Bridge for BeginnersBridge for Beginners

Lesson 11Lesson 11

Pre-emptive BiddingPre-emptive Bidding

Homework – Question 1Homework – Question 1 Opponents open 1Opponents open 1. What do you bid?. What do you bid?

AJ765 A8765 8 Q5

T7632 K4 87 QJT8

AQ7 Q986 Q853 Q6

A76 K6 76 QJT865

AJ754 QT 3 AJ653

AKJ8 K5 J6 QJT86

AK75 K5 KQ8 Q743

AK AKJT65 Q5 JT6

11 PassPass P or 1NTP or 1NT 22

11 1NT1NT22 2 2

Homework – Question 2Homework – Question 2 Opponents have opened 1Opponents have opened 1. Partner has . Partner has

overcalled.overcalled. What do you bid?What do you bid?

6

7

J

T

A

K

4

9

7

5

3

OvercallOvercall

1111

111NT1NT

Your Bid?Your Bid?

PP

33

1133

2

3

Homework – Question 3Homework – Question 3 Opponents have opened 1Opponents have opened 1. Partner has . Partner has

overcalled.overcalled. What do you bid?What do you bid?

J

T

A

K

7

Q

8

9

8

OvercallOvercall

22

2222

1NT1NT

Your Bid?Your Bid?

44

222233

5

6

6

4

Pre-emptive BiddingPre-emptive Bidding

HCP are very important in NT contractsHCP are very important in NT contracts In Suit Contracts length is as importantIn Suit Contracts length is as important So we use rule of 20So we use rule of 20 When the shape is more extremeWhen the shape is more extreme HCP are less importantHCP are less important

Pre-emptive BiddingPre-emptive Bidding Consider this handConsider this hand

Q

8

A

Q

7

8

7

We have 8 HCPWe have 8 HCP

Rule of 20 = 18Rule of 20 = 18

We have 7 We have 7 ’s’s

And a poor And a poor defensive handdefensive hand

11 would mislead would mislead partnerpartner

We make a pre-We make a pre-emptive bid of 3emptive bid of 3

6

6

5

4

5

2

Opening BidsOpening Bids

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

Requirements for a Pre-emptRequirements for a Pre-empt

At least 7 of the suit bidAt least 7 of the suit bid About 6-9 HCPAbout 6-9 HCP With longer suit fewer HCP are neededWith longer suit fewer HCP are needed No other 4 card majorNo other 4 card major

Objectives of a Pre-emptObjectives of a Pre-empt

To get in opponents wayTo get in opponents way They probably have a fit in another suitThey probably have a fit in another suit They may well be stronger than your sideThey may well be stronger than your side You can make it hard for them to find their You can make it hard for them to find their

best contractbest contract

You do not expect to make the contractYou do not expect to make the contract But 1 off vul or 2 off non-vul is likely to be But 1 off vul or 2 off non-vul is likely to be

good for your sidegood for your side

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

at the 5 levelat the 5 level

Pre-emptive Bidding – Hand 1Pre-emptive Bidding – Hand 1

Q

8

A

Q

7

8

7

We have 8 HCPWe have 8 HCP

Rule of 20 = 18Rule of 20 = 18

We have 7 We have 7 ’s’s

So count 5So count 5

Add 1 for the AceAdd 1 for the Ace

Add 2 or 3 according to Add 2 or 3 according to vulnerabilityvulnerability

Vul = 8 – so PASSVul = 8 – so PASS

Non-vul = 9 Bid 3Non-vul = 9 Bid 3

6

6

5

4

5

2

Pre-emptive Bidding – Hand 2Pre-emptive Bidding – Hand 2

Q

8

A

Q

7

8

7

We have 8 HCPWe have 8 HCP

Rule of 20 = 18Rule of 20 = 18

We have 8 We have 8 ’s’s

So count 6So count 6

Add 1 for the AceAdd 1 for the Ace

Add 2 or 3 according to Add 2 or 3 according to vulnerabilityvulnerability

Vul = 9 – so Bid 3Vul = 9 – so Bid 3Non-vul = 10 Bid 4Non-vul = 10 Bid 4

6

6

5

5

2

4

Pre-emptive Bidding – Hand 3Pre-emptive Bidding – Hand 3

Q

8

Q

7

8

7

We have 8 HCPWe have 8 HCP

Rule of 20 = 18Rule of 20 = 18

We have 7 We have 7 ’s’s

So count 5So count 5

Add 1 for the Add 1 for the KK

Add 2 or 3 according to Add 2 or 3 according to vulnerabilityvulnerability

Vul = 8 – so PassVul = 8 – so Pass

Non-vul = 9 Bid 3Non-vul = 9 Bid 3

6

6

5

5

2

4

K

Pre-emptive Bidding – Hand 4Pre-emptive Bidding – Hand 4

Q

K

7

8

7

We have 8 HCPWe have 8 HCP

Rule of 20 = 19Rule of 20 = 19

We have 7 We have 7 ’s’s

And we have 4 And we have 4 ’s’s

So open 1So open 1We may find a better fit in We may find a better fit in

’s’s

But if opponents start But if opponents start bidding jump to 3bidding jump to 3

6

6

5

5

2

4

K

8

Pre-emptive Bidding – Hand 5Pre-emptive Bidding – Hand 5

Q

Q

7

8

7

We have 4 HCPWe have 4 HCP

Rule of 20 = 14Rule of 20 = 14

We have 7 We have 7 ’s’s

Count is 5Count is 5

PassPass

Too weak for a pre-emptToo weak for a pre-empt

Although very temping at Although very temping at favourable vulnerabilityfavourable vulnerability

