If the dealer on your right opens one of a suit, a single jump overcall is weak. It shows a hand with which you would have opened a weak two-bid: a decent six-card suit and some 6-10 high-card points.
But suppose the opening bid is on your left and it is followed by two passes. Now a jump overcall is intermediate, promising a good six-card suit and some 14-16 points. (With a weak hand, usually pass. If you must bid, make a simple overcall and keep your toes crossed.)
In this deal, you reach four hearts. West leads the spade king. East overtakes with his ace and returns the spade two, West winning with his eight. West cashes his club ace, then continues with the spade nine, East throwing a low diamond. After ruffing in your hand, how would you continue?
West was hoping that East could uppercut (ruff) with the heart 10, which would promote West's heart queen to the setting trick.
North's raise to four hearts was aggressive, but the vulnerable game bonus is as powerful a lure as the song of the Sirens — and a lot less dangerous.
You have lost two spades and a club. So, you must play the heart suit without loss. Normally, you would take an immediate finesse. Here, though, East passed over his partner's opening bid and has already produced the spade ace. If he had the heart queen as well, he would have made a response. Therefore, West has the heart queen. Cash your ace and king of hearts, hoping that the queen drops. When she does, draw the last trump and claim.
But suppose the opening bid is on your left and it is followed by two passes. Now a jump overcall is intermediate, promising a good six-card suit and some 14-16 points. (With a weak hand, usually pass. If you must bid, make a simple overcall and keep your toes crossed.)
In this deal, you reach four hearts. West leads the spade king. East overtakes with his ace and returns the spade two, West winning with his eight. West cashes his club ace, then continues with the spade nine, East throwing a low diamond. After ruffing in your hand, how would you continue?
West was hoping that East could uppercut (ruff) with the heart 10, which would promote West's heart queen to the setting trick.
North's raise to four hearts was aggressive, but the vulnerable game bonus is as powerful a lure as the song of the Sirens — and a lot less dangerous.
You have lost two spades and a club. So, you must play the heart suit without loss. Normally, you would take an immediate finesse. Here, though, East passed over his partner's opening bid and has already produced the spade ace. If he had the heart queen as well, he would have made a response. Therefore, West has the heart queen. Cash your ace and king of hearts, hoping that the queen drops. When she does, draw the last trump and claim.