White Bluffs spokesman. [volume] (White Bluffs, Wash.) 1907-1938, 1932-12-29
Modern Contract
Bridge By Leila t'attsrsIsy
No. 20.
Jump Over-Calls

No. 20.
Jump Over-Calls
LANDS stronger in honor-tricks
L than the IA to 21a shown by
simple over-calls should preferably be
indicated by take-out doubles or jump
over-calls. A jump over-call is de-
fensive bid higher than necessary to
cover the adverse declaration. 1t in
dicates more than 3 honor-tricks with
strong two suffer or powerful
single suit.
While jump over-call is not strict
ly forcing, because the opponents have
opened the bidding, it is a strong plea
to the partner to raise, if possible,
or to keep the bidding open if he has
about one honor-trick.
A jump over-call Of three over an
opponents suit shows the same trump
strength as an original bid of three.
Such bids discount the necessity of
trump support from the partner.
Bidding the Opponents Suit
If you are new to the forcing sys-
TEN, you may receive shock some
time when an opponent opens the
bid with one spade and your part
ner calmly overcalls with two spades.
Do not be alarmed at this apparent
slip Of the tongue
What your partner is telling is
that he has an exceptionally strong
hand Of freakish distribution with
control Of at least the first trick In
the adverse suit.
This over-call in an opponents suit
is a forcing bid, the only absolute
forcing bid which can be made by
player whose side has not opened
the bidding. AT low stage Of the
bidding it is not slam signal, nor
does it necessarily show, as it would
at higher stage, that the bidder
holds no losers in the adverse suit.
While it might indicate that the bid
der was void In the opponents suit,
it could be made by a player holding
the adverse ace and one or more
small cards. For example, say that
South were to deal and bid one heart
when West held:
S-AK653 HAS D-KQJ643 C-None
A takeout double would not show
the great strength Of Vests hand nor
absolutely assure him that his part
ner will keep the bidding open until
game is reached. But an over-call Of
two hearts will accomplish this pur-
pose.
Take-Out Doubles
A double Of one no trump or Of a
suit bid of one or two is a take-out
or informatory double if 1t is made
at the first opportunity to double and
before the doubler's partner has made
a declaration "a pass is not declar-
| atom.
Minimum requirements for take
out double are:
Three honor-tricks divided in three
suits or
Three honor-tricks divided in two
suits with q fair biddable suit.
The forcing system makes no dis
tinction between values for take-out
doubles Of suit and no trump bids,
except to advise that in the latter
doubles the 3 honor-tricks required
should be slightly reinforced.
sharp warning is sounded, how
ever against making take-out dou-
BILE when vulnerable unless your 3
honor tricks are backed up either by
strong Intermediates and plus values
or by quite powerful escape suit"
Theoretically, take-out double Of an
opponents bid announces hand OF
general strength, somewhat on the
order Of no trump, with no ade-
quate biddable suit. But take-out dou-
bles are often advisable even though
you have a suit, and quite strong
one. Such strategic doubles occur
when you are in the defensive posi-
ton, and hold 3 or more honOr-tricks,
but have not sufficiently dominating
suit or the two-suiter type, required
for jump over-call.
Responding to a Take-Out
Double y
While a take-out double Is not
strictly speaking a forcing bid, when
your partner makes such q double
you are practically obligated to take
him out by bidding your best suit no
matter how poor it may be. The only
contingency by which you are relieved
Of this responsibility is an interven-
ing bid from the opponent at your
right. If, after take-out double
from your partner, this opponent
raises his partners declaration or
makes some other bid, you are no
longer obligated to bid. Any declar-
alton which you make in such case