I used to be taught that you simply want at the very least eight excessive card factors to “overcall” on the one stage towards an opposing opening bid. In a pinch, “seven” would do in the event that they had been all in your (5 card) overcall swimsuit, like AKxxx or AQJxxx. That is, a maximally robust swimsuit with no “stranded” or in any other case wasted honors.

In an article by an knowledgeable (Frank Stewart), a non-vulnerable participant overcalled one spade with

♠ QT975
♡ A3
♢ KJ53
♣ T6

That’s ten excessive card factors, however alternatively, the spade swimsuit is way weaker than AKxxx. In reality, each the hand, and the swimsuit are principally “common,” not above common.

Is is OK to overcall like this with solely a median hand and common swimsuit? And is a powerful swimsuit ample compensation for under 7-8 excessive card factors?