PREEMPTIVE BIDS -
CONVENTION TO IMPROVE
COMPETITIVENESS 
When you have some System information about the hand of your
partner you will surely be more competitive than other partnership
that play in the dark for some situations.
Thus, lets here comment some usual conventions used for advanced
players to have more competitiveness in bridge.
******************************************************
** Rule of 3 and 2
** In a competitive auction the rule of 3 and 2 determines how many
** downs doubled a defensive bidding can lose to
still own
advantage in
** points against a sure game from opponents.
**
** In same vulnerability only 2 down
** (nVul game=420 x
down 2 = 300) (Vul game=620 x down2=500)
** Opponents Vul x nVul up
to 3 down
** (Vul game = 620 x nVul down 3 = 500)
** Opponents nVul x Vul
only 1
** (nVul game = 420 x Vul down
1 = 200)
** read more
here
*******************************************************
PREEMPTIVE OPEN CONVENTIONS FOR LEVEL 2, 3 and 4
1-
A open in a weak 2/2/2 always brings a pressure in opponent
interference, so it is good to disturb opponent bidding and
this initiative
allows also a
constructive bidding for the partnership
if Responder
knows the consistency of the suit bidded by Opener to
make easy to
Responder
conclude how many tricks they can make in a normal distribution of the cards.
a) Suppose partner opens 2 and you have Q7 A109x J1063 AK2,
if you have an agreement with your partner to open in first and second
position in weak 2 only having 2 top honors you can now imagine that
your
side bidding 3nt
will have a chance more than 67,83% of success
(% remainder cards
in an 8 cards suit for 3-2 division) to make 9 tricks because your side can make 6s+1h+2c and opponent have
no chance in make 5 tricks!
b) Suppose partner opens 2 and you have A4 109xxx A3 KQ2, and you
have agreement with your partner that 2nt ask for a stopper (A/K/Q) in a lateral suit. Then if after 2nt
Opener
bids 3, it is clearly an
Clubs ace
because you have KQx. Thus
now you can count 6 tricks in , 3 tricks in and 1 trick in . So you
must bid 3nt with very
good chance of success because opponents will make maximum 4 tricks in if has a normal
division in 3-2.
Conclusion, having a correct information about the weak opening suit is fundamental to Responder's
take decision merging his cards with Opener's cards.
It is inexplicable how a partnership
can have competitiveness when
a player in first or second position opens weak 2 sometimes with:
c) A4 J109xxx 63 K42 with 2 maybe make 3nt and stay in 2
d) K108654 J109x 3 K4 with 2 maybe make 4 and not 3nt
e) 54 x A965433 KQ104 with 2 maybe make 5 and not 3nt
How his partner can make a decision with such irregular opening?
Rule-0: After a preemptive opening at level2 or 3 the 4 bid by Responder
is RKB1430 asking for keycards in the weak suit opening and 4nt is
Blackwood asking only for aces.
Rule-1: The weak 2 opening in first and second position must have 2 top
honors (AK/KQ/AQ) in the opening suit and can hase only one additional top honor in another suit.
Thus, in first and second position Opener should not not open with:
a) A42 xxx KJ10963 4 <=
no 2 top honors in
b) x AJ10842 K63 942 <=
no 2 top honors in
c) KQ987x Q102 6 K42 <=
maximum 1 lateral honor
Rule-2: the Responder's bid of 2nt apply only to ask for "features"
(a top honor)
and
the responses are:
R2.1 - rebid his suit - no additional honor - minimum
R2.2 - other suit - a top honor
(A / K / QJx)
- maximum
R2.3 - 3nt with AKQxxx in the opening suit
Rule-3: After weak opening in first and second position the response bid
in a major is one round forcing and asked for support of 3 cards or honor
second. Without any support Opener with maximum can bid his side
top honor
en passant if possible or with minimum just rebid his suit.
Rule-4: After a weak open in 2/2/2/3/3/3/3 the response bid in 4
is reserved
to ask for singleton
in the Opener's hand and then response 4nt is used to show singleton in
the other minor.
Opener Responder
2weak or 3weak 4 <= asking for
singleton or rebid suit
?
for 2 =>4 singleton /4 singleton /4nt singleton /5 deny
for 2 =>4 deny /4 singleton / 5 singleton /5 singleton
for 2 =>4 singleton /4 deny /5 singleton / 5 singleton
for 3 =>4 singleton /4 singleton /4nt singleton /5 deny
for 3 =>4 singleton /4 singleton /4nt singleton /5 deny
for 3 =>4 deny /4 singleton / 5 singleton /5 singleton
for
3 =>4 singleton /4 deny /5 singleton / 5 singleton
Rule-5: after a weak open in 2/2/2/3/3/3/3 the response bid
in 4 is RKC1430 and
response bid in 4nt is Blackwood asking for aces.
