Ask the Loebs Question
On the auction below, what does West's Jump to 2NT show? It is an Unusual 2NT overcall showing the 2 lower unbid suits?
| North | East | South | West |
| 1♥ | Pass | Pass | 2NT |
The Loebs Answer
Unusual 2NT overcalls aren't typically played when the auction begins 1-of-a-suit - P - P. If your partnership prefers to play Unusual 2NT overcalls on this auction, it should show a strong hand with the 2 lower unbid suits. See Jim O'Neil's discussion in his "Balancing Act" article. Here are 2 relevant quotes from Jim's article.
- "Constructive actions – simple overcalls, doubles and 1NT overcalls retain their meanings, though these actions can be made with less strength than is required in direct seat. There is little logic to preemptive bids in balancing seat – we can end the auction by passing. So jump overcalls should be natural and fairly strong. A jump to 2NT is usually played as a strong balanced hand, though a few players play it as a good hand with the 2 lower unbid suits."
- " A 1NT overcall should show about 12-15 points, and a reasonably balanced hand with opener’s suit stopped. With 16-18, double first and then bid NT as cheaply as possible. With 19-21, jump to 2NT immediately."
The 12-15 range that Jim discusses for a 1NT overcall is comfortable in an auction like 1m-P-P-1NT because you can often double and then bid 1NT to show 16-18. When 1-of-a-major is passed around, it isn't practical to double and then bid 2NT with a 16 point hand. So the range of 1M-P-P-1NT should be 12-16 HCP. Doubling and then bidding 2NT shows 17-18. You don't want to double and then bid 3NT with 19-21. That is why it is standard to use a jump to 2NT to show a balanced 19-21 HCP hand when 1-of-a-suit is passed around to the balancing seat.
