BIDDING OVER THE OPPONENTS' PREEMPTS

Here’s a familiar scene.....you are sitting at the bridge table minding your
own business when your RHO begins the auction with a preemptive bid. Right
away you (and your partner) are at a disadvantage. You have been robbed of
valuable bidding space in which you would have been able to investigate for a
good place to play this hand and/or the ability to communicate regarding suits and
hand strength, etc. to assist you if you were going to defend. Since good bidding
has been hindered considerably you must now rely upon good judgment and good
luck. You will have to decide whether to be overly aggressive or somewhat
passive and your only real guideline other than good hand strength is that it’s
generally considered best to be aggressive when you hold shortness in the
opponent’s suit.

Just as over opening one level bids a double of an opening preemptive bid
below the game level is a takeout double. The requirements are similar but the
higher the preemptive bid the better the hand needed to make the takeout double.
The same is true of overcalls. And with both doubles and overcalls more is
required in the direct position than in the balancing position.

Even though a double of an opening preemptive bid below game is intended

for takeout, it is a cooperative double. Responder has the option of passing with
any hand with which he would prefer to defend. However, passing because one
has nothing and doesn’t know what to do is not permitted!

Balancing plays an important part in your strategy for bidding over an

opponent's preemptive bid just as it does at lower levels. While bids in the direct
position generally show sound values (particularly if vulnerable) the same bids in
the balancing position can often be made on values borrowed from partner.

Most of your opponents play weak two-bids--an opening bid of 2Ë, 2Ì, and
2Í that shows a hand with a good six card suit (usually) but with less than opening
strength.....somewhere around 5-10 HCP (high card points). The requirements to
overcall or double a weak two-bid are about the same as the requirements to
overcall or double a one level bid, but with slightly greater HCP strength.
Therefore, in the direct position, a double shows a sound opening bid with
shortness in the suit opened by the opponent while a simple overcall shows the suit
bid with at least the values for a good opening bid. (A jump overcall shows a very

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strong hand... not a preemptive hand!) In the balancing chair, you may double and
overcall with somewhat weaker hands, particularly if short in the weak-two suit.
In either case before doubling a major suit preempt, look at your holding in the
other major suit; you need a better hand with only three cards in that suit than you
do with four card support as that is the suit that your partner will first think about
bidding if at all possible.

As responder to the takeout double of a preemptive bid it certainly seems

right to bid with distributional hands but some thought should be given to passing
with balanced hands that contain a few values. If you chose to bid make your call
at the level at which you wish to play as the doubler should not bid again unless he
has a very powerful hand.

In the direct position notrump overcalls of weak two-bids show sound

opening notrump bids with at least one stopper in the weak-two suit. In the
balancing position they show at least a minimum notrump opening with a stopper.
Some examples:

(1) Í AJ987 (2) Í KQ10 (3) Í KJ72

Ì 72 Ì A65 Ì AQ9
Ë AJ98 Ë AJ8 Ë 76
Ê Q2 Ê K1072 Ê Q1098

Bid 2Í over Bid 2NT over Double over opp.'s

opponent's 2Ì opponent's 2Ë, 2Ë in direct if NV
in direct or 2Ì or 2Í in direct but pass if Vul. or
balancing pos. or balancing pos. opening bid was 2Ì/2Í.
In bal., double over
2Ë/2Ì, pass over 2Í.

The principles for bidding over weak two-bids also apply to bidding over
three level and higher (non-game) preemptive bids. Double if you want partner to
pick a suit but overcall if you wish to tell partner that you have a good suit. It is
important to remember that at these levels both actions show good hands and that
the higher the level the more cooperative the double becomes.

In the balancing position it is permissible to bid with shaded values when the
opponents have stopped below game. Their failure to bid more tends to indicate

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that partner has some values, but had no clearcut action in the direct position.
However, after preemptive bids at the game level, the requirements to bid in the
balancing position then are about the same as in the direct position. More
examples:

(4) Opp. opens 3Ì (5) Opp. opens 3Ë/3Ì (6) Opp. opens 3Í
Í AQ1085 Í AQJ1042 Í 65
Ì 62 Ì4 Ì AQJ1083
Ë KQ4 Ë 54 Ë KJ2
Ê876 Ê A1042 Ê 109

Pass in direct, Bid 3Í in direct, Pass in direct with unfav. vul.

bid 3Í in bal. bid 4Í in bal. bid 4Ì with fav. vul.,
bid 4Ì
regardless in balancing position.

