BEGINNERS LESSONS Welcome Teacher Douglas Russell Telephone 480
BEGINNERS’ LESSONS Welcome Teacher: Douglas Russell Telephone: 480 2294 or 021 235 2220 Email: douglas. russell@xtra. co. nz Prepared by Douglas Russell for Auckland Bridge Club 1
Play Session Seven Pre-emptive Openings 2
Rules up until NOW • 1 -suit openings – 12 -19 points • 1 NT opening – 12 -14 points BUT sometimes we have fewer than 12 points but still have a wish to get into the bidding … when? ? When we have a LONG suit of our own – i. e. 6 or more cards in the suit 3
NEW OPENING BIDS … 2 -level • 2 6 – 10 points with a GOOD 6 -card diamond suit • 2 6 – 10 points with a GOOD 6 -card heart suit • 2 6 – 10 points with a GOOD 6 -card spade suit A GOOD suit is a suit with 2+ honours in the suit Once you have opened these bids you will rarely bid again … you have JUST one shot to describe your hand completely These bids are primarily OBSTRUCTIVE … we want to make it hard for the opposition 4
NEW OPENING BIDS … 2 -level • 2 6 – 10 points with a GOOD 6 -card diamond suit • 2 6 – 10 points with a GOOD 6 -card heart suit • 2 6 – 10 points with a GOOD 6 -card spade suit NOTE THAT 2 is NOT used to show this type of hand The 2 opener is a SPECIAL bid showing a VERY STRONG hand, as described in last week’s lesson These bids are primarily OBSTRUCTIVE … we want to make it hard for the opposition 5
RESPONSES TO 2 -level openers • 3 -level raise • GAME • NEW SUIT • PASS 0 – 13 points, 0 -3 card support 14 -15 points, 2+ card support 16+ points, 2+ card support 0+ points, 4+ card support 17+ points, 6+ card suit of own 2 -level opening bids are OBSTRUCTIVE … we want to make it hard for the opposition THEREFORE respond ONLY if you think there is a chance of reaching GAME OR you have a 10+ card fit 6
RESPONSES TO 2 -level openers • GAME 0+ points, 4+ card support • In this case, you are bidding not really expecting to make your contract but to shut out the opponents – sometimes known as a FURTHER PRE-EMPTIVE BID 2 -level opening bids are OBSTRUCTIVE … we want to make it hard for the opposition THEREFORE respond ONLY if you think there is a chance of reaching GAME OR you have a 10+ card fit 7
NEW OPENING BIDS … 3 -level • 3 • 3 6 – 10 points with a GOOD 7 -card club suit 6 – 10 points with a GOOD 7 -card diamond suit 6 – 10 points with a GOOD 7 -card heart suit 6 – 10 points with a GOOD 7 -card spade suit A GOOD suit is a suit with 2+ honours in the suit Once you have opened these bids you will rarely bid again … you have JUST one shot These bids are OBSTRUCTIVE … we want to make it hard for the opposition 8
RESPONSES TO 3 -level openers • PASS • GAME • NEW SUIT 0 – 13 points, 0 -2 card support 16+ points, 1+ card support 0+ points, 3+ card support 17+ points, 6+ card suit of own 3 -level opening bids are OBSTRUCTIVE … we want to make it hard for the opposition THEREFORE ONLY respond if you think there is a chance of reaching GAME or to shut out 9
NEW OPENING BIDS … 4 -level • 4 6 – 10 points with a GOOD 8 -card heart suit • 4 6 – 10 points with a GOOD 8 -card spade suit A GOOD suit is a suit with 2+ honours in the suit These bids are OBSTRUCTIVE … we want to make it hard for the opposition 10
WHAT DO YOU DO WHEN THE OPPONENTS MAKE THESE WEAK BIDS? • The same rules apply for X’s • The same rules apply for overcalls • The same rules apply for bidding NT’s JUST be mindful that you might need slightly better point counts, as you are bidding at a higher level 11
defending against pre-emptive opening bids The purpose of a pre-emptive opening bid is to make life difficult for the opponents. The bid takes away much of the bidding space that they would have liked to use to explore possibilities of a contract. It is necessary to have a defence prepared to counter them. For players who are not able to develop a special method, a few simple understandings as to what bids mean after a pre -empt will help. 12
Defence to opening 3 -bids Double: Takeout, interest in the other suits, but with emphasis on the unbid major(s) 3 of suit: Natural, strong 5 -card or (preferably) longer forcing 3 NT: suit, non- Natural, 16+ points, stopper in their suit 13
How strong do you need to be to enter the auction? When you are uncertain as to whether or not to enter the bidding following the enemy pre-empt, imagine that your partner holds a fairly balanced hand of about 8 points. If this is enough to give you a good chance to make whatever you are bidding, then get bidding! 14
BEGINNERS’ LESSONS Welcome Teacher: Douglas Russell Telephone: 480 2294 or 021 235 2220 Email: douglas. russell@xtra. co. nz Prepared by Douglas Russell for Auckland Bridge Club 15
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