Opener Responder
2weak or 3weak 4 <=
RKC1430
Opener Responder
2weak or 3weak 4nt
<=
Blackwood for aces
the response are: 5 = zero 5 = 1 ace adn 5 = 2 aces
Note: So there are no support for minors at level 4 after weak2 or
weak 3 open unless there are interference in the bidding.
Examples where in first or second position a preemptive bid occurs:
Opener hand: A42 xxx KQ10963 4
Opener Responder
2 ?
if Resp. bids 2 then Opener 3 is support 3 cards or Hx
if Resp. bids 2 then Opener bids 3 support of 3 cards or
better, Opener bids 4 with honor 3o.
and in addition when
Open has maximum with honor 3o. and singleton then he may
splinter in 4 showing his 6331
hand!
if Resp. bids 2nt then Opener bids 3 features (honor=H)
if Resp. bids 3 then Opener bids 3 that means no support
if Resp. bids 3 conclusive (obstructed)
then Opener passes
if Resp. bids 3nt
conclusive
then Opener passes
if Resp. bids 4 asking for keycard
1430 Opener bids 4nt
if Resp. bids 4 asking singleton
Opener bids 4nt singleton
if Resp. bids 4 conclusive
then Opener passes
if Resp. bids 4 conclusive then Opener passes
if Resp. bids 4nt Blackwood for aces (not
for keycards)
if Resp. bids 5 conclusive then Opener passes
Opener hand: x AQ10842 K63 942
Opener Responder
2 ?
if Resp. bids 2 then Opener bids 3 en passant
if Resp. bids 2nt then Opener bids 3 showing his
H
if Resp. bids 3 then Opener bids 4 support 3 cards
if Resp. bids 3 then Opener bids 4 support 3 cards
or
Opener splinters in 4 showing H 3o. and 6331 hand!
if Resp. bids 3 conclusive (obstructed) then Opener passes
if Resp. bids 3nt
conclusive then Opener passes
if Resp. bids 4 asking for keycard rkc1430 Opener bids 4
if Resp. bids 4 asking for singleton
then Opener bids 4
if Resp. bids 4 conclusive then Opener passes
if Resp. bids 4 conclusive then Opener passes
if Resp. bids 4nt Blackwood for aces then Opener bids 5 (1)
if Resp. bids 5 conclusive then Opener passes
if Resp. bids 5 conclusive then Opener passes
Opener hand: KQ987x Q102 6 842
Opener Responder
2 ?
if Resp. bids 2nt then
Opener bids 3 minimum
if Resp. bids 3 then Opener bids 4 support 3 cards ou Hx
if Resp. bids 3
then Opener bids
3 minimum
if Resp. bids 3 then Opener bids 4 support 3 cards
if Resp. bids 3 conclusive
(obstructed) then Opener passes
if Resp. bids 3nt
conclusive then Opener passes
if Resp. bids 4 asking for
keycard 1430
Opener bids 4
(1)
if Resp. bids 4
asking for singleton
Opener bids 5
if Resp. bids 4 conclusive then Opener passes
if Resp. bids 4 conclusive then Opener passes
if Resp. bids 4nt Blackwood for aces Opener bids 5 zero
if Resp. bids 5 conclusive then Opener passes
if Resp. bids 5 conclusive then Opener passes
2-
Same situation occurs in the preemptive open at level 3.
f) Suppose partner open 3 and you have Axx J109x K63 A62,
if you have an agreement with your partner that a weak open in level 3
3/3/3 need 7 cards with A or K at top and 3 with only 6 cards
need 2 top honors to be opened, then if you have Axx
or a Kxx you can
bid 3nt with a great chance of success.
g) Suppose partner opens 3 and you have Ax QJx QJx AKxxx,
if Spades are 2-2 (40%) but if partner has KQ chances raise to more
than 90%, maybe 100% if partner has KQJ, the contract of 3nt is
better than 4 because there are 4 losers in the reds.
Again, how a partnership
may have competitiveness when a player
in first or second position opens weak 3 sometimes with:
h) x4 J109xxxx 63 AK
i) Q865432 J109x x K4
j) 54 x 10986543 AQ104
How his partner can make decisions with such irregular opens?
The honors of the hand must be concentrated in the suit bid,
even because, if opponents play the hand, and the lead belong
not for the opener, but to his partner, if he leads a King second
and astonished see declarer make the ace and Qx is in
dummy;
or play the ace and see xx in dummy and partner has QJ109876
and declarer make his Kx.
