EHAA - Defensive Bidding

Defensive Bidding

EHAA defensive bidding does not distinguish between jump and non-jump overcalls, and instead focuses on the level of the overcall. All one-level overcalls show five card suits and thirteen high card points; all two-level overcalls show EHAA two bids.

In a suit where a one-level overcall is not available, a three-level overcall shows a good six-card suit, six or seven losers, and thirteen points. Some hands may not qualify for such an intermediate jump overcall, and must be overcalled with an overheavy two-bid.

Takeout doubles are played normally, but because of the greater strength of overcalls, a takeout double need not be made to show a very strong one-suited hand. System users therefore normally play that to double and bid again does not show extra values, but instead shows 6-4 distribution.

Overcalls of 1NT are played as in standard bidding, showing a strong notrump range of perhaps 15 to 17 HCP. Those who like Stayman and Jacoby transfers after notrump overcalls can use them here as well.

Two-suited takeouts (unusual notrump or Michaels cuebids, for example) are used in standard bidding with either weak or strong hands. Standard bidding counsels to overcall and rebid in the second suit with an intermediate two-suited hand. In EHAA, the weak hands are overcalled with a two-bid, and so two-suited takeouts should be used only with strong five loser / 15 HCP hands.