How to Survive an Enemy Preempt

In this lesson:

Most players are very aware how effective preempts can be in forcing the opponents to guess what to do.

Of course, decisions after an enemy preempt need not be a blind guess. Experts have learned to rely on important principles that have withstood the test of time.

And that's what this lesson is all about.

In this lesson, Marty will discuss:

• - What factor is a lot more important than HCP?
• - How can you choose between a double or a bid?
• - Cue-bid: When should it NOT be Michaels?
• - Why should 3NT become your favorite contract?
• - Which notrump bids are Unusual?
• - When is an overcall justified on a so-so 5-card suit?
• - How do experts define a double of 4 of a major?
• - When should you make a notrump overcall with an unbalanced hand?
• - How much more aggressive should you be in the balancing seat?

Here is an example of what Marty will present in this lesson.

IMPS scoring.

With neither side vulnerable, your RHO opens 3♥.

You hold: ♠102 ♥A3 ♦AQ754 ♣AQ73......What would you do?

Let's round up the usual suspects.

• Double: No thanks. Partner is too likely to jump to 4♠.
• 4♦: I refer to this as a "nothing bid." You have correctly tried to avoid five of a minor for virtually all of your bridge life. There's no reason to forget everything you learned just because your opponent preempted.
• Pass: You must be kidding. This is an excellent hand. Because assigning aces 4 HCP does not do justice to those wonderful cards, any time I'm fortunate enough to hold at least three of them, I immediately add one point to the value of my hand.
• And the winner is: 3NT -- and there's no second choice!

"But Marty, what will I do if I get a spade lead?"

My answer is:

• - The vast majority of the time, your LHO will lead his partner's hearts.
• - If he does lead a spade, your partner will often have a stopper.
• - If he does lead a spade, and partner has no stopper, the suit may block (for example, the preemptor has a singleton honor).
• - If he does lead a spade, AND your partner has no stopper, AND the suit doesn't block, they might be able to take only four spade tricks.

How will you play 3NT on a heart lead?

If partner has a pair of minor-suit kings, you may have nine tricks off the top. Even if partner has 2 small hearts and you don't have 9 fast tricks, you'll duck the first heart and win the second.

You now get to play my favorite version of bridge. It's called "two against one." The preemptor is sitting with five heart winners, but with his very weak hand, he lacks an entry to take them. Your hand and dummy's hand will now battle against the partner of the preemptor. If dummy is weak, you may not make it, but "two against one" is a fun game to play.