THE SUIT QUALITY TEST

(SQuaT)

When you overcall you are promising at least a 5 card suit and you should have some values in that suit.

The Suit Quality Test is quite simple.

You add the length of your suit to the number of honour cards in that suit

If you are overcalling at the 1 level then you are contracting to make seven tricks if all others pass therefore your SQuaT should add up to at least seven.

If you are overcalling at the 2 level you are contracting to make eight tricks therefore your SQuaT should add up to at least eight.

♠ 72 Your Right hand opponent (RHO) opens 1♣.

♥ AK743 Your SQuaT is seven. This is a good overcall.

♦ AJ8

♣ 732

♠ AKQ2 This time RHO opens 1♦.

♥ 97643 Your hand does not pass SQuaT.

♦ 7 1♥ would be a terrible overcall. 1♠ is also wrong. It

♣A32 fulfills all the requirements for SQuaT but it is only a

four card suit. Never overcall with a four card suit.

With this hand you should Double for “Take Out”.

♠ A7432

♥ 97 RHO opens 1♦.

♦ 7 1♠ would be poor and so would 2♣ as neither pass

♣ AK754 SQuaT. Pass and await developments.