[gprentice]

I was taught a long time ago that when responding to an overcall, you bid according to the law of total tricks (LOTT) and ignore your point count, however an expert player has told me that with 3 cards in your partners suit, you still need 6 points (can count points for shortages) to support at the two level. I'm unable to find any guideline for this on the internet and all the examples show the hand raising the overcall as having six or more points.

So obviously there's a variety of situations e.g. 1H 1S 3H ?? - what do you need to bid 3S or 4S here. 1H 1S pass ?? what do you need to support spades here.

Is there any consensus on how many points you need to support an overcall.
e.g.
1. With ten plus points and a fit, use unassuming cue bid
else
2. Not vulnerable, use LOTT and ignore points
else
3. Vulnerable, need six plus points and LOTT