Tuesday, January 31, 2006 2:03 AM
Implied Fits - Pre-empts
PITBULLS:
Peter Jones and I had an understanding that I feel is
worth playing . Whenever partner pre-empts
at the 2 , 3 or 4 level , if
partner bids another suit there is an “implied
fit” understanding . In other words , we are not allowed to bid a new suit on our own without a fit if the opponents own the auction
. We bite the bullet and just pass with a single suit and no support for partner. The most common bid
came up with BJ and myself . The
opponents opened 1♣ and BJ pre-empted 3♦ and RHO bid 3♥. BJ hit me with 4♦ and the vulnerability was right for a sacrifice. I
held J1098xx Q10 1098x x so why sacrifice at the 5
level when a 4 spade sacrifice might be better ? I bid 3♠ which got doubled. Jones and I had an understanding
that a pass by the pre-empter showed a tolerance for spades otherwise you must bid 4♦. I can not bid 3♠ without diamonds
, its just not allowed opposite partners pre-empt. Of course , if its our hand , a bid does not show a fit as I
may have a huge hand.
Tonight
Dora was in 3rd seat
and opened 2♠
with A10987x xx KJxx x and they
overcalled 3NT. As a passed hand I crawled in 4♣ which got doubled. All pass
and I went for –500 against their +460 for a zero. 4♠X goes for –300 and a tie for a top. As a passed hand
or otherwise I can not crawl in at the 4 level without a fit for partner. It is
just too reckless and too much of a gamble. I must have spade tolerance for my
bid. I preferred to play 4♣X as I had 7 clubs but I did have spades as a
backup.
Discipline in Bridge is important. When
partner pre-empts , you can take liberties
with lead directing bids or bidding your suits because you have an escape hatch
in partners pre-empt suit. It
seems silly to bid a suit with no fit for partners pre-empt anyway. Rescuing
pre-empts never seems like a good idea. Partner of the pre-empt is still captain of the ship though. If she bids a
suit and rescues herself to your pre-empt suit this is where you play it
despite your fit in her suit. The pre-empter is allowed to bid NT in competitive auctions . A NT bid
by the pre-empter is a “choice of suit”
bid. You open 3♦ with x Qxxx
KQJxxxx x and partner bids 3♥. RHO bids 4♠ so you have an excellent offensive hand in light of
partners heart bid. You can not bid 5♥ but you can bid 4NT which says “pick hearts or
diamonds” please. Partner may have bid her heart
void as a lead director. xxx void
A1098 J1098xx