CHAPTER 11
Pre-emptive Opening Bids
Omar Sharif says that bridge has helped him to stay sane. He says most actors have nothing to do in their spare time so they worry about their next picture and fret because the phone doesn’t ring; they notice wrinkles that indicate they’re getting older. Not so with him, says Omar.
Just when it seems as if you know all about opening the bidding with and without competition from the opponents, you pick up a hand like this:
If you recall the guidelines we developed for opening the bidding at the one level, you can see that you cannot open the bidding 1
. With 7 HCPs and 3 points for the length in the diamond suit, the hand does not meet the strength requirements for an opening bid of 1. And yet, you probably don’t feel like passing with this hand, do you? It is likely that you could take six or seven tricks all by yourself if diamonds were the trump suit.
Another way of looking at the situation is that there are 33 HCPs among the other three hands. There is a good chance that the opponents have the majority of the missing strength and may be able to make a partscore or, more likely, a game contract in either hearts or spades. If that is the case, you would like to make it as difficult as possible for the opponents to reach their game contract. After all, you want to give the opponents every chance to make a mistake when they are likely to buy the contract.
Opening with a pre-empt
With these thoughts in mind, many players like to make what is called a pre-emptive opening bid (pre-empt) with hands like the one mentioned earlier. A pre-emptive opening bid is made at the three level, so you would open 3 with the previous hand. By opening at the three level you are hoping to make it difficult for the opponents to enter the auction. When the bidding starts at the three level, they are not going to be sure whether to let you play the contract and try to defeat you, or to bid to a contract of their own. If they do decide to let you play in your contract, you will probably take a lot of tricks, thanks to your long suit. Even if you are defeated, the penalty you suffer is likely to be less than the value of the partscore or game the opponents could make.
Requirements for a pre-emptive opening bid
• A good seven-card or longer suit
• Less than the strength for an opening bid at the one level
It is important to remember that the reason for pre-empting is to make it difficult for the opponents, not for your side. If you have an opening bid, even though you have a seven-card suit, start the bidding at the one level. There are other reasons why you might decide not to make a pre-emptive opening bid even when your hand meets the above requirements. For example, if you have a four-card major suit, it is best to avoid starting the bidding at the three level as it will make it difficult for your side to find its fit if your partner also has four or more cards in the major suit. Let’s look at some examples. You are the opener. What would you bid with each of the following hands?
With 12 HCPs and a seven-card suit, the first hand is too strong to open with a pre-empt of 3
. Make the normal opening bid of 1. Your side, not the opponents’, has the best chance of reaching the game zone on this hand. By starting too high, you could interfere with your side’s orderly exchange of information.
Although you have a seven-card diamond suit and less than the values for an opening bid at the one level, the second hand is also not the right type of hand for an opening pre-emptive bid. Your suit is too weak, with your high cards in other suits. You also have a four-card major suit. It would be difficult to find out if your side has a fit in hearts if you start the bidding with 3. Instead, pass with this hand.
The third hand meets the requirements for an opening preempt. You have a good seven-card suit without enough strength to open the bidding at the one level. Start the auction with 3
.
Responding to a pre-emptive opening bid
This time, it is your partner who has started the bidding at the three level. How do you respond to such a bid? You can assume that your partner has about 9 points on average. If you have 16 or more, you probably want to bid on with the intention of reaching a suitable contract in the game zone. If you have fewer than 16 points, you should usually pass and be satisfied that your partner has disrupted the opponents’ bidding.
Here are some examples. Your partner starts the bidding 3 and the opponent on your right says pass. What do you respond with each of the following hands?
Although you have a reasonable hand and would prefer to be playing in a contract of 3
, rather than 3, with the first hand, you should pass. If you, as responder, bid a new suit at the three level, it is a forcing bid and your partner will have to bid again. You will end up getting too high. Since your partner has less than the values for an opening bid, pass and leave well enough alone.
With 18 HCPs on the second hand, it is likely that you belong in the game zone even though your partner has a weak hand. Since he has seven or more clubs, it is unlikely that he has four hearts or four spades, so it is not worth looking for a fit in one of those suits. Instead, respond 3NT. It will be easier to try to take nine tricks in a no-trump contract than eleven tricks in 5.
