Thursday, January 05, 2006 3:26 PM
Pre-empts Rule of 7
PITBULLS:
Bridge involves an element of intelligent risk taking
or gambling. This is due to the element of probably in random events such as
dealing cards. Pre-empts by the “nature of the beast” introduce an element of
risk. Risk for the pre-empter but also a risk for the opponents who must bid
over the pre-empts. You must have a very good hand to bid over pre-empts but
you are allowed some
leeway. You can not base your bid on the assumption partner has
nothing and the opponents has all the remaining outstanding cards. This would
“paralyze” you and just hand victory to the pre-empter on a silver platter.
When you bid over a pre-empt , the partnership must assume the bid is partially
a “pre-balance” .
The
rule of thumb in bidding over pre-empts is to give partner 7 HCP and bid accordingly. You are vul and
they are not and you hold x KJ1098x Axx AKJ
. They open 3♠
so do you overcall 4♥ ?? Ok give
partner her rightful 7 HCP. In this case the KQ of diamonds , with either the
club queen or the heart queen. With these 7 HCP you can count 10 tricks with
your hand !! You have 16 HCP and RHO may have the KQJ of spades and an outside
queen. You have around 25 HCP’s accounted for between your hand and the pre-mpter.
Now the two unknown hands with 15 HCP’s unaccounted for. It is illogical to
assume all the remaining HCP’s in the opponents hand. The law of averages says
that 7 HCP should fall in partner’s hand. You should “pre-balance” and bid
accordingly.
This
is straight good risk taking. If LHO has most of the remaining HCP’s you will
be doubled and go for –800 and lose 12 IMPS. If you pass and partner will not
balance with her 7 HCP you miss a vul game and lose 12. It is the same gamble !! It is more than that though is that
by passing 16 HCP , you set partner up for future disasters as she will stretch
in the balancing spot to double with hands that she should not. You have now
induced disasters by not taking
the appropriate risk immediately.
When
you make a T/O double of a pre-empt you take another bid based on partner
holding 7 HCP. You need a base on dealing with the unknown that a pre-empt
creates. Assuming no HCP’s in partners hand after a pre-empt is illogical and
unrealistic. The greatest fear is fear itself. If you do occur a disaster ,
congratulate the opponents and say nice pre-empt. However your partners better
have done the same damage at the other table. Partner should not punish you in
a pre-emptive auction.
Here
is a hand from the Bridge World. ♠
J8764 ♥ ♦ AQJ1086 ♣A5 . You
are vul and they are not. They open 1♥ and RHO pre-mpts to 4♥. What do you do vul vrs not ? You are under pressure
vul vrs nv opponents applying pressure. The majority of the panel voted for 4♠. Most people would not even overcall at the one
level with this suit . Yet the majority of World class experts are bidding 4♠ directly vul vrs not at the 4 level . Why ? Well 10
HCP in hearts should be identified. You have a 6-5 with a void in their suit.
Give partner her rightful 7 HCP in a pre-emptive auction and bid accordingly.
RHO has shown nothing and LHO an opener. Partner should not punish you as she
realizes you are under pressure. The panel joked and said 4♥ is a transfer to 4♠ on these auctions. If LHO slapped the double card on
the table they would retreat to 5♦ etc.
However Rodwell , Hammon , Wollf
etc bid 4♠
. Here is a weird answer form Zia “ 5♦. Too strong
for 4♠ which I
would bid with less of a chance of
making a 5 level contract. 6-5’s
are for bidding and not doubling. “ Wow !!