Position Matters
A recurring theme in teaching over the years is that students have a difficult time explaining what a bid means. It is not because they do not know the meaning, but they fail to recognize the difference between the same bid in different auctions/positions.
N E S W N E S W
1S P 2H P 1S X 2H P
In the first auction (left), 2H is game forcing. In the second auction, it is non-forcing. Both bids imply 5+ card suits. The difference is that in the second auction (right), an opponent has shown opening values. This information affects the meaning of your bids (and what other bids are available to you).
N E S W N E S W
1D 1H 1S 2C 1D P 1S P
In the first auction (left), the 1S bid shows 5+ cards and 6+ HCP. In the second auction, it only shows four. The absence of the overcall in the second auction (right) prevents the distinction between four card and five card spade suits (in the first auction, double would show four cards).
N E S W N E S W
1S 1N AP 1S P P 1N
Here, there is a 1N overcall, but the position is different (i.e. South has had a chance to limit his hand to five points in the second auction, but not the first). In the first auction, 1N resembles an opening (14-18 HCP). In the second auction, the balancing overcall is much wider ranging (11-16).
A recurring theme in teaching over the years is that students have a difficult time explaining what a bid means. It is not because they do not know the meaning, but they fail to recognize the difference between the same bid in different auctions/positions.
N E S W N E S W
1S P 2H P 1S X 2H P
In the first auction (left), 2H is game forcing. In the second auction, it is non-forcing. Both bids imply 5+ card suits. The difference is that in the second auction (right), an opponent has shown opening values. This information affects the meaning of your bids (and what other bids are available to you).
N E S W N E S W
1D 1H 1S 2C 1D P 1S P
In the first auction (left), the 1S bid shows 5+ cards and 6+ HCP. In the second auction, it only shows four. The absence of the overcall in the second auction (right) prevents the distinction between four card and five card spade suits (in the first auction, double would show four cards).
N E S W N E S W
1S 1N AP 1S P P 1N
Here, there is a 1N overcall, but the position is different (i.e. South has had a chance to limit his hand to five points in the second auction, but not the first). In the first auction, 1N resembles an opening (14-18 HCP). In the second auction, the balancing overcall is much wider ranging (11-16).