By Val Rhead
In the game of Bridge, a good defense is often a good offense. The use of Weak Two bids or other preemptive bids is an effective method to defend against much stronger opponents who have a potential to make a game or a slam contract.
A Weak Two bid (six card suit except Two Clubs), a Weak Three bid (seven card suit) and a Weak Four bid (eight-card suit) are all preemptive weak opening bids or preemptive weak jump overcall bids. They show a long suit but less than opening points, usually six to nine high-card points.
Many partnerships play that the suit should be of good quality, two of the top three honours or three of the top five honours. This is especially important if you are vulnerable or if you are overcalling for lead direction. If you open or overcall with a preemptive bid in a suit that is headed by the ten, and go down doubled and vulnerable, the Bridge Gods may punish you with a disastrous score.
But, it also can be a problem if you incorrectly open your Weak Two bid with a six-card suit and 13 points. Your responding partner won’t realize that he may be in game or slam territory because he thinks you are weak. Without 16 points, responding partner often will pass. This is very frustrating when, with proper bidding, responder could bid and make a game or a slam. It is counter-intuitive that a Three Heart bid is weaker than a One Heart bid, but it is. If you have seven Hearts and 13 points, please open just One Heart.
When your partner opens with a preemptive bid, you may raise his suit one level if you have at least three cards in his suit. You could have anywhere from zero to about fifteen points. This is just extending the preempt to make it harder for your opponents to bid. This raise is not an invitation for opener to continue. The preemptive opener should pass.
And did I say, a Weak Two bid, a Weak Three bid or a Weak Four bid are all weak? Don’t respond with a game unless you have about 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 include it in this column.
CFUW MUSKOKA BRIDGE FOR BURSARIES FUNDRAISER
SPRING LUNCH AND BRIDGE/CARD PARTY, ALL WELCOME
12 NOON FOR LUNCH Friday, April 21, 2017 $25 per person
Gravenhurst Senior’s Centre 480 First Street North
This is a great opportunity to enjoy companionship while supporting young women in Muskoka to go to college and university. Arrange your foursome and bring supplies for your table. To register, please provide names to: Mary 705-646-8881 [email protected]
HUNTSVILLE DUPLICATE BRIDGE CLUB
Games at the Huntsville Club have returned to the Summer schedule Tuesday 7:15 start, Trinity United Church 33 Main Street. Please arrive 15 minutes before game time. For partners and information call Susan Marshall 705 787-5454 or email [email protected]
PLEASE NOTE: For the rest of the winter, the Tuesday 7:15pm game will be held downstairs in the warm basement. To avoid the long stairs, you also may enter from the door on Main Street.
The following winners are for Tuesday, Apr 11 with 12 pairs playing a Howell movement. 1. Mary Hogarth and Albert Eatock; 2. Liz Barnes and Rod Dixon; 3. Jim Smith and Ralph Mitchell; 4. Susan Marshall and Jan Roberts; 5. Yvonne Cox and Helen Pearson; 6. Liz Graham and Dorothy Russell
MUSKOKA DUPLICATE BRIDGE CLUB (Bracebridge)
Games for the Bracebridge Club are Mondays 7pm, Knox Presbyterian Church, 120 Taylor Road. Please arrive 15 minutes before game time. For information or partnerships, call Brian at 705-645-5340 [email protected]
The following winners are from Monday, Apr 10 with 15 pairs playing a Howell movement. 1. Pamela Jardine and Ralph Mitchell; 2. Liz Barnes and David Bryce; 3. Kel Andresen and Jim Smith; 4. Val Rhead and Joanne Garvey; 5. Betty Fagin and Lyn Walisser; 6. Art Insley and Don Evans; 7. Bev Parlett and Vern Foell; 8. Mary Mitchell and Susan Maddocks
Looking for more bridge tips? You’ll find them here.
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