Main
Detail specifications 115A - Level 2 ★
Pre-empt: weak 2 opening bids
Pre-empt opening bids make it difficult for the opponents as they have to overcall at a higher level.
To open with a weak 2 you need:
A reminder of the requirements for a weak 2 opening bid in 1st and 2nd seat:
To open with a weak 2 you need:
- between 6 and 9HCP.
- A 6 card including 2 high honors (ace, king or queen) in ♦, ♥ or ♠
- This means 4-6 tricks, according to whether you are vulnerable or not.
A reminder of the requirements for a weak 2 opening bid in 1st and 2nd seat:
- Not to possess 2 high honors in any other suit
- Not 2 aces
- Not 4 cards in the other major
| S | W | N | E |
|---|---|---|---|
2 |
K
Q
J
9
4
3
4
5
4
2
J
10
4
Problem E2497: A typical weak 2 opening bid.
| S | W | N | E |
|---|---|---|---|
Pass |
Q
J
9
8
K
Q
9
4
3
2
4
5
4
Problem E2501 In 2nd seat never open with a weak 2 opening bid when you have 4 cards in the other major.
In 3rd seat, there are no restrictions!
You can make a pre-empt opening bid with 2 aces or 4 cards in the other major...
You can make a pre-empt opening bid with 2 aces or 4 cards in the other major...
- Your partner is weak or he would have bid. Your pre-empt is less likely to cause him a problem than in 1st or 2nd seat.
- On the other hand you can still worry the Opponents, so use the pre-empt every time your hand is right and you aren't vulnerable.
| S | W | N | E |
|---|---|---|---|
Pass |
Pass |
||
2 |
Q
J
9
8
K
Q
9
4
3
2
4
5
4
Problem E4953 In 3rd seat there are no restrictions on pre-empts. A 2 ♥ opening bid makes life more difficult for the opponents...
| S | W | N | E |
|---|---|---|---|
Pass |
Pass |
||
2 |
K
J
9
8
7
4
6
2
Q
J
A
Q
2
Problem E4926 In 3rd seat you can do anything!
You must take into account the vulnerability. Your Opponents won't hesitate to double over-confident pre-empts.
- In a favorable situation, green v. red, you promise 4 tricks. If your Opponents can make game in a major, you can go down by 3 in a doubled contract and mark -500 instead of -620. (-4 takes you to -800... which isn't good )
- In an unfavorable situation, red v. green, you promise 6 tricks.
Careful ! You can only afford to go down by 1 trick: -200 instead of -420 if your Opponents had game (-2 takes you to -500...).
| S | W | N | E |
|---|---|---|---|
1 |
|||
2 |
7
K
J
10
8
4
2
A
J
10
8
6
4
Problem E4404 2♥ Red v. red you are minimum for this pre-empt !
The quality of the hand
In a favorable situation, the quality can be medium:
A J 9 x x x or Q J 10 x x x are acceptable suits.
In an unfavorable situation, keep to the rule of 2 high honors:
A Q 10 x x x or else K Q 10 x x x for example.
A singleton is definitely a plus especially if it's in the other major!
In a favorable situation, the quality can be medium:
A J 9 x x x or Q J 10 x x x are acceptable suits.
In an unfavorable situation, keep to the rule of 2 high honors:
A Q 10 x x x or else K Q 10 x x x for example.
A singleton is definitely a plus especially if it's in the other major!
| S | W | N | E |
|---|---|---|---|
2 |
5
A
J
10
8
4
3
6
5
3
J
10
9
Problem E2498 An ultra mini 2 ♥ , everyone vulnerable, so as to obstruct ♠. Having a singleton ♠ is definitely advantageous when opting to make a pre-empt opening bid.
FR version