't figured how everything pans out.

I've haven't sold myself on the cheap Fishbein takeout over 1 bids, but I was never sold on the garbage overcalls over 1 bids in pure OS anyway. Why do I have to get involved on trash like: xx, AQxx, xxx, xxxx; which is a 1♥ overcall over 1♣ in OS. The 2-way double I proposed seems problematic anyway.

[pclayton]

Jlall, on Mar 30 2005, 10:45 AM, said:

No structure that doesnt allow me to show a 1H overcall is worth playing imo. It is one of the most valuable bids to me in bridge. even on the auction 1D X 1S, there can be no 2H raise, no 3H raise, etc etc. This loss is MUCH too big for any minor gains the rest of the structure may have.

Not really; if responder has 6-9 points and a heart raise, he can raise, knowing he is safe opposite a 15+ balanced hand anyway.