Make the Most of Your Preempts

In this lesson:

Although some hands are easy, on others deciding whether or not to preempt is anything but easy.

Even when it is obvious to preempt, you also must decide how many to bid. We all know that traditional thinking for preempts is: Open 2 with 6 cards, 3 with 7, and 4 with 8. However, suit quality, vulnerability, seat, and distribution should all play a significant role in your decision-making.

The bottom line for all bidding decisions is: Unless you develop good bidding judgment, you can't possibly be a good bidder.

In this lesson, Marty will discuss:

• - What is the most important factor in deciding "to preempt or not to preempt".
• - What is a perfect preempt?
• - When should you preempt with a side 4-card major?
• - Why is first seat different than second.
• - The right time for a weak-2 with a 7-card suit.
• - Which flaws should stop you from preempting.
• - What is the minimum suit quality for an opening 3-bid.
• - When should you preempt with an opening bid.
• - What do you need for a fourth seat weak-2.
• - How good a hand do you need for a vulnerable preempt.

Here is an example of what Marty will present:

After 2 passes, you pick up ♠5 ♥86542 ♦AKJ108 ♣J2
Both sides are vulnerable. The form of scoring does not matter. What would you do?

In 3rd seat, many players would open 1♥. It's okay to open light in 3rd seat, and everyone loves a 5-5 hand. But, this is a short-sighted bid. Your LHO rates to have the best hand at the table, and is likely to bid. If he is declarer, your partner will be on lead. You're dying to get a diamond lead, but if you open 1♥, partner will lead your major suit. So, if you decided to open at the one level, you should bid 1♦.

However, this is also incorrect. In addition to the potential rebid problem, if you open 1♦, your partner will not rush to lead your minor. Also, 1♦ won't take much bidding space away from your LHO.

How can you resolve both issues? The correct action is to open 2♦! That limits your hand, preempts your LHO, avoids a potential rebid problem, and last, but not least, makes it very clear to partner that you want a diamond lead.