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INERMEDIATE BRIDGE - BIDDING TIPS FOR TOPS

LESSON 20

WHEN THE OPPONENTS PREEMPT - TIPS 143-151

143. Preempts with very light hands are the rage these days. This is especially true of first seat 3-

level 6-card suits and third seat non-vulnerable preempts. Forewarned is forearmed. As a

result, be aggressive when considering bidding over a preemptive bid by the opponents. Do so

especially when holding a singleton or doubleton in their suit, even with as few as 12 HCP’s.

Assume partner holds between 4-8 HCP’s when considering your bid lest you be fearful of

bidding.

Examples: East South (You)

3H ??

(a) AJXX X KJXX KXXX (Double.)

(b) KXXX XX KQXX AKX (Double.)

three card support for the unbid Major.)

(d) AJX X AKXX KQXXX (Double. You hold 17 HCP’s, disregard the

fact that you hold only three Spades.)

144. A simple overcall over a preempt shows opening bid values. A jump overcall following a

preempt is even stronger. It evidences at least a 15+ HCP count.

Examples: East South (You)

3C ??

(a) AQXXXX AX QJX XX (Bid 3S.)

(b) AKJXXX X AQJX XX (Bid 4S.)

145. Never, never, never preempt over a preempt by the opponent.

Example: East South (You)

3C ??

KQXXXXX XX QX XX (Pass for the time being, if it be your side’s

hand, partner will balance.)

146. If your RHO opens 3C or 3D, a cuebid of “4C” or “4D” respectively is a takeout for the Majors

(Michael’s Cuebid). It exhibits a 5-5 or 6-5 distribution with a hand that you would

otherwise have opened.

Examples: East South (You)

3D ??

(a) KQXXX AJXXXX X X (Bid “4D”.)

(b) QJXXXX KXXXX X X (Pass, you will bid “4D” later if partner

doubles.)

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147. If your RHO opens 3H, an overcall of 4H (Michael’s Cuebid) evidences a 5-5 or 6-5 distribution

holding both Spades and an unspecified Minor suit as well as opening bid values.

Example: East South (You)

3H ??

AJXXX X AKJXXX X (Bid “4H”, Partner will bid “4NT” to negate

Spades and to ask for your Minor as an

alternative choice of suits.)

148. A “double” of an opening 4H preempt is takeout oriented. The double must have at least three

Spades. An overcall of “4NT” is the “Unusual No Trump” bid asking for the Minors.

Examples: East South (You)

4H ??

(a) AX KQX AXXXX QXX (Pass, do not double, look at your Spades!)

(b) AXX X KQXX AKXXX (Double.)

149. A “double” of an opening 4S preempt is for penalties. A “4NT” bid is the takeout overcall for

this specific singular circumstance.

Examples: East South (You)

4S ??

(a) KX AQX KQXXX AXX Double for penalties.)

(b) X AKXX KJXX AQXX Bid “4NT”, a special takeout circumstance.)

150. When partner doubles a game preempt, pass with most balanced hands and remove with

distributional ones.

Examples: East South (You)

4H ??

(a) AXX XXX QJXX QXX (Pass, your hand is balanced and you have

defensive points.)

(b) AXX XXX QJXXXX X (Bid 5D, you have a distributional hand.)

151. An overcall of 3NT following a 3-level preempt has the range of 16-22 HCP’s.

Examples: East South (You)

3S ??

(a) AQ QXX AQJX QXXX (Bid 3NT.)

(b) AKJ AXX KQXX AJX (Bid 3NT. How can partner differentiate

the two, he/she cannot.)

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INERMEDIATE BRIDGE - BIDDING TIPS FOR TOPS

LESSON 21

WHEN YOU ARE A PASSED HAND - TIPS 152-157

152. A new suit response to an opening bid is not forcing. Opener (3^rd or 4^th Position)

knows you had previously passed; that you, therefore, had fewer than 13 HCP’s; and

can, thusly, make an informed decision as to whether or not further bidding

exploration is required.

Example: East (You) West (Partner)

Pass 1S

2H ?? (With fewer than 14 HCP’s, West

can pass since game is unlikely.)

153. A jump-shift by a previously passed partner evidences an “almost-opening-bid” with

primary support for partner’s opening suit. It can be made with on any 4-card or

longer suit.

Example: South (You) North

Pass 1C

You Hold: (a) AKXXX XXX JXX XX (Bid 1S, a Jump to 2S would show

11-12 HCP’s)

(b) AKJX X XX KXXXXX (Bid 2S, evidencing 11-12 HCP’s.)

