Bridge for Beginners Lesson 11 Preemptive Bidding Homework

Bridge for Beginners Lesson 11 Pre-emptive Bidding

Homework – Question 1 Ø Opponents open 1. What do you bid? AJ 765 A 8765 8 Q 5 T 7632 K 4 87 QJT 8 1 Pass AJ 754 QT 3 AJ 653 AKJ 8 K 5 J 6 QJT 86 1 2 AQ 7 Q 986 Q 853 Q 6 P or 1 NT AK 75 KQ 8 Q 743 1 NT A 76 K 6 76 QJT 865 2 AKJT 65 Q 5 JT 6 2

Homework – Question 2 Ø Opponents have opened 1 1. Partner has overcalled. What do you bid? A K J T 9 7 2 7 5 3 6 4 3 Overcall 1 1 NT Your Bid? P 3 1 3

Homework – Question 3 Ø Opponents have opened 1 1. Partner has overcalled. What do you bid? A K Q 8 5 T 9 8 6 J 7 6 4 Overcall 2 2 2 1 NT Your Bid? 4 2 2 3

Pre-emptive Bidding Ø HCP are very important in NT contracts Ø In Suit Contracts length is as important Ø So we use rule of 20 Ø When the shape is more extreme Ø HCP are less important

Pre-emptive Bidding Ø Consider this hand 6 5 4 A Q 8 7 6 5 2 8 Q 7 We have 8 HCP Rule of 20 = 18 We have 7 ’s And a poor defensive hand 1 would mislead partner We make a preemptive bid of 3 3

Opening Bids Ø Opening 1 of a suit is a normal opener Ø Usually 12 -19 HCP Ø Opening 2 of a suit is strong Ø Usually 20+ HCP Ø More next week!! Ø Opening 3 or more of a suit Ø Is weak and pre-emptive

Requirements for a Pre-empt Ø At least 7 of the suit bid Ø About 6 -9 HCP Ø With longer suit fewer HCP are needed Ø No other 4 card major

Objectives of a Pre-empt Ø To get in opponents way Ø They probably have a fit in another suit Ø They may well be stronger than your side Ø You can make it hard for them to find their best contract Ø You do not expect to make the contract Ø But 1 off vul or 2 off non-vul is likely to be good for your side

Assessing what to Bid Ø We should pre-empt as high as is safe Ø Subtract 2 from the long suit length Ø With 7 cards that gives 5 Ø Add 1 for each A and K Ø Add 2 vul or 3 non-vul Ø If the result is 9 bid at the 3 level Ø If 10 bid at the 4 level Ø If 11 bid a major at the 4 level and a minor at the 5 level

Pre-emptive Bidding – Hand 1 6 5 4 A Q 8 7 6 5 2 8 Q 7 We have 8 HCP Rule of 20 = 18 We have 7 ’s So count 5 Add 1 for the Ace Add 2 or 3 according to vulnerability Vul = 8 – so PASS Non-vul = 9 Bid 3 3

Pre-emptive Bidding – Hand 2 6 5 A Q 8 7 6 5 4 2 8 Q 7 We have 8 HCP Rule of 20 = 18 We have 8 ’s So count 6 Add 1 for the Ace Add 2 or 3 according to vulnerability Vul = 9 – so Bid 3 3 Non-vul = 10 Bid 4 4

Pre-emptive Bidding – Hand 3 K 6 5 Q 8 7 6 5 4 2 8 Q 7 We have 8 HCP Rule of 20 = 18 We have 7 ’s So count 5 Add 1 for the K Add 2 or 3 according to vulnerability Vul = 8 – so Pass Non-vul = 9 Bid 3 3

Pre-emptive Bidding – Hand 4 K 8 6 5 K 8 7 6 5 4 2 Q 7 We have 8 HCP Rule of 20 = 19 We have 7 ’s And we have 4 ’s So open 1 1 We may find a better fit in ’s But if opponents start bidding jump to 3 3

Pre-emptive Bidding – Hand 5 8 6 4 Q 9 8 7 6 4 2 8 Q 7 We have 4 HCP Rule of 20 = 14 We have 7 ’s Count is 5 Pass Too weak for a pre-empt Although very temping at favourable vulnerability

Responding to Partner’s Pre-empt Ø Remember that partner is weak Ø The bid is meant to get in opponents way Ø By taking up much of the bidding space Ø This often makes it difficult for us to find the right contract

Responses to Pre-emptive Bidding – Hand 1 K 6 5 4 A Q 8 7 K Q 5 2 8 Partner has opened 3 3 We have 14 HCP And honours in the other suits 3 NT looks very inviting How will you run partner’s ’s With only 1 entry? Sadly you must Pass You need 2 of the pre-empt suit for a NT try

Responses to Pre-emptive Bidding – Hand 2 A K 6 5 A 8 7 T 8 K Q 5 2 Partner has opened 3 3 We have 16 HCP And honours in the other suits 3 NT looks very inviting Now we have 2 entries So bid 3 NT hoping to run partners long minor

Responses to Pre-emptive Bidding – Hand 3 A Q J 8 K 3 K 6 4 T 9 7 3 Partner has opened 3 3 We have 13 HCP And 6 ’s 3 NT looks doubtful Bid 3 3 The new suit at the 3 level shows 6 of the suit Partner supports the major with 2 cards Re-bids the minor with fewer

Responses to Pre-emptive Bidding – Hand 4 A 7 6 8 3 9 A J T 9 7 5 4 Partner has opened 3 3 We have 9 HCP And 7 ’s Both weak hands PASS Never bid a pre-empt over partner’s pre-empt You would be at the 4 level But if opponents bid a major Support partner’s ’s

When Opponents Pre-empt Ø You bid them to mess up opponents Ø They will do the same to you! Ø In general Ø If you would have overcalled opponents when they opened 1 of a suit Ø You should bid over their pre-empt

Overcalling a Pre-emptive Bid A Q J 7 6 K J 7 4 J 8 2 A Opponent has opened 3 3 We have 16 HCP Bid 3 3 If you Pass The pre-empt has been successful Opponents have probably stolen your contract! So bid if you can

Pre-emptive Overcalls Ø If opponents open 1 of a suit Ø And you have a pre-emptive hand Ø Make a pre-emptive overcall Ø Using the same rules as for pre-emptive openings

Pre-emptive Overcall 4 K Q T 6 5 4 2 Q 6 3 5 4 RHO bids 1 1 You should overcall 3 3 You make it hard for them to find a fit And partner knows what your hand is like

Health Warning Ø Never Ever Pre-empt over partner’s opening bid Ø We are trying to mess up the opponents Ø Partners get very upset!

Summary Ø Pre-empts are powerful weapons Ø Pre-empts are sacrificial Ø Not expected to make Ø But to get in opponents way Ø Be careful not to punish partner for pre- empting by getting carried away with the bidding