• 6-9/10 points
• 3+ card support (usually 3 or 4)
   

• Invitational raise (also called a "limit raise")
• 10-12 points
• 3+ card support    Note: some play that this promises 4 card support
   

• Weak, distributional raise
• No more than 8 hcp
• 5+ card support
• Responder should also have a singleton or void, although this is not 100% necessary
• This is preemptive in intent: it is a distribution bid, not a values bid.  Sometimes game will make because the hands fit together well; other times you will be set but suffer a smaller loss than if you had let the opponents declare a contract their way (for example, -50 in 4S-1 is better than -130 defending 4D=).  You might also keep the opponents from finding a making game contract!
   

• A new suit, then jump to game in partner's major 
• Jacoby 2NT! with 4+ card support
• Splinter! with 4+ card support
• Note: do NOT jump directly to game. That shows a different hand type, as described above.

After partner's major suit opening bid is overcalled

After partner's 1/ opening is overcalled by a natural, non-jump suit bid, responder has a new set of ways to raise partner's suit.  The changes stem from the existence of a new bid available to responder: a cuebid of overcaller's suit. All invitational or better raises begin with a cuebid. The jump to 3M is now preemptive, not invitational. Also note that Jacoby 2NT is off in competition.
 

• 6-9/10 points (meaning is unchanged)
• 3+ card support (usually 3 or 4)
• See Example 1
   

• Weak, preemptive raise
• No more than 7 hcp
• 4+ card support
• The preemptive jump raise in competition is not alertable, but it is polite to type "weak" or "preemptive" in the explanation box.
• See Example 2
   

• Weak, distributional raise (meaning is unchanged)
• No more than about 8 hcp
• 5+ card support
• See Example 3

    1 - (2) - 3
    1 - (2) - 3
    1 - (2) - 3

• Invitational or better raise
• 11+ points (counting hcp + shortness): no upper limit
• 3+ card support
• This bid is artificial and says nothing about responder's holding in overcaller's suit.
• See Example Hands - Examples 4 through 6
   
• Notes:
  • All invitational or stronger hands begin with a cuebid. Exception: if you play splinter bids over interference, that is an option if responder has a game forcing hand.
  • This is a standard feature of competitive auctions and does not need to be alerted. If an opponent asks it should be explained as "inv or better raise."
  • After an overcall, 2NT by responder is NATURAL. It is NOT Jacoby 2NT.
  • See below for information about bidding after the cuebid.

Continuations after responder cuebids

After responder cuebids overcaller's suit, showing an invitational or stronger hand with support for opener's major, opener's next bid depends on the strength of his hand.

Note: the ranges listed below are approximate hcp ranges and are intended only as rough guidelines.  A much better guideline for opener is to think about how he feels about bidding game if responder has only invitational strength:

• Minimum opening hand = either unsure about game or no game interest
• Medium opening hand = wants to insist on game; might have some slam interest
• Maximum opening hand = slam interest

• Sign-off in 3 of your suit
  • See Example 4
• Bid a new suit below 3 of the agreed major as a (natural) game try bid.  Note: this bid will not always be available, depending on which suit was overcalled)
   
• Continuations by responder after a 3M sign-off:
  • Pass = invitational strength only
  • Raise to game = game values but no slam interest opposite a minimum opener
  • New suit = control showing cuebid (typically an ace).  Responder is trying for slam.
     

• Jump to game in your suit
• Make a non-jump new suit bid to show the ace in that suit.  This says that you have some slam interest if responder has a game forcing raise (as opposed to only an invitational raise).  Note: if you are bidding at the 3-level, responder will initially assume that you are making a game try bid.  If he tries to sign-off by bidding 3 of the agreed major (not possible on all auctions), raise to game.
  • See Example 5
• Do NOT bid 3 of the agreed major as that shows a minimum opening hand and responder might pass.
   

• Make a non-jump new suit bid to show the ace in that suit. Note: as above, if responder tries to sign-off by bidding 3 of the agreed major, continue with a second cuebid to show your serious slam interest.
  • See Example 6
• Bid 4NT (Blackwood) only if you have a control in every suit.  A control is an ace, king, singleton or void.  Unless you are only concerned about trump quality, cuebidding an ace (by bidding a new suit) is almost always a better alternative to Blackwood.