So, the indication for lead is requirement that the suit must have
at top an A or K to have effective competitiveness also in defense.
Rule-6: In the weak open at level in 3/3/3 in first or second
position, requirements are: 7 cards with A or K at top; or 6 cards
in the case of 3
with 2 top honors.
How to Search Preemptor’s hand after an open at
level 3
Opener hand: Q4 Qxx 96 KQ109643
Opener Responder
3 ?
if Resp. bids 3 then Opener bids 3
no support
but H
if Resp. bids 3 then Opener bids 4 support 3 cards
if Resp. bids 3 then Opener bids 4 support H 2o.
if Resp. bids 3nt
conclusive - then Opener
passes
if Resp. bids 4 asking
for keyccards 1430 Opener
bids 4 (1)
if Resp. bids 4 asking for singleton Opener
bids 5 deny
if Resp. bids 4 conclusive - then Opener passes
if Resp. bids 4 conclusive - then Opener
passes
if Resp. bids 4nt Blackwood for aces Opener bids 5 zero
if Resp. bids 5 conclusive -
then Opener
passes
Opener hand: Q4 Qxx KQ109643 84
Opener Responder
3 ?
if Resp. bids 3 then Opener bids 4 - support 3 cards
if Resp. bids 3 then Opener bids 4 - support H 2o.
if Resp. bids 3nt
conclusive - then Opener passes
if Resp. bids 4 asking for keycards Opener bids 4 (1)
if Resp. bids 4 asking for singleton - Opener 5 deny
if Resp. bids 4 conclusive - then Opener passes
if Resp. bids 4 conclusive - then Opener passes
if Resp. bids 4nt Blackwood for aces Opener bids 5 zero
if Resp. bids 5 conclusive
then Opener passes
if Resp. bids 5 conclusive then Opener passes
Opener hand: xx AQJ8432 K6 92
Opener Responder
3
?
if Resp. bids 3 then Opener bids 4 no support but H
if Resp. bids 3nt
conclusive -
then Opener passes
if Resp. bids 4 asking for keycards 1430 Opener bids 4
if Resp. bids 4 asking for singleton 4 deny has 7222
if Resp. bids 4 conclusive then Opener passes
if Resp. bids 4 conclusive then Opener passes
if Resp. bids 4nt Bçackwood for aces Opener bids 5
(1)
if Resp. bids 5 conclusive then Opener passes
if Resp. bids 5 conclusive then Opener passes
Opener hand: AK85432 2 97 982
Opener Responder
3
?
if Resp. bids 3nt
conclusive
then
Opener passes
if Resp. bids 4 asking for keycards 1430 Opener bids 5 (2)
if Resp. bids 4 asking for singleton Opener
bids 4
if Resp. bids 4 conclusive - then Opener passes
if Resp. bids 4 conclusive -then Opener passes
if Resp. bids 4nt Blackwood for aces Opener bids 5 (1)
if Resp. bids 5 conclusive - then Opener passes
if Resp. bids 5 conclusive -then Opener passes
3) What we should agree about an open bid in 4 or 4?
First all preemptive bids must be in agreement with the "Rule of
3 and 2" to be justified in business terms.
Well, this is not universal, there are differents styles of
partnership and all have their own understanding about, but preemptive take room for opponents organize and in a
disciplined way give partner information to make better decisions. so this
polemic.
Lets divide here 2 types of preemptive bid for major at
level 4:
First- weak preemptive
weak- it is a 7/8 cards with 6-12 hcp
missing one or two top honors like:
seven cards: KQJxxxx AKJxxxx AQ10xxxx AJ108763
eight cards: A9875432 KJ965432 QJ876432
This open in first and second position can't have 2 aces.
This open
(4 or 4) can't have another 4+ cards suit
Second: preemptive solider - it is a strong 7/8 cards up to 13 hcp
with all 3 top honors (AKQ) like
in a minor open in 3nt gambling.
(7 cards) AKQ10982 AKQJ432 (8 cards) AKQ87654
This open can't have void or other ace, just one singleton and
only one additional king.
The preempt solid use 4 opening to show 7/8 cards in Hearts and
use 4 opening to show 7/8 cards in Spades.
examples:
k) AKQ86542 9x x Q4 => open 4 in any position
l) 42 AKQJ9xx x KQ4 => open 4 in any position
Note1: When the solid suit of 7/8 cards have additional Ace
or 2 Kings, the hand must be open at level 1 and in a GF auction
Opener in his second bid
must jump to level 3 to show solid
suit,
not strong open in hcp, the hand can have
only
15 hcp but
solid
suit it is supposed to guarantee 7+ tricks:
examples:
m) x AKQJ9xx xx AQ4
you open 1 and if
your partner bids a GF in 2 or 2 then you bid 3 with the agreement that the
suit bid in jump, if only 6 cards must have 4 top honors AKQJxx
or if
the suit is 7 cards then must have 3 top honors AKQxxxx,
of course
you need discuss this agreement with your partner.
