Back to Bridge
So far the opening bids have been on
the
one level. But it is possible to open the bidding in a suit at higher
levels.
These are called Pre-emptive Bids. They are made with a weak hand and a
long suit. 10 points max.
The
purpose
of the Pre-emptive Bid? To use up bidding room which prevents the
opponents
from coming into the auction. If you open the bidding 3 
the opponents have to come in with a suit at the 4 level. Not so
easy.
Pre-emptive
bids are defensive bids; that is, bids made to prevent the opponens
from
bidding easily.
| Pre-emptive bids are made with weak hands and long suits at high levels. |
Here is what is needed for a Pre-empt:
w
3,
4 OR 5 LEVEL BIDS
XXX1.
Plan to go down two (or three) tricks
XXX2.
10 points maximum
XXX3.
The long suit should be headed by
XXXXXXtwo
honors
XXX4.
Open the bidding in the long suit
XXXX
7 card suit -- open at the 3 level
XXXXXXX8
card suit -- open at the 4 level
XXXXXXX9
card suit -- open at the 5 level
w
WEAK
TWO BIDS
XXXX1.
A six card Diamond, Heart or Spade suit
with two honors
XXXX2.
6 - 10 High Card Points (HCP)
XXXX3.
No four card Major
XXXX4.
Open the bidding with the six card
XXXXXXsuit
(not Clubs) at the two level
w Do not pre-empt with 13+ points. Open the biding at the one level. Even with a very long suit.
w Sometimes you can get a better score by not making the hand, playing in your suit, then by letting the opponents make the hand in their suit.
A 4
9
8
A 8 7