Preemptive
Opening Bids
A preemptive opening bid is a bid at the two level
or higher, with the exception of 2 ♣.
The opening bid of 2 ♣ has a special meaning, which I will deal with
later. A preemptive opening bid may be
made at any level from 2 ♦ to 4♠ or rarely even
higher. The purpose of a preemptive
opening bid is to use up the opponent’s bidding space, so that it is more
difficult for the opponents to find their best contract. A preemptive opening bid is made with a long,
strong suit and very few values outside that suit.
The following hand would qualify for an
opening bid of 3♥: ♠ 7 2, ♥ K Q J 9 6 5 3,
♦ 8 6 4, ♣ 7. With
reasonable distribution of the outstanding cards this hand will take 6 tricks,
with hearts as trump.
When you make a preemptive bid, you expect the
opponents hold the majority of the high-card values. You make the assumption that
1. The
opponents can make a game.
2. If
you become declarer you will be doubled
3. your
contract will be defeated.
Therefore, a preemptive bid is also called a sacrifice
bid. To sacrifice safely, you must consider vulnerability. The guideline is what bridge players call the Rule
of Two and Three.
(a) If the
vulnerability is even (both side vulnerable or neither side vulnerable), you
can be defeated two tricks and still have made a safe sacrifice.
(b) If the
vulnerability is favorable (you are not vulnerable while the opponents are
vulnerable), you can be defeated three tricks and still have made a safe
sacrifice.
(c)When the vulnerability is unfavorable (you
are vulnerable and the opponents are not vulnerable), you must hold your defeat
to one trick, in order to have made a safe sacrifice.
Guidelines
for a 3 Level Preemptive Bid
· A
long suit 7 or more cards.
· Two
of the top four honor cards in the suit.
· A
weak defensive hand – Less than a one-level opening bid.