[Shugart23]

Does anyone else hate overcalling 1D when opponents playing 2/1 open 1C ? Is there a better bid ? Maybe 2D showing weak overcall and 1D showing solid opening count ?

[DavidKok]

In my opinion (1♣)-2♦ is highly effective. In line with my general preference for aggressive preempts I allow this jump overcall on a five card suit if the hand is otherwise suitable (the exact criteria are a bit long to discuss). I think it is a good idea to make this overcall somewhat frequently, including on some hands that might overcall 1♦ traditionally. In my experience people put (far too much) strain on responder's takeout double, and if they double you're off the hook while they are scrambling with some frequency.
At the same time I think (1♣)-1♦ can be plenty effective. I don't hate the overcall, but I guess my treatment above also means I bid it less than most.
If you play Raptor, which I've done in the past, the 1♦ overcall practically screams that we have a balanced hand, club length alongside the diamonds, or a constructive overcall (say, 11+). Most offensively oriented hands would jump bid 2♦, and the 5♦4M hands bid raptor here. What remains is the hands that fear (1♣)-2♦ being passed out and the strong-ish overcalls. That being said I'm not really a fan of Raptor, although this negative inference is quite cute.

[mw64ahw]

Yep it's a bit useless.
One thing you can do is play The Overcall Structure and 1R as transfers over 1♣ with 1♠ showing a limited 5+♦ which at worst is (32)53
X 15+/strong ♦
1R transfer
1♠ 5+♦
1N takeout
2♣ 5♦4♠
2♦ 5♦4♥
2N some preempt, correct to ♦
3♦ IJO

If you don't like the transfers keep them natural and play 1♦ as the takeout and and 1N as ♦

[mikeh]

The 1D overcall rarely causes any disruption to the opponents, and can locate missing hcp for them. However, once in a while it allows partner to get involved in a useful way. Sometimes responder is weak and advancer has a good hand, and describing one’s hand via the 1D bid leads to a good contract. Other times it gets partner off to the best lead. Still other times it allows partner to push the auction higher than would happen absent the overcall. And once in a while it leads to a good sacrifice.

So while it’s the least effective means of interference, it still has its uses.

[Cyberyeti]

We play 1♦ VERY sound, 2♦ can be 4 cards weak.

I think there's a lot to be said for playing your 2♦/♥/♠ as whatever you play the opening bids as over a 2+ card club if you play multi/ekren etc and as less disciplined weak 2s if you play standard ones normally.

[jillybean]

Sure, I'd rather bid a major but 1♦ is infinitely better than pass

[pescetom]

I've sometimes wondered whether it might be a good idea to play the 1♦ overcall as majors 4=4, taking pressure off Double.

[bluenikki]

pescetom, on 2025-May-12, 13:03, said:

I've sometimes wondered whether it might be a good idea to play the 1♦ overcall as majors 4=4, taking pressure off Double.

Do you mean _exactly_ 4=4? If so, won't that work against you if the opponents declare? (As they figure to.)

[mikeh]

pescetom, on 2025-May-12, 13:03, said:

I've sometimes wondered whether it might be a good idea to play the 1♦ overcall as majors 4=4, taking pressure off Double.

That strikes me as weird. There’s not a lot of ‘pressure’ on double and if you then modify double to rule out 4=4 in the majors, what on earth are you changing it to?

Sounds like a solution in search of a problem….and a pretty weird solution as well

[mikeh]

pescetom, on 2025-May-12, 13:03, said:

I've sometimes wondered whether it might be a good idea to play the 1♦ overcall as majors 4=4, taking pressure off Double.

That strikes me as weird. There’s not a lot of ‘pressure’ on double and if you then modify double to rule out 4=4 in the majors, what on earth are you changing it to?

Sounds like a solution in search of a problem….and a pretty weird solution as well

[Huibertus]

Shugart23, on 2025-May-11, 07:02, said:

Does anyone else hate overcalling 1D when opponents playing 2/1 open 1C ? Is there a better bid ? Maybe 2D showing weak overcall and 1D showing solid opening count ?

Are there people left that don't play weak 2♦ overcalls over 1♣ Of course that's good. And the distinction between 1♦ full opening values/overcall values is a narrowing gap anyway throughout history.

You should realize that around 80% of the hands opened 1♣ in 2/1 or similar actually contain ♣. You should treat it as ♣ and so will your opponents. It's not like a precision or polish ♣ opening.

Like any overcall 1♦ too NOT only serves the purpose of bidding ♦ it shows values and allows for a start of constructive bidding on you side. The only difference with let's say a 1♠ overcall is it takes away less bidding space for both sides.

[shugart24]

Huibertus, on 2025-May-13, 12:17, said:

Are there people left that don't play weak 2♦ overcalls over 1♣ Of course that's good. And the distinction between 1♦ full opening values/overcall values is a narrowing gap anyway throughout history.

You should realize that around 80% of the hands opened 1♣ in 2/1 or similar actually contain ♣. You should treat it as ♣ and so will your opponents. It's not like a precision or polish ♣ opening.

Like any overcall 1♦ too NOT only serves the purpose of bidding ♦ it shows values and allows for a start of constructive bidding on you side. The only difference with let's say a 1♠ overcall is it takes away less bidding space for both sides.

yeah, right now thinking going simple --1D overcall 11-15/16 HCP and 2D overcall 8-10 HCP generally. Also thinking 1C (opponents) -1D (partner) -Pass (opponents) -? If I bid anything other than Diamonds, it's a 1 round force showing 10+ HCP and any Diamond raise is preemptive. Not sure if this makes sense, so welcome any comments here

[DavidKok]

For me a 1♦ overcall (of a 1♣ opening) shows about 8-16, though it's less likely to be shaded than the 1M overcalls. If third hand passes I play:

(1♣)-1♦-(P)-?

• Pass: none of the below.
  
• 1♥/1♠: 5(+) cards in the suit bid, 6(+) HCP, forcing, 'no upper limit' (only by inference).
  
• 1NT: 10-13 HCP or so, no other good bid.
  
• 2♣: 3(+)♦, invitational or stronger (normally 10(+) HCP, can be shaded).
  
• 2♦: 3♦, simple raise (around 5-9 HCP).
  
• 2♥/2♠: Fitbid (5(+)♥/♠, 4(+)♦, about 8(+) HCP, forcing) though you could well play this as a weak jump shift.
  
• 2NT: - (this should be a strong raise with positional values but it's never come up and I won't assume this without discussion. One thing it is definitely not is a non-fit quantitative invite to 3NT).
  
• 3♣: 4(+)♦, mixed raise (around 5-9 HCP).
  
• 3♦: 4(+)♦, weak (around 0-6 HCP, overlap with mixed raise is intentional).

There's a case to be made to play the 1-of-a-major responses as 4(+) cards, especially when not playing Raptor. Strong misfit hands with no suit of their own (or long clubs) have to gamble on 3NT.

One alternative style is to play many NF cheap bids, and/or make the 2♣ response nebulous and strong. I dislike this style a lot and would stay far away from it, but the style is somewhat popular.
A super alternative to both is to play Rubens' transfer advances, but this is a lot of work and has a few more other downsides. The upsides are worth it though.