By Val Rhead
What is a pre-emptive bid? It is a bid of a long suit that is primarily used for defensive purposes. The aim is to make it difficult for opponents to reach their optimum contract, because they have lost bidding room.
The pre-emptive bid may be an opening bid or an overcall and usually contains a strong suit. It starts with the Weak-Two bid that usually contains six cards, a Weak-Three bid that usually contains seven cards, a Weak-Four bid which usually contains an 8-card suit, and a Weak-Five bid of a minor suit which usually contains 9 cards. According to the 7th Edition of the Encyclopedia of Bridge (Page 256,) with modern Bridge players, anything goes.
Other things to consider when making pre-emptive bids include the position of the hand at the table. Some players prefer using this convention when in third position, or not vulnerable, et cetera.
The following hand displays an example of a hand that is opened with a Weak-Two bid. This bid has the additional purpose of describing the hand. It usually promises a 6-card suit of a defined quality such as the honour cards are mostly in the bid suit.
(a) In this hand, your partner, who has a 6-card Spade suit, and 11 points, including 2 length points, opens with a pre-emptive bid of 2 Spades. You have 12 points. You do not have enough to bid 4 Spades for a game contract. You do, however, have 3 Spades and can raise your partner’s bid to 3 Spades. You will not bid again. Although an opening bid plus an opening bid usually is enough to bid a game contract, your partner is bidding a WEAK-TWO BID. He is not bidding a full opening bid. He is WEAK. He will not bid again. However, your Three Spade Bid may be enough to keep your opponents out of a contract. Even if you do go down a trick or two, non-vulnerable, it will likely give you a better score than if you had let your opponents bid their own contract.
(b) However, if your hand in the South also held another Ace, displacing one of the small cards, its total point count would now be 16 points which would be enough to raise the partnership’s total point count to 26. You could then raise the bid to the game level immediately, Four Spades.
And remember, if partner bids a Weak-Two bid, a Weak-Three bid, a Weak-Four bid, or a Weak-Five bid, they are all weak? You may raise to the three level with three-card support in trump but don’t respond with a game unless you have at least sixteen points.
If you wish to promote an activity in your bridge group or ask a bridge question, send the information to [email protected] and I will try to include it in this column.
NEW SOCIAL BRIDGE GAME IN HUNTSVILLE
Games are at the Active Living Centre on Thursdays at 7 p.m. in the multi-purpose room on the second floor (elevator) at the back entrance of the Canada Summit Centre. Just come – with or without a partner. For information, please contact Donna or Peter Tikuisis at 647 471 1774 or [email protected].
For now, this game will be played following Chicago Rules (allowing both fast and slow games). You will keep your same partner for the entire evening. Cost is $1.50 per person. Parking is outside the North Entrance opposite Heritage Village Railway Station.
PORT CARLING SOCIAL BRIDGE CLUB
Games for the Port Carling Social Bridge Club are Monday afternoon at 1 p.m. at the Port Carling Community Centre, 3 Bailey Street. Please arrive with your partner at least 10 minutes before game time. For information, contact Andree or Scott 705-764-3827 [email protected]
Monday, May 27, 2019 results 1. Jeanette & Hans Heeneman, 4,720 points; 2. Andree Baillargeon & Scott Staples, 3,620 points; 3. Louise Kirbyson & Mavis Hall, 2,880 points
NOTE: Beginning on June 10th we switch to evening sessions, starting at 7 PM.
HUNTSVILLE DUPLICATE BRIDGE CLUB
Games are Tuesday at 7 p.m. at Trinity United Church, 33 Main Street. Please arrive with your partner at least 10 minutes before game time. For partners and information call Liz Graham (705) 789-7187 or email at [email protected]
The following winners are for Tuesday, May 28, 2019 with 17 pairs playing a Mitchell movement. North-South 1. Mary Whitehead and Helen Pearson; 2. Betty Fagin and Brian Brocklehurst; 3. Jinty Stewart and Jim Smith; 4. Art Insley and Denis Evans; East-West 1. Fay MacDonald and Yvonne Cox; 2. Vern Foell and Rod Dixon; 3. Susan Marshall and Jan Roberts; 4. Liz Graham and Dorothy Russell
MUSKOKA DUPLICATE BRIDGE CLUB (Bracebridge)
Games for the Bracebridge Club are Mondays at 7 p.m., Knox Presbyterian Church, 120 Taylor Road. Please arrive with your partner 10 minutes before game time.
The following winners are from Monday, May 27, 2019 with 17 pairs playing a Mitchell movement. North-South 1. Mary Luke and Donna McIntosh; 2. Kel Andresen and Jim Smith; 3. Mary Whitehead and Helen Pearson; 4. Betty Fagin and Brian Brocklehurst; 5. Barb Golding and Doug Golding; East-West 1. Art Insley and Don Evans; 2. Gwen Jocelyn and Heidi Bates; 3. Mary Mitchell and Susan Maddocks; 4. Liz Barnes and David Bryce; 5. Frank Vagnoni and Gerry Lawrence
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