Thursday,
January 05, 2006 3:26 PM
Hand
Evaluation - Pre-empts ( Rule of 7 HCP )
PITBULLS:
Bridge involves an
element of intelligent
risk taking or gambling. This is due to the element of probably
in random events such as dealing cards. Pre-empts by the “nature of the beast”
introduce an element of risk. Risk
for the pre-empter but also a risk for the opponents
who must bid over the pre-empts. You must have a very
good hand to bid over pre-empts but you are allowed some leeway. You cannot
base your bid on the assumption
partner has nothing with the opponents holding all the remaining outstanding
cards. This attitude would “paralyze” you & just hand victory to the pre-empter on a silver platter. When you bid over a pre-empt , the partnership must assume the bid is partially a “pre-balance” .
The
rule of thumb in bidding over pre-empts is to give
partner 7 HCP & bid
accordingly. You are vul , they are not with you holding ♠x ♥KJ1098x ♦Axx ♣AKJ . They open 3♠ so do you overcall 4♥
?? Ok
, give partner her rightful
7 HCP. In this case the KQ of diamonds , with either the club queen or the heart queen.
With these 7 HCP you can count 10 tricks
with your hand !! You have 16 HCP ,
RHO may have the KQJ of spades with an outside queen. You have around 25 HCP’s
accounted for between your hand & the pre-empter.
Now the two unknown hands with 15 HCP’s unaccounted for. It is illogical to
assume all the remaining HCP’s are in the opponents hand. The law of averages
says that 7 HCP should fall in partner’s hand.
You should “pre-balance” & bid accordingly.
This
is straight good risk taking. If
LHO has most of the remaining HCP’s , you will be
doubled & go for –800 losing 12 IMPS. If you pass ,
partner will not balance with her 7 HCP so you miss a vul
game & lose 12 ! . It is the same gamble !! It is more than
that though, by passing 16 HCP you set
partner up for future disasters as she will stretch in the balancing
spot to double with hands that she should not. You have now induced disasters
by not taking the appropriate risk immediately.
When
you make a T/O double of a pre-empt , you take another bid based on partner
holding her theoretical 7 HCP. You need a base on dealing with the unknown that a pre-empt
creates. Assuming no HCP’s in partners hand after a pre-empt
is illogical & unrealistic. The greatest fear is fear itself. If you do
occur a disaster , congratulate the opponents by saying nice pre-empt. However
, your partners better have done the same damage at the other table.
Partner should not punish you in a pre-emptive auction.
A Tormentee held this hand tonight. ♠Kxx ♥Kxx ♦x ♣QJxxxx they opened 3♦ which partner
doubled. What is your bid ? Reason this way . partner already assumes I have 7 HCP but I have two HCP’s extra .
With the built in 7 HCP leeway
, just bid 4♣ as partner will bid 5♣ on any
excuse. It turns out if you leap to 5♣ , partner
will bid 6♣ which has no play.
Here
is a hand from the Bridge World. ♠
J8764 ♥void ♦ AQJ1086 ♣A5 . You are vul , they are not. They open 1♥ , RHO pre-empts to 4♥. What do you do vul vrs not ?
You are under pressure vul with nv opponents applying the heat. The majority of the
panel voted for 4♠. Most people would
not even overcall at the one level
with this suit . Yet the majority of World class
experts are bidding 4♠ directly vul vrs not at the 4 level . Why ? Well 10 HCP in hearts
should be identified. You have a 6-5 with a void
in their suit. Give partner her rightful 7 HCP in a pre-emptive auction &
bid accordingly. RHO has shown nothing & LHO an opener. Partner should not punish you as she realizes you are
under pressure. The panel joked & said 4♥ is a transfer to 4♠ on these auctions.
If LHO slapped the double card on the table they would retreat to 5♦ etc. However Rodwell ,
Hammon , Wollf etc bid 4♠ . Here is a weird
answer form Zia “ 5♦. Too strong for 4♠ which I would bid
with less of a chance of making a 5 level contract. 6-5’s are for bidding
& not doubling. “ Wow !!