Written by a bridge double world champion, this series looks at the overcall, a key element of competitive bidding which intermediate players can find particularly difficult. It examines the reasons for contesting the auction and the various alternatives - simple overcall, jump overcall, 1NT overcall or take-out double. It deals with how the overcaller's partner should respond, and the appropriate response to the partner's overcall and the continuing auction. The advice given is supported throughout by examples drawn from top-level international play.