There is no particular HCP requirement for overcalling a three level preempt

with 3NT; it may be a huge balanced hand or it may be somewhat less but with a
source of tricks. Or at MPs it may well depend upon how big a gambler you are.
There are hands when it just feels right. Again position at the table as well as
available tricks will affect your decision.

A 4NT overcall of an opening 4Ì or 4Í bid is for takeout....it’s not intended

as Blackwood or the Unusual NT. A 4NT overcall of 4Ì is generally takeout for
the minor suits as one could double for takeout with all three unbid suits. A 4NT
overcall of 4Í is takeout for either two or three suits...thus partner should take
extra care when responding by bidding the lowest suit in which he can play. Many
play that a double of 4♠ is mostly for penalties as 4NT was available for takeout.
More examples:

(7) Opp. opens 3Ì/3Í (8) Opp. opens 3Ì/3Í (9) Opp. opens. 4Ì
Í K64 Í K8 Í5
Ì AJ10 Ì AJ9 Ì4
Ë KJ76 Ë KJ Ë KQJ109
Ê K106 Ê AKJ764 Ê AQJ987

Pass in direct, Bid 3NT in Bid 4NT in

bid 3NT in bal. either pos. either pos.
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 There are a few conventional methods of competing. Playing Fishbein an
immediate double of a preemptive bid is penalty while the next higher suit is for
takeout. (That might be worthwhile....considering some of the preempts I’ve seen
lately). Cheaper or Lower Minor uses the cheaper still available minor suit or 4C
for takeout and double for penalty. The Smith convention uses 4C over any
preempt at the three level for takeout and double for penalty.

Over a weak two- bid in a major a jump to the four level in a minor suit is
Leaping Michaels and shows at least 5-5 in the other major and the minor suit bid.
Similarly a jump cuebid of 4D over a weak two-diamond bid would show at least
5-5 in the majors and 4S over a weak two-spade bid and 4H over a weak two-heart
bid show good hands with both minors.

© Marilyn Hemenway
August 2007

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 BIDDING OVER THE OPPONENT’S PRE-EMPT

1. Entering the auction at the 3-level or higher is always a risky business.

Over an Opponent’s pre-empt you have little information to guide
your way and not much room to explore.

2. Because of these risks it always requires a few extra points to make a

call directly over a pre-empt, compared to what a similar call would
have shown at the 1-level.

3. An overcall of a 3-level pre-empt typically describes a hand with 13

or more high-card points and a good 6-card or longer suit (a few more
points are necessary with only a 5-card suit). The Responder will raise
with three or more cards in support (perhaps even two) and as little as
eight or nine points.

4. A takeout double of a 3-level pre-empt typically promises support for

the unbid suits and at least 16 points. The Responder answers
according to the count as follows:
a) With 0-8 high-card points, simply choose an unbid suit.
b) With 9-12 high-card points, make a jump choice.
c) With 13 or more high-card points, cue-bid the Opponent’s suit.

5. A bid of 3-NT over a 3-level pre-empt indicates a balanced or semi-

balanced hand with stoppers in the pre-empter’s suit and about 18-21
high-card points.

6. If one of the Opponents pre-empts and the next two Players pass, it
takes fewer points in fourth seat to make an overcall or double. Since
Partner might have passed with up to 15 points, the object is to protect
your side’s interests, sometimes with as little as 10 or 11 high-card
points.

7. All competitive calls after a pre-emptive opening bid are made under
pressure. Thus, the values they promise might not always be identical
with the values they deliver.
Bidding over the Opponents’ Preemptive Openings

“When in doubt” guidelines for actions in the direct seat (right-hand opponent opens 2D, 2H,
2S, 3C, 3D, 3H or 3S):

• Overcall (rather than double) if you have 17 or fewer points and a decent 5-card suit.
• Use the Rule of Seven to decide if your overcall is “safe”. Try to imagine an “ordinary” (not
perfect) 7 pts. in partner’s hand. If you could make your bid opposite that hand, you should
overcall.
• Double (instead of overcalling a minor) if you have 3+-card support for unbid majors.
• Over the opponent's opening 3-bid, choose 3NT (instead of doubling or overcalling a minor) if
you have 15+ points and stoppers in the opponent's suit.
• All notrump overcalls show notrump hands, not minors.
• Over a Weak 2-bid, use a jump to 3NT to show a good hand and a running suit. This jump usually
denies takeout-double shape (you may be extremely short in an unbid suit). With a strong
balanced hand, double first, then bid notrump.
• All jumps are strong. A jump overcall (2H by RHO - 3S by you) forces to game and asks partner
for a cuebid. Remember the rule: “You can’t preempt a preempt.”

