Bridge: Two level preempts

Weak Two bids - when to do it

This page has spun off my weak.two collection as I have seen some really terrible judgement used in opening preempts. They always cause problems, but with experience less so, and you get to punish the silly ones or get to games you couldn't otherwise have made.

Originally weak two's started as a sound 6 card suit but many variations have evolved. As the six suit isn't that common players started to make them with five (or even four. The North American EHAA Style is one system which incorporates 'anything goes' weak twos. In contrast the very successful Italian Blue Team would only play sound 6 suits. Q9xxxx was not enough. To some extent this reflects the divide between constructive and offensive bidding, and between teams and match point play.

I have also received a nice email from Al Kimel detailing the so called Club Letter approach

This just my approach to preempting, it reflects what I have read and seen elsewhere.

• Vary your approach. Don't be easy to read.
• Either a good suit or length. Otherwise you will give out some big penalties
• Take account of vulnerabilility.
  • Be semi-constructive when vulnerable.
  • Non vul versus vulnerable tend to offensive bidding and take risks
• Take account of seat position. It is a matter of whose hand it is.
  • 1st hand. If you have less than 10 points the balance of probabilities is that they have more than 20
    and a preempt will gain more often than lose. But keep it fairly pure so that partner can make a judgement
  • 2nd hand Assuming opener is as weak as you the odds are 50:50 as to who owns the hand. You may give opponents a headache or your partner. Keep the preempt very pure. A minor ought to run for no trumps
  • 3rd hand Partner has passed. Anything goes. Particularly if not vulnerable. Or you could have an opening hand! Some defence!!
  • 4th hand Surprisingly there is a place for this! Say on AQ9xxx x QJx xxx (note poor defence)
• Take account of scoring. Tend to extremes at pairs, solidity at teams
• Pass rather than tip off the distribution. Remember that your (eg) 2 preempt may not buy the contract and it might be better to pass. But vary your style as above.
• Discuss your style with partner and play a policy. In particular if you pre-empt 5 card suits he should not raise with less than Hxx or xxxx. Even then be cautious. He cannot raise you so often, but the pay-back is that you preempt more often. This policy is an agrement and should be on your card!
• The 4 card major side suit is bad news 1st/2nd as partner may have a fit and values. No problem 3rd and may be an unpleasant surprise for opponents. Don't forget that in the play Qxxx often equals four losers!
• The 54xx shape is much more common then the 6xxx and worth considering. See Lucas Twos
• The 55xx shape is rare but powerful. Worth including special bids if your sytem allows. But remember you may be able to express them using specialist overcalls on the second round.
• Avoid balanced hands - it's better to pass! Strong opponents will not be inhibited by your pre-empt and nothing is worse than to push them into a close game with everything breaking! I would sometimes pass xx KQJxxxx Jx xx but with the spade suit open a 'constructive' 2.
• It may help partner to have different bids for the 6 and 5 card preempts say through using a Multi 2 He can then use total trick theory to extend the preempt. It may also help opponents however and if you agree that 5332 shapes are lousy preempts why not try Lucas.Twos/Muiderberg!
• Always try to pre-empt with a purpose. This applies even more to weak jump overcalls where you should try and guess opponents fit, and keep them out of it. On this basis T98x KJxxxx x xx is a better preempt than x KJxxxx T98x xx as it shuts out the likely diamond fit - you don't mind if they play in spades!

Club letter approach

• Less then the values of an opening hand (6-11 hcp).
• Good six card suit, but "poorer suit quality is permitted as the distribution of the hand becomes more unbalanced."
• Voids and side suits of four or more cards are permitted.
• With 6-5 distribution opener rebids his 5 card suit on the second round, space permitting.
• 2NT response always guarantees at least two cards in the opening suit and is at least invitational to game. Opener shows a feature (A or K) if he has one; otherwise he signs off in 3 of his suit with a minimum or jumps to game, suggesting that he has a big distributional hand.
• New suits are forcing for one round.
• Direct raises to three are preemptive.

I would very much endorse this line myself. I have little time for those who argue that a hand is too good for a weak two, but must be passed {Chris}

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