Thursday, October 06, 2005 7:04 AM

Pre-empts – Equal Level Conversion

PITBULLS:

Pre-empts by the opponents with you holding a good two suiter does not mix very well. If they open a weak two , you are covered if you play a toy called Roman Jumps. 2♦-4♦-P-? shows 5-5 in the majors . 2♦-4♣-P-? shows clubs and a major . 2♥ or 2♠ by the opponents is easy , as a jump in a minor shows that minor and the other major.

Over 3 level pre-empts you need some partnership understandings. With a good two suiter with defense do you double or overcall ? My style is to double with two suiters , if I have the defense & HCP’s to justify such action. Overcalling a pre-empt should show a single suited hand or a distributional 5-5 or 6-5 without the defense or HCP’s for a double.

OK if you double pre-empts with good two suiters , you need equal level conversion understandings with partner. If you double and pull partners suit at the same level you are showing no extra for the bid and a two suiter without the suit partner just bid. Take this hand ♠ 1087 ♥ QJ965 ♦ AJ95 ♣ 2 They open 3♦ and partner doubles so you try 4♥ . Partner bids 4♠ over your bid so what is going on ? Is partner showing a hand too strong too overcall spades and there is a spade slam on the horizon ? Absolutely not. You do not pre-empt over a pre-empt , so if partner had a spade monster she would have bid 4♠ directly or Q bid. This is an equal level conversion albeit at the 4 level showing spades and clubs. You are all in for your 4♥ bid , so passing 4 spades is the correct bid. Partners hand is ♠AK9xx ♥xx ♦x ♣AKQxx and your +620 remains intact.

The trouble with overcalling with strong two suiters is that you get pre-empted out of showing your two suits and cause partner to go wrong quite often. A double is a more flexible bid and gives partner more options. Given the above bidding sequence , lets change partners hand a bit . They open 3♦ and say partner overcalls 3♠ or 4♣ with that good 5-5 and the next bid is a simple 4♦ bid by the opponents. You hold ♠xx ♥AQxx ♦xx ♣J1098x or a number of similar hands so you bid 4♠. This goes down on a bad spade break with the diamond tap and 6♣ is cold for +1370. Now if partner doubles and they bid 4♦ you try 4♥ and partner converts to 4♠. You now bid 5♣ and 6♣ might be attainable . If not , at least you have your +620 instead of playing on a shaky 5-2 spade fit . With good equal level conversion understandings, accuracy is improved when the opponents are trying to destroy your auction with pre-empts.

Even people who have not solidly bought into “equal level conversion” recognize that off shape doubles are common in the balancing spot. You need a “scrambling tool” like equal level conversion. Opponents pre-empting put pressure on you. They open 3♥ and you have ♠AKQxx ♥xx ♦ QJ109x ♣K so what do you do ? This hand is built for equal level conversion so you double. Say you overcall 3♠ and partner holds ♠xx ♥x ♦AKxxx ♣xxxxx bidding 4♠ or pass are the disciplined options. Either way you miss your vul 5♦ game.

Where do Q bids fit in with two suiters ? I play Q bids over pre-empts a la Goren and not Michaels. Make the hand we have been discussing even stronger and its too strong for a double. ♠AKxxx ♥Ax ♦x ♣AKQxx we would Q bid 4♦ over 3♦ and pull 4♥ to 4♠ . With Q bids you also play equal level conversion . This 4♠ bid is not a Q bid showing hearts and slam interest. You are describing your strong two suiter. The advantage of Q bidding is obvious as you show your monster with one bid and you negate the danger of partner converting your double . What if you held ♠AKxxxx ♥x ♦x ♣QJ10xx ? This is just a 3♠ overcall over 3♦ . So you have all your two suiters covered after a pre-empt depending on the strength of your hand. Overcall, double or Q bid in order of the strength of your hand.