In the balancing seat (2H-Pass-Pass-?):

• Stretch to compete if you’re short in their suit.

• For doubles and overcalls, mentally add an ace to your hand, then choose the same bid you would
make in direct seat.
• Stretch a bit more to make a takeout double if you're short in their suit and the vulnerability is
favorable (they’re red and you’re not). Partner may have a trump stack and convert your double to
penalty.

A helpful convention: Leaping Michaels (direct-seat overcalls after they open a weak 2-bid)

Over an opponent's Weak 2-Bid in a major (opening of 2H or 2S), here are the meanings of "Leaping
Michaels" direct overcalls:
• Jump in a minor (2S-4C or 4D) = That minor + the other major, strong 5-5 or better
• Direct cuebid (2H-3H) = Asks for stopper for notrump.
• Jump cuebid (2H-4H, 2S-4S) = Both minors, strong 5-5 or better.

Over an opponent's Weak 2D opening: A jump cuebid (2D-4D) = Both majors

Summary of Direct-Seat Actions

Your action: Over their Weak 2-bid: Over their 3-bid:
Simple overcall 10-17 pts. 12-17 pts.
5+ card suit 6+-card suit or strong 5+ cards
Double 12+ pts., shortness in their suit 14+ pts., shortness in their suit
3-4+ cards in all unbid suits 3+ cards in all unbid suits
 OR 18+ pts. and a long suit OR 19+ pts. and a long suit
Double, then bid a 17+ pts. 18+ pts.
suit Strong 5+-card suit Strong 5+-card suit
Jump to 3S over 2H 16+ pts., very strong 6+-card suit
opener
Jump to 4 of a minor (2H/2S - 4C or 4D = Leaping 3C-4D = Strong one-suiter, asks for cuebid
Michaels
Strong 5-5 or better in bid suit &
other major
4H or 4S 16+ pts. and a strong 6+-suit 16+ pts. and a strong 6+-suit
Cuebid (2H-3H) Usually a strong 1-suiter Minor (3C-4C) = Strong, at least 5-5 in both
Asks for stopper for notrump majors
Major (3H-4H) = Strong, at least 5-5 in
spades and a minor
Jump cuebid Leaping Michaels (2H-4H, 2D-
4D)
2NT 14-18 pts. balanced with stopper(s)
Double, then rebid 18+ pts. balanced with stopper(s) 22+ pts. with stoppers and support for unbid
NT suits
3NT 16+ pts. with stopper and a long 16-22 pts. with stopper(s)
running minor May be a running minor and stopper(s)

Responder's Actions
After partner’s direct overcall (2H-2S-Pass-?)

• Pass = 0-7 pts. (remember the Rule of Seven -- partner is already counting on you to hold an
"average" 7-point hand).
• Single raise of partner’s suit (2H-2S-P-3S) = 8-10 pts. and 3+-card support
• Cuebid of their suit (2H-2S-P-3H) = Strong raise of partner’s suit, forcing to game.
• Jump in another suit (2H-2S-P-4C, 4D or 4H) = Splinter raise (slam-try values, trump support
and a singleton in the bid suit)
• New suit (3C-3H-P-3S) = Forcing, 5+-card suit.
• Double (if RHO raises his partner's suit: 2H-2S-3H-DBL) = Responsive double, showing values
(10+ pts.), length in the unbid suits, 2 or fewer cards in partner’s suit.

After partner’s direct double (2H-DBL-Pass-?)

• Make your “normal” value bids:

With a weak hand (0-7 points), make a low-level bid in your longest unbid suit (2H-DBL-Pass-
2S, 3C or 3D)
Jump to 3 of your suit with 8-10 pts. and a 5-card suit (2H-DBL-Pass-3S)
Jump to game in your suit with 11+ pts.
• Consider adding the Lebensohl convention to your system to improve your bidding accuracy
when you hold 0-11 points.
 • If you’re considering passing the double for penalties, use the Rule of Nine:
Add: The level of their contract + number of your trumps + number of your trump honors (10
and higher).
If the total is 9 or more, you can consider passing for penalty

After partner’s direct cuebid (2H-3H-Pass-?)

• Bid notrump if you have a stopper in their suit.

• With no stopper, bid your cheapest 3-card suit.

After partner’s notrump overcall (2H-2NT-Pass-?)

• Play “system on” – 3C is Stayman, 3D & 3H are transfers.

• If partner jumps to 3NT (2H-3NT), he could be short in an unbid suit, so don't insist on playing in
your long suit. Unless you have slam-try values, pass.

© 2008, Karen Walker Back to Karen's Bridge Library (http://kwbridge.com)