On the third hand, you have 15 HCPs and 2 points for the six-card spade suit. With this much strength, it is worth looking for a contract in the game zone. You can respond 3, a new suit. Since you are not yet at the game zone, a new suit by the responder is forcing and your partner’s next bid will help you decide on the best contract.
Rebidding by the pre-emptor
The basic reason for making a pre-emptive opening bid is to interfere with the opponents’ auction, not to get your side to a contract which it cannot make. An opening bid at the three level is very descriptive. It tells your partner you have a seven-card suit and less than opening points. Your partner is now the captain so let him decide what to do next. Suppose you are North and the bidding progresses as follows:
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North |
East |
South |
West |
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(You) |
(Partner) |
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3 |
3 |
Pass |
4 |
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? |
You started at the three level to make it difficult for the opponents but they still reached a contract of 4. What do you do now? Pass. We don’t even have to look at your hand. We know you have a seven-card or longer suit and less than opening points. Leave the decision up to your partner, who can either pass or move to 5. Remember, after you have made a pre-emptive opening bid, you have passed the captaincy to your partner.
If your partner bids a new suit below the game level, it is forcing and you must bid again. Suppose you started with a pre-emptive opening bid of 3 and your partner responds 3. Let’s consider what you would do with this hand:
Your partner is interested in finding the best contract in the game zone and will have a five-card or longer heart suit. With support for his suit, raise to 4. Had the responder bid 3, you would rebid 4, showing no interest in the spade suit. Your partner will take it from there.
Over Zia’s shoulder
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Audrey: |
Zia, you are a very flamboyant player. You must have some interesting stories about pre-emptive bidding. I have a feeling you like to start the bidding at the three level. |
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Zia: |
I’m afraid that my ideas about pre-empting are X-rated and not fit for printing. Suffice to say that I am a strong supporter of pre-empting whenever and wherever possible. It is not easy to play well when you are under pressure and pre-empts certainly put the opponents under pressure. Since I never seem to get my fair share of the high cards, the pre-emptive opening bid is one way I can have some fun in the auction even when I don’t have the best hand at the table. I don’t like to let my opponents have the auction all to themselves. Too often they get to the right contract. Here is a hand I held playing against very good opponents: |
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Although I only had 3 HCPs, I did have an eight-card suit, so I started the auction with 3 |
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Audrey: |
Part of the skill in making pre-emptive opening bids is to know when to avoid opening the bidding at the three level. |
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Zia: |
That’s true. You want to avoid opening every hand that has a seven-card or longer suit with a pre-empt. What would you do if you held this hand? |
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I hope that you would start with 1 |
Summary
When you have a seven-card or longer suit and not enough strength to open the bidding at the one level, you can consider making a pre-emptive opening bid at the three level.
Requirements for a pre-emptive opening bid
• A good seven-card or longer suit
• Less than the strength for an opening bid at the one level
Keep the following points in mind when pre-empting:
• Avoid pre-empting with a long suit when you have enough strength to open the bidding at the one level
• Avoid pre-empting with a four-card or longer major suit in addition to your long suit
• After you have pre-empted, the responder is the captain. Don’t bid again unless the responder makes a forcing bid
• If the responder bids a new suit, you have to bid again
If your partner opens the bidding with a pre-empt at the three level, you should generally pass unless you have about 16 or more points.
If your opponent opens the bidding with a pre-empt, you can compete with an overcall or takeout double if your hand is suitable. Since you are entering the auction at the three level or higher, you should have more strength than a minimum opening bid.
Commonly asked questions
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Q |
Do all pre-emptive opening bids start at the three level? |
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A |
No. Any opening bid in a suit at the three level or higher is a pre-emptive opening bid. The longer and stronger your suit is, the higher you can start with your pre-empt. However, there is no point in bidding beyond the game zone since you do not want to lose the game bonus if your side has the balance of strength. For example, suppose you have the following hand: |
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With a good eight-card spade suit, you could open the bidding 4 |
