The “classic” preempt:
Length: 6-card suit at the 2-level; 7-card suit at the 3-level
Suit quality: Ideally, 3 of the top 5 honors (rarely a solid suit -- AKQ)
High-card strength: 4 to 9
Trick-taking power: Meets the Rules of 2, 3 & 4 (the number of tricks you expect to go down, depending on the vulnerability).
Outside honors: No more than one outside ace or king (never more than two quick tricks).
Outside suits: For purists, no void and no 4-card major. Most pairs don't mind making some exceptions if the rest of their hand looks right for a preempt. Discuss this with your partner.
Vulnerability: Use the Rule of 2 & 3 for Weak 2-bids. The Rule of 4 can be used for non-vulnerable 3-bids. This is summarized in the chart below.
To use the chart: Count your hand's playing tricks, then subtract that number from the trick level you are considering for your bid.
Example: ♠QJ10765 ♥62 ♦A54 ♣43 can be counted as 5 playing tricks and 8 losers. It meets the "Rule of 3" for opening a weak two-bid (8-trick level minus 5 playing tricks = 3).
|
Your Side |
Their Side |
Conditions |
When deciding on |
|
Not Vulnerable |
Vulnerable |
Excellent (Favorable) |
Rule of 3 (or 4) |
|
Not Vulnerable |
Not Vulnerable |
Good (Equal) |
Rule of 3 |
|
Vulnerable |
Vulnerable |
Fair (Equal) |
Rule of 2 (or 3) |
|
Vulnerable |
Not Vulnerable |
Poor (Unfavorable) |
Rule of 2 |
Position: 3rd seat is the ideal preempting position. 1st seat is the second-best position.
1st seat: Be aggressive at favorable or equal vulnerability.
2nd seat: Be more disciplined – as close to “classic” as possible, consistent with the vulnerability and your partnership style.
3rd seat: Be more aggressive (depending on vulnerability).
4th seat: After three passes, a 2-bid or 3-bid shows a very good preempt-type hand with a good suit and around 9-12 high-card points. It should deny full values for a 1-bid.
Form of scoring: In team play (IMP scoring), “beef up” your preempts. Follow the Rules of 2 & 3 more closely than you would in pair games (matchpoint scoring).
Overcalls vs. opening bids: Jump overcalls are about the same strength as opening preempts, but you may choose to value “up” or “down” based on your holding in the opponent’s suit.
Weak 2-bids tend to be constructive. You have a realistic hope of getting to a making contract.
3-bids are “pure” preempts. Their main purpose is to safely obstruct the opponents’ bidding.
4-bids & 5-bids may be “two-way” (preemptive, but with a greater expectation of making your bid).
For borderline decisions: Consider these other factors that may be liabilities for preempting:
Holding the ace of your suit, especially if you have another ace in a side suit.
Potential defensive tricks in “their” suits (kings, queens and jacks in side suits).
Lack of spot cards (10, 9, 8) in your suit.
Balanced shape with no shortness: 6-3-2-2 and 7-2-2-2 patterns.