Tuesday, December 13, 2005 4:23 PM

Pre-empts - Q Bids

PITBULLS:

Q bids are the most over used bid in Bridge . Sometimes Q bids turn auctions into an ambiguous mess. Having said that , I feel that the Q bid is an excellent bid after pre-empts at the two level & 3 level. The Q bid allows the pre-empters input into the final decision instead of partner making an “informed guess” . The Q bid serves the same purpose as a 2 NT bid after a weak two , how do you grade your hand ?

I am an advocate of reasonably disciplined pre-empts. However if you are nv vrs vul some liberties may be taken. Even with disciplined pre-empts , they can vary quite a bit . A Q bid by partner lets you describe these hands. A Q bid should also set up a forcing pass on the pre-empter in case they bid again. A Q bid in pre-emptive auctions goes against the grain as pre-empts are supposed to be so disciplined you can place the contract.

Your partner opens 3♣ nv vrs vul and your RHO overcalls 3♠ vul . You hold AQx AKxx Axx Kxx so what do you do ? This is the vulnerability where partner may be taking some liberties or she may have AQJ10xxx of clubs and 6 clubs is cold. You can make the decision single handedly for the partnership by giving partner great leeway for her pre-empt and bidding a pessimistic 3NT or penalty double. Or you can take the “bull by the horns” and leap to 6♣. You are in effect just guessing though. Enter the 4♠ Q bid !! What could a Q bid possibly mean opposite a pre-empt ? You are not supposed to hold outside cards but you can hold outside singletons/voids. A Q bid should zero in on trump quality or trump length which is the only attribute that disciplined pre-empters are supposed to vary.

Partner may have opened 3♣ on xx xxx xx QJ1098x or xx xx xx QJ109xxx or xx Qxx x AJ1098xx or xx xx xx AQxxxxx. The final contracts vary from a partial to a slam depending on the “quality” of the pre-empt. On equal vulnerability or unfavourable vulnerability by playing disciplined pre-empts , the partnership can make some assumptions and throw out some hands. However , on this particular vulnerability “anything goes”.

Weak two’s vary even more than a 3 level pre-empt. Partner opens 2♠ and you get a 3♥ overcall. There is an argument that a 4♥ Q bid should elicit the same responses as you play over a 2NT asking bid. At the very least , the 4♠ bid is a death response , 4NT shows a good pre-empt and a Q bid shows a control.

The moral of the story is do not assume you “know everything” when partner makes a pre-empt. A Q bid brings partners input into the decision making process. At least it allows partner to make the death response and throw a wet blanket on the proceedings.