Preemptive Raise : Bridge Online
A preemptive opening bid is amazingly disruptive. It is a weak bid, promising a long suit and very few points. Your suit should be of good quality. A good rule of thumb is 2 honors in the suit.
Preemptive Opening
• 6-9 HCP
• 7-card suit
• 2 honors in the suit
Raising a Preemptive Opening
The bigger the fit that you have with your partner, the higher you can bid.
Preemptive raise safety level
• 8-card fit = you are safe at the 2-level
• 9-card fit = you are safe at the 3-level
•10-card fit = you are safe at the 4-level
| ♠ 6 | ||
| ♥ 653 | ||
| ♦ KQJT654 | ||
| ♣ 75 | ||
| ♠ J42 | ♠ AK87 | |
| ♥ KJT82 | ♥ AQ74 | |
| ♦ 8 | ♦ 3 | |
| ♣ AK82 | ♣ J643 | |
| ♠ QT953 | ||
| ♥ 9 | ||
| ♦ A972 | ||
| ♣ QT9 |
| North | East | South | West | |
| 3♦ | X | 5♦ | X | |
| P | P | P |
North's pre-empt of 3♦ indicates a weak hand with a 7-card suit. You have an 11-card fit, which means that your opponents will only lose at most 1 trick in that suit. Moreover, you are unlikely to have any other defensive trick.
This is the time to put pressure on your opponents - bid 5♦ immediately. If they double and you go down by two, it will be cheaper than letting them play in 4♥ which will make. If they bid 5♥, they might go down.
With a big fit and favorable vulnerability, bid as high as you can at once. Work out the number of tricks you can make in 4♥ and also in 5♦. Going down might well be the best result for you.
The same philosophy applies to the preemptive nature of an immediate game raise of partner's opening