PLAY SESSIONS 2018 Welcome Teacher Douglas Russell Telephone

PLAY SESSIONS 2018 Welcome Teacher: Douglas Russell Telephone: 480 2294 or 021 235 2220 Email: Douglas. Keith. Russell@gmail. com Prepared by Douglas Russell for Auckland Bridge Club 1

Play Session 6 Pre-emptive Openings 2

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 session These bids are primarily OBSTRUCTIVE … we want to make it hard for the opposition 3

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 4

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 5

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 6

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 7

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 8

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 9

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! 10

PLAY SESSIONS 2018 Welcome Teacher: Douglas Russell Telephone: 480 2294 or 021 235 2220 Email: Douglas. Keith. Russell@gmail. com Prepared by Douglas Russell for Auckland Bridge Club 11