Weak Some tournament players like to make jump overcalls pre-emptive rather than constructive and make the point range anything from 4 to 9. Not recommended for the faint hearted and is not always sensible in second seat as you are pre-empting your Partner as well as the opposition.
Intermediate. Played by many as some range between 9 and 14 although the EBU Acol files suggests
12 to 16. Whatever the range if the bid is at the three level the points should be at the upper end,
particularly if vulnerable.
A useful way of judging is to apply the Rule of 500 as in pre-empting. Assume you will be Doubled
at the level bid and if guaranteed to be no more than minus 500 with no help from Dummy,
effectively making no worse than than two tricks less than the level bid, it should be relatively
safe although be careful if you are vulnerable and the opposition isn’t
♠ 54 ♥ KQJ983 ♦ A4 ♣ Q76.
Over 1 ♣ or 1 ♦ this
would be a reasonable hand to bid 2 ♥ as there is a sound
chance of making 6 tricks but over 1 ♠ safer
to just bid 2 ♥ rather than
jump to 3 ♥
If you are playing Intermediate Jumps and you are stronger than the agreed range Double first
and then, over partner’s response, bid your suit which in any circumstances normally shows at least
16 points and a good suit.
Strong As it suggests a strong jump overcall is virtually saying that you have at least the equivalent of a Strong Two Opener and would invite Partner to bid on to game with a suitable hand.
Because of the wide range of points that these bids can be made on it is necessary for you to work out your own system of responses.
The main point is: Work out with you Partner what type and range of bids you are both comfortable with and what responses mean.