6

4

2

4

8

6

9

8

Responding to Partner’s Pre-emptResponding to Partner’s Pre-empt

Remember that partner is weakRemember that partner is weak The bid is meant to get in opponents wayThe bid is meant to get in opponents way By taking up much of the bidding spaceBy taking up much of the bidding space This often makes it difficult for us to find This often makes it difficult for us to find

the right contractthe right contract

Responses to Pre-emptive Bidding – Hand 1Responses to Pre-emptive Bidding – Hand 1

K

A

Q

8

7

Partner has opened 3Partner has opened 3We have 14 HCPWe have 14 HCP

And honours in the other suitsAnd honours in the other suits

3NT looks very inviting3NT looks very inviting

How will you run partner’s How will you run partner’s ’s ’s

With only 1 entry?With only 1 entry?

Sadly you must PassSadly you must Pass

You need 2 of the pre-empt You need 2 of the pre-empt suit for a NT trysuit for a NT try

5

K

6

Q

8

4

5

2

Responses to Pre-emptive Bidding – Hand 2Responses to Pre-emptive Bidding – Hand 2

K

A

Q

8

7

Partner has opened 3Partner has opened 3

We have 16 HCPWe have 16 HCP

And honours in the other suitsAnd honours in the other suits

3NT looks very inviting3NT looks very inviting

Now we have 2 entriesNow we have 2 entries

So bid 3NT hoping to run So bid 3NT hoping to run partners long minorpartners long minor

5

K

6

T

A

5

2

8

Responses to Pre-emptive Bidding – Hand 3Responses to Pre-emptive Bidding – Hand 3

T

K

9

3

Partner has opened 3Partner has opened 3

We have 13 HCPWe have 13 HCP

And 6 And 6 ’s’s

3NT looks doubtful3NT looks doubtful

Bid 3Bid 3The new suit at the 3 level The new suit at the 3 level

shows 6 of the suitshows 6 of the suit

Partner supports the major Partner supports the major with 2 cardswith 2 cards

Re-bids the minor with fewerRe-bids the minor with fewer

8

Q

J

K

A

6

3

7

4

Responses to Pre-emptive Bidding – Hand 4Responses to Pre-emptive Bidding – Hand 4

7

5

Partner has opened 3Partner has opened 3

We have 9 HCPWe have 9 HCP

And 7 And 7 ’s’s

Both weak handsBoth weak hands

PASSPASS

Never bid a pre-empt over Never bid a pre-empt over partner’s pre-emptpartner’s pre-empt

You would be at the 4 levelYou would be at the 4 level

But if opponents bid a majorBut if opponents bid a major

Support partner’s Support partner’s ’s’s

9

A

7

6

8

3

9

T

A

J

4

When Opponents Pre-emptWhen Opponents Pre-empt

You bid them to mess up opponentsYou bid them to mess up opponents They will do the same to you!They will do the same to you! In generalIn general If you would have overcalled opponents If you would have overcalled opponents

when they opened 1 of a suitwhen they opened 1 of a suit You should bid over their pre-emptYou should bid over their pre-empt

Overcalling a Pre-emptive BidOvercalling a Pre-emptive Bid

Opponent has opened 3Opponent has opened 3

We have 16 HCPWe have 16 HCP

Bid 3Bid 3If you PassIf you Pass

The pre-empt has been The pre-empt has been successfulsuccessful

Opponents have probably Opponents have probably stolen your contract!stolen your contract!

So bid if you canSo bid if you can

K

A

Q

J

A

2

8

J

7

6

J

4

7

Pre-emptive OvercallsPre-emptive Overcalls

If opponents open 1 of a suitIf opponents open 1 of a suit And you have a pre-emptive handAnd you have a pre-emptive hand Make a pre-emptive overcallMake a pre-emptive overcall Using the same rules as for pre-emptive Using the same rules as for pre-emptive

openingsopenings

Pre-emptive OvercallPre-emptive Overcall

5

Q

K

4

Q

T

RHO bids 1RHO bids 1You should overcall 3You should overcall 3You make it hard for You make it hard for

them to find a fitthem to find a fit

And partner knows what And partner knows what your hand is likeyour hand is like

6

5

2

4

4

6

3

Health WarningHealth Warning

Never Ever Pre-empt over Never Ever Pre-empt over partner’s opening bidpartner’s opening bid

We are trying to mess up the opponents We are trying to mess up the opponents

Partners get very upset!Partners get very upset!

SummarySummary

Pre-empts are powerful weaponsPre-empts are powerful weapons Pre-empts are sacrificialPre-empts are sacrificial Not expected to makeNot expected to make But to get in opponents wayBut to get in opponents way

Be careful not to punish partner for pre-Be careful not to punish partner for pre-empting by getting carried away with the empting by getting carried away with the biddingbidding