Three Level Openings or Overcall Bids

Three level openings or overcalls - 3§ , 3¨ , 3© , 3ª - are bid with less than 10 HCP, no other four card major suit, and no chance of game outside the bid suit.

Really Weak. They can be quite weak -- in fact, very weak.  Not vulnerable, the weaker, the better.

Vulnerable, the bid suit must be reasonable enough to prevent a three trick set.

Examples:

N    E    S    W

P    P    ???

ª AJ109xxx	or	ª -
© x		© xx
© Kx		© KQxxxxx
§ Jxx		§ 109xx

This hand is too                              A little weak
strong to preempt.                          if vulnerable.
Pass or 1ª in 1st. or 2nd.,               Non Vul - Bid 3©.
2ª as 3rd hand opener.               

---

N	E
P	3©	or
1§	3©

East		or			East
ª x					ª xxx
© AQJxxxx					© KQJxxxx
© Qx					© -
§ xxx					§ xxx

                    Almost too strong.                       About right.