154. The same type of hand; i.e., an “almost-opening-bid” with primary support for

partner is evidenced when you, as a previously passed hand, make a cue-bid of

opener’s suit in response to partner’s overcall. It shows support for partner’s

overcall suit and primary support for partner’s suit as well.

Example: South (You) West North East

Pass 1H 2C Pass

You Hold: KQ10 XXX QXX A10XX (Bid “2H” to show an “almost-

opening-hand” with Club support.)

155. With a 4-4-4-1 or a 5-4-4-0 shape, a previously-passed hand should double for

take-out even with as few as 9 HCP’s, if the opponent’s suit is your singleton or void.

Example: South (You) West North East

Pass Pass Pass 1H

You Hold: (a) KJXX X KXXX KXXX (Double for Take-out.)

(b) KXXX - KXXXX QXX (Double for Take-out.)

enough.)

(d) KXX JXXX AXXX QX (Pass - You have 4 Cards in the

the opponent’s suit.)

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156. A direct overcall, by a previously-passed hand, of “1NT” after a Major suit opening

by the opponent’s is “unusual” for the Minors. It is the same as a direct “2NT”

overcall by an non-passed hand.

You Hold: X X QJXXXX AQXXX

Example: South West(You) North East

(a) 1S ?? (Bid “2NT” - Unusual for the Minors. A

1NT bid would have been natural; i.e.,

15-17 HCP’s.)

(b) Pass Pass Pass

1S ??

(Bid “1NT” - Unusual for the Minors.)

Do not confuse (b) above with a 4^th-seat,”balancing” 1NT which evidences

a balanced hand with as few as 9-12 HCP’s done in desperation so as not to

allow the hand to be passed out with the opponents getting the contract

cheaply.

You Hold: AXX KJX QXXX QXX

Example: South West North East

(a) 1H P P ?? (Bid 1NT - Balancing, natural.

A Balancing “2NT” would have

been “Unusual” for the Minors.)

SUMMARY:

(a) Opening Bids: 1NT = Natural, 15-17 HCP’s

?? 2NT = Natural, 21-22 HCP’s

(b) Direct Overcalls: 1NT = Natural, 15-17 HCP’s

1B ?? “2NT”= “Unusual” (5-5)

1B P P ?? “2NT”= “Unusual”

(d) By a Previously-Passed Hand

in the Direct Position: “1NT”= “Unusual” for the Minors

P P P 1B 2NT = non-existent

???

(e) By a Previously-Passed Hand 1NT = Natural, 6-10 HCP’s

when partner has Opened. 2NT = Natural, 11-12 HCP’s,

P P 1B P balanced and

??? denies a singleton

(f) Following a weak 2-Bid by 2NT = Natural, 15-17 HCP’s

the opponents.

2B ???

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157. After an intervening overcall over your partner’s opening bid, assuming you to be a

previously-passed hand, the cue-bid substitutes for a limit raise 11-12 HCP’s, the

simple raise is natural, and the jump raise becomes pre-emptive.

Example: South (You) West North East

Pass Pass 1H 2C

You Hold: (a) XX AQXX KJXX JXX (Bid “3C” - a cue-bid to show

a limit raise, 11-12 HCP’s in

support of Hearts.)

(b) XX AQXX XXXX JXX (Bid 2H, natural.)

(d) X XXX (Bid 3H - Pre-emptive.)

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INERMEDIATE BRIDGE - BIDDING TIPS FOR TOPS

LESSON 22

AFTER PARTNER OPENS 1NT - TIPS 158-164

158. Do not use the Stayman Convention with a 4-3-3-3 or a 3-4-3-3 distribution. These

hands usually play better in No Trump due to the balanced nature of both partners.

Example: South (Partner) West North (You)

1NT Pass ??

You Hold: (a) KXXX AXX KXX QXX (Bid 3NT, not “2C”)

(b) AXX QJXX QXX XXX (Bid 2NT, not “2C”)

159. In order to invoke Stayman, (See exception: # 160 to follow) responder needs at least 8

HCP’s. If one fails to connect with the sought-after Major suit, and responder is

forced to retreat to 2NT, opener will take you for invitational strength and may launch

into 3NT with a 16-17 HCP count.

Example: South (Partner) West North (You)

1NT Pass ??

You Hold: (a) AXXX QXXX XX XXX (Pass, Responder is not strong

enough to launch into a Stayman

sequence. If opener,

hypothetically, responds “2D” to

a “2C” Stayman bid; then what?)

(b) AQXX KXXX XX XXX (Bid “2C”, If partner responds

“2D” rebid 2NT (Invitational)

without being ashamed of your

dummy hand.)