Here is a hand from Saturday that caused a few raised eyebrows (certainly mine) and a lot of heartache to both sides. The simple question is “Do you open on this hand and if so, what do you open?”. Please choose before you continue.
As I see it there are several possibilities.
- There will be those whose response to the question will be a simple ‘pass’. Their dogma states that a pre-emptive bid ‘cannot’ be made whilst holding a major suit with four cards in it and ‘hell will freeze over’ before they will change their belief;
- There will be those whose response will be to overlook the spade suit and, as the poet, Rabbie Burns, said, and Hugh Kelsey paraphrased, they will delight in being able to get the interfering blow in ‘furst’ with a pre-emptive 3C;
- There will also be those whose dogma reflects those who passed on the hand but still view the hand as a six loser hand and they will open 1C; and
- There will be those whose system is convoluted and have a bid that is equivalent to 3C but ‘transfers’ the hand to partner.
Personally I am a proponent of the straight pre-empt (I am too simple (I try to use the KISS system as much as possible) to use convoluted transfers. I am also very nervous about long one suited hands not being explained on the first round of bidding. Some partners get very ‘picky’ about the strength of repeated bids of the suit).
[Strangely enough, my partner, who believes in the abovementioned four card major mantra, believes the hand should still be opened with a natural 1C. Her explanation follows very logical lines – 11 cards in the two longest suits, with seven points and six losers, certainly constitutes an opening bid according to the South African Conventions Control treatise, so I am not going to be critical. Also I trust my partner’s judgement ‘almost’ as much as I trust mine therefore not too much ‘anti’ from me on this one!].
The full hand, now that you have chosen your opening bid, is shown below:
With so many different contracts on this hand shown on the score sheet, with so many differing results, I will try to concentrate on the consequences of North’s choice of opening bid. This will be pertinent to this particular hand, and subsequently I will try to assess the pro’s and con’s of the opening bid philosophy and dogma.
Firstly those who chose to pass on the North hand. [This I consider tantamount to criminal!].East will pass and South will probably open 1D. West with two majors should double but, alternatively, might intend to bid twice, first in spades and then hearts, showing 5-4 and a fair hand. Over either bid North should bid clubs at the level that their system permits. [For us, three clubs shows a long suit denying support for partner. For others 2C is sufficient].
Over 3C West having bid spades should bid hearts, and having doubled originally, should double again!
Over 2C, South should raise to 3C, in case North has a better than a ‘bust’. Hapless West might bid hearts at this stage, having mentioned spades, or double, having decided to double at his first turn to bid.
What West should not do, having bid spades, is to double 3C for take out at this stage!
At one table, West decided the double at this stage was forcing; East decided it was penalty, and, due to a slip in defence, North rolled in 12 tricks, doubled, for a superb undeserved top.
If North South were now to push in a major, South or North will push back in clubs and certainly should bid the ‘very icy’ game in that suit. [Obviously those pesky Pretoria flying cows were around on Saturday, as three pairs in this game made only ten tricks! Oops!].
A major suit bid by East West at the five level adds support to the age old maxim that the 5 level belongs to the opposition; a golden ‘rule’ in bridge that several EW’s found to their dismay!
Now for those who found what I consider to be the sensible opening bid of 3C.
I do not believe for one moment that four to the jack in spades should disqualify one from pre-empting on this hand. The bidding will then proceed as follows:- pass by East and 5C by South!! Finito!!
OK. West it is your turn to bid. If you open your mouth with anything but ‘pass’, your proverbial foot will be placed firmly in your proverbial mouth. Five clubs doubled should roll (I will not count those watching the Pretoria cows) and any five level contract by East West is doomed. I am sure South will confirm this fact to all and sundry with his next bid by doubling.
Black box says 5H is scheduled to make seven tricks, four down doubled -800 and 5S three down doubled for -500 against NS’s probable non vulnerable game. For NS this is surely the easiest of sequences, supporting my contention that the pre-empt tells the whole story in one bid. For East West the pre-empt becomes their ‘Waterloo’.
Should North decide to open 1C, East will surely pass and South should bid 1D (unless this is some artificial negative in which case South should bid 1D – yes! 1D – you will get to bid again!!). West will double for the other two suits and North should repeat clubs at the two level, showing a sub-minimum opener. East will surely pass. South raises to three clubs, or four clubs, and West doubles again (take out please!). North passes. East, poor East, bids hearts and South is having none of it. He can count partner with singleton or void in hearts, and with his strong diamonds and the spade singleton should roll out the bid of 5C.
West is fixed. He has bid his hand and should pass. Any attempt to bid 5H or 5S will be summarily dealt with by South. A double of the 5C bid is equally fatal.
So. There you have it. Bridge at its best. Which opening bid is the most effective? On this hand, and I know of many others, the simple pre-empt is the most descriptive.
Firstly it is always used as a descriptive call.
Secondly it is designed to be destructive to opposition bidding room. So, as a philosophy, use it for its intended purpose.
There are many chapters in books written on when and when not to use the bid. Use it often and effectively.
One thing that one needs to agree on with partner beforehand; all continuation sequences after using the bid. Typically a new suit bid by partner is asking and forcing [Pre-emptive bids are never to be rescued. This creates very bad kharma between partners.].
3NT by partner assumes you have the semblance of a side entry. Take it out at your discretion. Partners have been known to moan all night if you prove to be wrong!
Support in the new suit, being three cards in that suit or an honour with an extra card, then raise partner in that suit.
If not show any outside honour below your trump suit. For example in the above case:
North South
3C 3D
4C (1)
(1) No support for diamonds and no outside semi-control in spades or hearts!
I love pre-emptive bids. Don’t you?
Saludos