BIDDING STRATEGIES 7 When to Pre-empt By Neil Kimelman
Question: When to Preempt? Answer: When it is right!! Sometimes it feels like that. You preempt and then fate intervenes. Sometimes your preempts hurt, and sometimes they garner a good score. Maybe the opponents have a bidding misunderstanding, get to a bad contract, but it makes when three finesses work! More likely, the opponents get to a normal contract, but the preempt helps them guess who is more likely to hold the queen of trump. On the flip side it is not unknown that, after our side has preempted, the opponents end up in 3L when 6M is cold!! Preempting is definitely a double edged sword. However when judgement is used, and partnership agreements are followed, the odds of being on more positive outcomes is greatly improved.
THE
REASONS TO PREEMPT
INTERMEDIATE
Spot
1. Preempts use up the opponents’ bidding room. After you open 2N, let’s say LHO has a marginal opening bid with five hearts. Should they overcall? Does LHO’s partner have a fit or a misfit? Do they have points? Are they going for 800 if they bid, or if they pass, missing a game or slam? 2. You find a profitable sacrifice. A big fit, even with few high card cards, can result in finding a profitable sacrifice at the five, six or even seven
16
Bridge Canada | www.cbf.ca
