Pre-Empts
The PRIMARY purpose of a pre-emptive bid is to prevent the opponents from finding their best contract. Bidding OUR best contract is of SECONDARY concern, especially if pre-empting opposite a passed hand (when game our way is hopeless). OBSTRUCTION is key.
In showing a long suit with a pre-emptive bid, we invite partner to bid sacrificially with any modicum of support. By how high should partner sacrifice ? To help partner decide this, pre-emptor must remember the First rule of pre-empting:
K Q x x x x
A x x
x x
x x
With a Heart and a likely Spade trick on defence, do NOT open a weak 2♠ here. PASS and bid the Spades without jumping later.
By knowing that pre-emptor does NOT have a 2nd defensive trick, pre-emptor's partner will know that, with no defense in hir hand, sacrificing even at the SLAM level may be profitable.
The second rule of pre-empting is a simple extension of the first:
x
K Q J 10 x x x
A J x
J x
Open 1♥, not 3♥ or 4♥ here.
The third rule of pre-empting reflects the fact that we do NOT want to make it impossible for partner to find a 4-4 major suit fit (if partner is not a passed hand) and we do not want to prevent the opponents from bidding a major-suit game, if THEIR trumps are breaking badly:
Conservative players observe strict rules for their first and second seat pre-empts. Many will only pre-empt with two of the top three honours in the long suit: usually AQ or KQ (since AK might constitute two defensive tricks). Only in Third seat, do these players relax these suit strength requirements.
Conservative authorities observe the RULE OF 1-2-3:
Have within 2 tricks of your bid, if both vul,
Have within 3 tricks of your bid, if NOT vul.
The reasoning is that if doubled, the pre-emptor will go down LESS than the opponents would make, if they were to bid and make game. The exception to this comes when neither side is vulnerable, but –500 may not be bad, if our adversaries happen to make a slam.
When playing with an unknown partner, assume that these orthodox restrictions apply.
Aggressive players pre-empt on MUCH weaker hands, but are more strict in regards to the 1st Rule of Pre-Empting.
Because of the weakness of Hemmingway pre-empts, partner of the Pre-Emptor requires a veritable powerhouse to even consider going on. As one wit said, "Bidding opposite an orthodox pre-empt requires a Frankenstein-class monster hand; bidding opposite a Hemmingway requires a full godzilla !" :)
The stultifying effect that Hemmingway Pre-empts have on partners explains their name
"Ask NOT for whom partner pre-empts," Hemmingway advocates will say, "she/he pre-empts thee !" :)
Instead of the Rule of 1-2-3, Hemmingway pre-emptors observe the "52 Pickup" Rule. Be ready to down:
| Five tricks, | if NON-Vul versus Vul opponents, |
| Four tricks, | if Neither side is Vul, |
| Three tricks, | if Both sides are Vul, |
| Two tricks, | if Vul versus NON-Vul opponents. |
This ultra-aggressive style reflects some realities of the game: the opponents may not be able or willing to double, pre-empts often pressure opponents into percipitous action, and, if partner does NOT contribute a trick to our cause, the opponents will likely be cold for SLAM, not simply GAME. –1100 isn't so garish, if the opponents can make +1430 for 6♥ or 6♠.
It follows that Hemmingway pre-emptors will Pass on many hands with which orthodox bidders would pre-empt.
A Q J x x x
Q x x
x x
x x
Orthodox bidders would pre-empt 2♠ here. But if partners of Hemmingway pre-emptors begin to expect such hands, they may begin to bid with 16-point hands. Pass, and overcall Spades later — without jumping in Spades.
As a general rule, Hemmingway pre-emptors
tend NOT to pre-empt with
the Ace of the long suit.
This is because, against any final suit
contract by the opponents, the Ace may find
partner with a singleton and constitute TWO
tricks (the Ace and a ruff).
x x x
A 10 9 x x x
x x x
x
Do NOT open 2♥ here. PASS and overcall simply in Hearts later. This, of course, means that the Range of one's simple overcalls is much Wider when playing the Hemmingway style: 4-16 instead of the standard 8-16 HCPs.
An opening bid of 2♠, 2♥ and 2♦ in SAYC
shows a 6-card suit any either 6-10 HCPs
(orthodox) or 4-8 HCPs (Hemmingway).
Modern
pre-emptors will occasionally do so with a
Five-card suit.
This is not recommended, since
it precludes partner from applying the Law of
Total Tricks, which dictates that the partnership
should compete or pre-empt to the level of ONE
trick for each trump the partnership holds.
How
can partner judge how many trumps the pair holds,
if pre-emptor starts "fudging" on their number ?
Responses to a weak 2-bid by an unpassed hand are a simple matter: new suit responses are forcing, raises are not, and 2NT asks Opener to rebid a "feature" (Ace, King or Qxx) in an unbid suit unless minimal (in which case Opener rebids the long suit).
3-level pre-empts tend to show seven card suits, although a 6-carder with good spots may qualify — especially for a 3♣ opening (since 2♣ is not available as a weak 2-bid).
In response to a 3-level pre-empt, a new Major suit is natural and forcing, Unless
a game bid (e.g., 3♠-Pass-4♥).
Responses in a Minor suit are often CUEBIDS, inviting Opener
to cuebid a control in one of the unbids if
it is convenient to do so.
Responder clarifies hir intent later.
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The "Brough" Theory dictates that "3♠ is
more pre-emptive than 4♠".
This stems from the
fact that doubling 3♠ puts the opponents into
game, if they happen to make.
Doubling 4♠ is
strictly for penalty (bid 4NT for takeout over
4♠).
Because it is so much easier to double
game-level contracts for penalty (and they
are already in game, after all), then, we
should strictly apply the Rule of 1-2-3 here
even if playing Hemmingway PRE-EMPTS.
Save your light pre-empts for NON-GAME level bids.
Any "pre-empt" in fourth seat is not really a pre-empt at all, since Opener could simply pass out the hand. Rather, they show a MINIMAL legitimate Opener with a 6-card suit and good chances of making — but NO interest in game opposite a passed partner.
This usually implies good trumps — including good trump spots. The idea is to prevent the opponents from finding a makeable Part-Score. It is important to take a PLUS score here to justify the non-passout.
Q J 10 9 x x
K Q J
x
A 10 x
Open 2♠ in 4th seat, to make it tough for the opponents to find their Diamond fit and to prevent partner from making a limit raise.