Competing Over Preempts

by Jon Gustafson

These notes discuss direct actions only. Balancing bids require less strength while partner's expected strength increases. Also, in general, don't preempt over a preempt, but greater liberties can be taken when partner is a passed hand.

Over a Four-Level Opening Preempt¹

In Bridge World Standard,

• Double of any natural suit opening bid through four spades is for takeout.
• 4NT over 4 shows a two-suiter, over 4 shows the minors, and over 4 of a minor 4NT is natural.

How do you judge when to act? We must recognize sufficient strength indicated by both, not too many quick losers and the prospect of developing enough winners. Experience is key, so consider the following hands.

Matchpoints, neither side vulnerable, the bidding has gone:

South	West	North	East
			4
?

1. 7 K875 A532 A1064

Pass. Perfect shape, but not strong enough. If north has enough to make a game opposite this hand he will be on his way to six.

2. 7 AQ87 KQ108 AJ106

Double. This hand has perfect shape and good strength. If no contract makes you will have lots of company. A fit is likely and north's expected strength puts you in the game zone.

3. 7 AKQ8 KQ108 AK62

Double. The shape, not the strength, dictates the takeout double. You will be very unlucky to go negative unless you take a stab at an unmakeable slam.

4. K87 AQ2 AJ104 K83

Pass. Doubling with this type of hand is no longer considered standard expert practice. If you double with both this hand and hand 3), north's decisions will be much too difficult. Pass and go plus.

5. K87 AQ2 AKJ4 AQ6

Double. Finding the par spot will be difficult for everyone. If north has a relatively flat hand with which his best tactic is to pass, all should be fine. Otherwise bidding more requires guesswork.

6. QJ765 A3 KJ9743

Four Notrump. Shows a non-specific two-suiter. North will start by choosing between the minors, giving preference to clubs. If partner bids diamonds, you will correct to hearts, showing hearts and clubs. This hand is marginally strong enough to compete at this level, but with a void and 6-5 shape, pass would be difficult.

Over a Weak Two-Bid²

Traditional expert methods include,

• Double is takeout.
• 2NT shows a good strong notrump opener
• Double followed by notrump or a new-suit is stronger or more flexible than direct action.
• Four of a minor shows a strong two-suiter with the bid minor and the unbid major (Leaping Michaels).
  
• A three-level cue-bid asks for a stopper for three notrump (suggesting a long solid suit).
• After a takeout double, lebensohl enables advancer to distinguish weak hands from moderate holdings (two notrump by advancer is a marionette to three clubs, most often to show weakness).

Matchpoints, neither side vulnerable, the bidding has gone:

South	West	North	East
			2
?

1. A87 KJ87532 AK3

Three Diamonds. Start by bidding your suit. After the expected heart raise, double for take-out showing a good suit with support for the other two suits.

2. A87 AK3 KQJ10753

Double. First double to show the huge playing strength. You are not afraid of further competition. After two spades (0-7) jump to four clubs. After three diamonds (8-11) bid four clubs which is forcing. After two notrump (lebensohl, requesting three clubs) jump to four clubs, not forcing.

3. AQJ52 K3 AQ8762

Four Clubs. Shows spades and clubs, at least 5-5 and a strong hand (forcing). This hand is close.

4. A87 65 AKQ10865 J

Three Hearts. Asking for a heart stopper. Would prefer to have K or Qx of clubs.

5. AKQ52 K3 AKJ762

Four Clubs. Show slam interest by bidding five clubs over north's attempt to signoff in four spades.

6. K87 AQ5 AKQ3 KQ2

Double. Plan to raise north's expected lebensohl two notrump bid to three. With such a lack of tricks you might bid only two notrump over two spades. If north shows constructive values with a three-level new suit bid, investigate slam.

After a Four-of-a-Major Preempt in Competition³

After partner has doubled or bid a suit, a response of 4NT is for takeout (for the unbid suits) only if an opponent has bid 4 or 4, you have not previously acted, partner has not made a weak bid, nor overcalled a weak enemy bid, and there are at least two unbid suits among clubs, diamonds and hearts.  Otherwise a 4NT response is ace asking.

(1) - 1 - (4) - 4NT (minors)

(P) - 1 - (4) - 4NT (clubs+hearts)

(1) -  double - (4) - 4NT (minors)

(2) - 2 - (4) - 4NT (RKB)

(4) -  double  -  (P)  -  4NT (3-suit takeout)

(1) - 2 - (4) - 4NT (RKB, 2 = weak)

(P) - 1 - (4) - 4NT (RKB)

(1) -  double - (4) - 4NT (Blackwood)

The example hands and discussion for each of the above sections was extracted from the following articles. See the originals for a more thorough discussion.