Preempts : Bridge Online
index
Opening at the 3-level is a very disruptive bid for the opponents. It is a weak bid, promising a long suit and very few points. The suit, however, should be of good quality.
Preemptive Opening
• 6-9 HCP
• 7-card suit
• 2 honors in the suit
An opening bid at the 3-level is similar to a weak 2 opening, but it shows a good 7-card suit, rather than a 6-card suit.
This is a perfect preempt. Less than an opening hand, a 7-card suit with two of the top three honors.
Your suit is not very good this time, even though you do have 7 of them. You should pass. You risk losing too many trump tricks if you bid. Also, your small cards are very small. Having one honour and a 10 is ok for a preempt if you're feeling frisky, but this hand does not qualify.
Responding to a preempt
Don't respond to a preempt unless you have good trump support or 16+ HCP. You have several choices:
Responding to a preempt
•pass
•bid game with strength
•bid game with a weak hand and a 10 card fit
•bid a new suit
This time I've made a preempt, and you're the responder. Even though you have an opening hand, you should pass. You have neither the trumps, nor the high card points to make a bid.
You can go to game this time because you have a strong hand. Two card support with a strong hand is enough for game after preempt because the preempt shows a 7 card suit.
You're not very strong, but you do have 10 hearts between the two hands. A 10 card fit makes it worthwhile bidding game regardless of strength. 4♥ almost certainly won't make, but it will make it hard for West to get into the auction and East West have a large majority of HCP. Your 4H bid will probably be a good sacrifice.
| | North | East | South | West |
| | 3♦ | P | 3NT |
This time you'll probably be better in 3NT rather than 5♦. 3NT only requires 9 tricks as opposed to 11 for game in a minor. You need to be strong in all the other suits to bid 3NT and you should have an honor in partner's suit.
Changing suit is forcing over a preempt, just as it is over a 1-level opening. You can, therefore, bid 3♥. This asks me to bid 4♥ if I have 3-card support, or 3NT without 3-card support.
You need a very strong hand to force to game. Remember that partner will have 9 HCP at the most. It's fun to preempt. Good luck, and don't worry if you don't always make your contract.
[admin e a]
