Obstructive bidding
Pre-empts
Pre-emptive bidding stops the opposition from finding the right contract — or at least makes it hard. The danger is that pre-empting at the wrong vulnerability can hand them a bigger score than they'd otherwise get.
The rule of 500
When pre-empting first or second in hand, apply the rule of 500:
- Non-vulnerable, you must hold 6 sure tricks.
- Vulnerable, you should hold 7 sure tricks.
Three off doubled non-vulnerable and two off doubled vulnerable both give a 500 penalty.
Third-in-hand pre-empts after two passes are simply obstructive — the rule of 500 doesn't apply, but common sense does. As a corollary: you must have a very good reason to pre-empt vulnerable against non-vulnerable.
Response to weak twos (2♦, 2♥, 2♠)
A 2NT response to a weak-two opener asks for further information.
- 3♣Weak hand, 1 honour in the suit.
- 3♦Weak hand, 2 honours.
- 3♥Strong hand, 1 honour.
- 3♠Strong hand, 2 honours.
- 3NTExactly AKQxxx in the suit.
Key
- M= Majors
- m= Minors
- NT= No Trump
- s= suit
- a= another suit
- l= lower suit
- x= Double
- xx= Redouble