NAMYATS is the name of this convention that
opening in
4 shows a solid suit in (x AKQxxxxx Kx xx) and the opening in
4 (AKQxxxx x QJx xx) shows a solid suit in .
This convention
was used by Samuel Stayman and his partner
Victor Mitchell
in
the years of
60 - Namyats is Stayman inverted.
Today Namyats is used by many advanced
partnerships in
international competitions, but with specific details by each
one, so we put some restrictions to
strengthen
the convention.
Rule-7: the opening of 4 or 4 doesn't need A or K at top
if
the
suit
has
8 cards like QJ987654, but can't have 2 aces and
must obey the "Rule of 3 and 2" to be
a
safety bid.
Rule-8: After the open of 4 or 4 (in any position) the
Responder bids transfer 4 => 4 or 4 => 4 to
sign-off the auction.
If Responder bids 4 (not 4) after the open of 4
or Responder bids 4 (not 4) after the open of 4
he
is searching for
singleton
and Opener rebid his suit if he is 7222,
Opener with singleton in Clubs bid 5,
Opener with singleton in Diamonds bid 5,
Opener with singleton in the other major bid 4nt.
O:AKQ8654 x Jxx xx
R:107 96432 Ax AKQJ
Opener
Responder
4 <=Namyats
4 <= asking for
singleton
4nt<=singleton
6 <= 12 tricks
counted
pass
O:54 AKQxxxx Jxx x
R:AKQ10 J3 AKx Qxxx
Opener Responder
4 <=Namyats
4 <= asking for
singleton
5<=singleton
6 <= 12 tricks
counted
pass
O:54 AKQxxxx Jx Qx
R:AKQ J3 AKx J109xx
Opener
Responder
4 <=Namyats
4 <= asking for
singleton
4<=no singleton
pass
Rule-9: If Responder's first bid is 4nt then this
is
asking for
the only one king that Opener can have and Opener bids:
-
5 <= no king;
-
5 <= 1 king;
- 5 on his suit <= KQ (king is together Quees of same suit)
Then Responder sign-off
the auction in level 5, 6 or 7.
O:54 AKQxxxx Jx Kx
R:AKx Jxx Axxx Axx
Opener
Responder
4 <=Namyats
4nt <= asking
if have 1 King
5<= yes 1 king 6 <= 12 tricks counted
O:AKQ8654 x Jxx xx
R:J97 Axx AKx Axx
Opener
Responder
4 <=Namyats
4nt <= asking for 1 King
5 <=yes KQ
7nt <= 13 tricks counted
pass
Rule-10:
After Responder asking for singleton the 4nt
bid by Responder is still for king and Rule-9 is on.
O:54 AKQxxxx Jx Kx
R:AKx Jxx AK109 Qxx
Opener
Responder
4 <=Namyats
4 <= asking
for singleton
4
<=no
singleton
4nt<=
asking for king
5 <= I have
1 king
6 <=
12 tricks counted
pass
O:AKQ8654 x Jxx xx
R:J9 xxxx AKQx AKx
Opener
Responder
4 <=Namyats
4
<=
asking for
singleton
5 <=no
singleton 4nt
<= asking for king
5
<=1 king
6
<= 12
tricks counted
pass
O:6 xAKQJxxx xxx Kx
R:QJ3 xxxx AKx AQx
Opener
Responder
4 <=Namyats
4 <=
asking for
singleton
5 <=
singleton 4nt
<= asking for king
5
<=1 king
6
<= 12
tricks counted
pass
Defenae against Namyats
When opponents open Namyats
against our
partnership we
can use:
1- the double of
4/4 is not for penalty
is this suit,
but
a take out
double
for the other major, showing
be
shorter in
their major and have support for the other
suits.
Opponent we
4
double => x AQJ9 K10xx AQ10x
4
double => QJ10x 9 K10xx AQ10
2- If we pass and they stop in their major
now the
double is penalty showing we have 3 loser in that
major suit but have 4+ sure tricks in others suits
without support for the other major (honor second).
Opponent1 we1
opponent2 we2
4
pass 4 (sign-off) pass
pass
double*
pass
?
* 10xx K9 AK10x AKxx =>
first pass means no suit and now
double shows strong hand with minors suit.
? with singleton in and a long minor we2 bid 5
x Q109x xx QJ10xxx
or pass with x Q109x xxxx J10xx
/ / /