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 !!