Twoonie Talk #7 Preempts-Weak Two s

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1 Twoonie Talk #7 Preempts-Weak Two s Warren Watson Last Revised March 12, 2015 KJBC & KDBC In Preempts from A to Z by Ron Anderson and Sabine Zenkel, it is written on page 15, Lack of discipline takes away most of the advantage an opening pre-empt should give and often creates a third opponent for your partner Preemptive openings are designed to put pressure on the enemy not partner. Whether one opens a weak two or not depends on these factors: Points Suit Quality Distribution The vulnerability. The seat. What a 2NT response asks. o Ogust 2NT asks for hand strength and suit quality 2 2NT 3 weak hand (5-7) and poor suit (not two of top three honours) 3 weak hand (5-7) and good suit (two of top three honours) 3 strong hand (8-10) and poor suit 3 strong hand (8-10) and good suit 3NT AKQxxx o Feature 2NT asks for an outside feature. The weak two opener responds to partner s 2NT with an outside Ace or King if holding a maximum. First or second seat pre-empts have good suit quality. Questions A. What do you bid with the following hands (Ogust is being used) in first or second seat not vulnerable? 1. AQ KJ AQ6432 Q4 742 Q5 3. AQ6432 KJ K AQ J AQ6432 KJ AQ10432 KJ

2 7. AQ6432 J932 5 K5 8. Q J932 A K5 9. QJ10987 QJ If partner has nothing, short in both majors, how many tricks is 5 x down with proper defense, none vulnerable? Hint, it is more than three. 10. Q QJ10987 J QJ10987 Q KQJ1098 Q AKQ AKQ J AKQ J AQ J AQJ543 K AQJ543 K54 K Q87632 J32 K J J32 K Q K542 K 22. QJ7632 J32 K QJ10632 J32 K AQ K AQ K KQJ KQJ AKJ QJ J43 KQJ AQ AJ6543 Q AJ AJ10943 Q J5432 Q3 K J2 KJ765 A AQ1065 Q AQ AQ AQJ B. If using Feature not Ogust, which ones are no longer a weak two? C. If vulnerable, which ones are no longer a weak two? D. If in Third Seat at favourable vulnerability, which are opened a weak two that previously were not? E. If in Fourth Seat at any vulnerability, which are opened a weak two that previously were not? 2

3 Twoonie Talk #7-Answers Preempts-Weak Two s Warren Watson Last Revised March 12, 2015 KJBC & KDBC Minimum Suit Quality If one uses Ogust, partner can ask about suit quality so suit quality can be relaxed. Even though it can be relaxed, the suit still must be lead directive. Rule of Thumb: If partner has Kx in your pre-empt suit, does leading the King cost the partnership a trick. Therefore, even with Ogust, the minimum suit quality is Qxxxxx. Minimum Suit Length Generally six cards but a really good five card suit for which you are desperate for a lead is also acceptable. In third seat, five card suits can have less suit quality than five-card suits in first or second seat. Andersen and Zenkel say that third seat is without question, the safest position for a preemptive opening. P 9. Any weak two with five cards will never have a three-card or longer major. Gard Hays Distribution P 24- We categorically refuse to open 2 or 2 with four cards in the other major. P25 Problems frequently occur when you open a weak two-bid with a void. P23 We practically never open a weak two-bid with a seven-card suit simply pass and hope we get to introduce our suit later. Questions A. What do you bid with the following hands (Ogust is being used) in first or second seat not vulnerable? 1. AQ KJ AQ6432 Q4 742 Q AQ6432 KJ P 4. K AQ J AQ6432 KJ then 2 3

4 6. AQ10432 KJ then 2 7. AQ6432 J932 5 K5 P 8. Q J932 A K5 P 9. QJ10987 QJ If partner has nothing, short in both majors, how many tricks is 5 x down with proper defense, none vulnerable. Hint, it is more than three. ---> Ace then ruff a diamond. Q then ruff another diamond, J then ruff another diamond-forcing defense will set it Q QJ10987 J QJ10987 Q KQJ1098 Q P AKQ AKQ J then AKQ J AQ J AQJ543 K P AQJ543 K54 K Q87632 J32 K J J32 K54 2 P 21. Q K542 K P 22. QJ7632 J32 K QJ10632 J32 K AQ K (P) 25. AQ K (P) KQJ P KQJ AKJ QJ P 30. J43 KQJ P 31. AQ AJ6543 Q P 33. AJ AJ10943 Q J5432 Q3 K P 36. J2 KJ765 A P AQ1065 Q P AQ , P if Vul AQ P AQJ P B. If using Feature not Ogust, which ones are no longer a weak two? 19, 22, 33 C. If vulnerable, which ones are no longer a weak two? 2, 10,11,19,22,23,24,27,31,33,34,38 4

5 D. If in Third Seat at favourable vulnerability, which are opened a weak two that previously were not? 3,5,6,7,8,12,14,17,24,25,26,29,30,32,36,37,39,40 E. If in Fourth Seat at favourable vulnerability, which are opened a weak two that previously were not? 14, 17, 18 Other Considerations Internal strength is usually very important especially when vulnerable or opening a weak two with five cards. High cards outside your suit P7 Outside kings and quacks may be little value on offense but may provide the setting trick against enemy contracts leading to partner making a phantom sacrifice. Possession of trump ace is a liability because it is a defensive trick. P7 Seat Fourth seat pre-empts are 10 to 13 HCP s with two defensive tricks and a six-card suit or an exceptional five-card suit or a reasonable seven-card suit. P42 Other rules Rule of 123 Rule of 234 Rule of 8, 11 and 14. P12.Andersen and Zenkel do not use these rules but we do advocate that you pre-empt as high as you reasonably can given the conditions: vulnerability, playing strength, suit quality, position, etc the accuracy of the opponents bidding varies inversely with the square of the level of the pre-empt. P 13 Summary Open a weak two with a six-card suit, Qxxxxx or better, because partner will lead the King with Kx. Rarely a really good five card suit (a one-loser suit no matter what) can be opened a weak two Also do not open a weak two with a four-card major or a void. If the hand will make game opposite a minimum opener (12-14) and support from partner, do not pre-empt. In third seat, restrictions can be relaxed. 5

Bridge Workshop. On Competitive Bidding. (Overcalls and the Law of Total Tricks) Last Revised March 28 th, by Warren Watson

Bridge Workshop. On Competitive Bidding. (Overcalls and the Law of Total Tricks) Last Revised March 28 th, by Warren Watson Bridge Workshop On Competitive Bidding (Overcalls and the Law of Total Tricks) Last Revised March 28 th, 2018 by Warren Watson warren.t.watson@gmail.com 250-368-3527 http://watsongallery.ca/bridge/aabidding/competitivebiddingworkshop.pdf