Wednesday, December 14, 2005 2:55 PM

Combating Pre-empts

PITBULLS:

In the modern game , players pre-empt way more than they should. Discipline with many of these players are a thing of the past. Established partnerships need to adjust their system to compensate. Here are some of the adjustments that my partnerships have made to combat this nuisance. D.S.I.P. doubles apply directly after all pre-empts beyond the negative double level. Trump stack doubles of pre-empts are only made by passing re-opening doubles. This allows direct doubles to “show cards” and the opener has the option to convert for penalty. D.S.I.P. doubles remove the ambiguity of penalty doubles in these pre-emptive situations.

Pre-empts of 4♥/4♠ overcalls have redefined 4NT in competition. 4NT is no longer KCB when they bid 4♠/♥ but instead show two suiters. These 4NT bids are more distributional than a direct D.S.I.P. double. Lebensohl applies after they pre-empt at the 4♥/4♠ level and we double , so KCB is no longer available in these auctions. A direct bid shows values after a double and 4NT is a relay to 5♣ to show the weak distributional hands. Pulling of direct or re-opening doubles of their 4♥/♠ bids is Lebensohl.

Over 3 level pre-emptive overcalls , we have modified our negative doubles. The first instinct of the opener should be to bid 3NT with a stopper in their suit. There negative doubles are called “Thrump doubles”. These Thrump doubles combat the pre-empter trying to cause us to miss our 3NT games when we have a long suit or a majority of HCP’s. We still make normal negative doubles at the 3 level but partner just has to be wary that these hand types may be included with the double.

If they are vul and we are not , direct or balancing doubles of weak two’s or 3 level pre-empts do not have shape requirements. These doubles just show defense to allow partner to convert bad pre-empts for penalty. We trap on these vulnerabilities to catch the modern pre-empters “speeding”. We trap on equal vulnerability also and manufacture a 3NT bid only if we are vulnerable and they are not.

Modern pre-empters have caused us to redefine 4NT when we bid minors at the 4 level. 4NT is always to play when we bid 4 of a minor after a pre-empt. This means that a Q bid of their pre-emptive suit is KCB for the minor. AQxxxx x AQx Kxx 1♠-3♥-4♦-? 4♥ is KCB and 4NT is to play.

To combat weak two’s , Lebensohl is used , direct Q bids ask for a stopper to bid 3NT and jump overcalls show two suiters in that minor and the unbid major. 2♠-4♣ shows a two suiter in clubs and hearts.

2♠-p-p-3♠ asks for a spade stopper to bid 3NT. 2NT in the balancing is natural but the stopper may be only a partial. 2NT as a passed hand in the balancing is for the minors.

The best weapon against their “modern pre-empts” is the forcing pass. We do not pre-empt over a pre-empt so if we bid game directly on any vulnerability , forcing passes are turned on. We are deemed to own the auction if partner doubles with us vulnerable and they pre-empted nv at the 3 level or higher. At this one vulnerability only , 3♦-x-5♦-? forcing passes apply. 3♠-x-4♠-? and 3♥-X-4♥-? forcing passes also apply at one vulnerability only ( vul rs not) . If the result is –590 so be it . 4NT is Lebensohl with these auctions but the double is in accordance with forcing pass theory. The reverse is also true when our side pre-empts vul against nv and we bid a vul game. Forcing passes apply if their side bids again even though one of has pre-empted !! At the other vulnerabilities, we assume they are bidding game to make so normal methods apply.

If the auctions deems it so with pre-empts and a passed hand , forcing passes are turned on with any vulnerability. A 3^rd seat pre-empt of 3♥ , a double and then 6♥ as a passed hand. The auction has turned on forcing pass theory. All 3^rd seat pre-empts , a double and a raise to game by a passed hand turn on forcing passes. If they bid it to make and they do , they get a doubled bonus. Forcing passes simplify the auction for our side and reduce the effectiveness of their bad pre-empts.