Defense Against 3 Or 4 Level Preempts

Rev: June 7, 2000

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Suit Overcalls

	Overcalling at the three- and four level requires a good six-card or longer strong suit.
	Bid soundly in the direct seat and do your gambling in the balancing seat when opponents have stopped below game.

Cue-Bid Opener’s Suit

Shows a powerhouse.

You bid 4S over opponent’s 3S you must have something like: void AQT2 AQ743 AKJT

If partner bids 5C, 5D, or 5H, you pass, as he may have a very poor hand.

If a slam is to be made, it is up to partner to bid it.

3NT Overcalls of Opponent’s Three Bid

	Shows a balanced hand with at least one stopper in the enemy’s suit
	In the direct seat you need at least 18 or 19 HCP.
	In the balancing seat you need at least 15 or 16 points.

4NT Overcall of Opponent’s Three Bid

	Bidding 4NT over an opening bid of 3H or 3S is a version of the “unusual notrump overcall”.
	You are long in both minors with a substantial hand and partner is asked to bid his best minor.
	To bid 4NT over 3H you have something like: 73 void AKJ92 AJT854

4NT Overcall of an Opening 4H or 4S

	4NT over a 4H preempt is a takeout for the two minor suit (the unusual notrump).
	4NT over a 4S preempt is a takeout for the three unbid suits.
	Requires a substantial hand since partner must bid at the five-level.

Doubles of the Preemptive Bid – Below the Game Level

If opponent preempts with 3C, 3D, 3H, 3S, 4C, or 4D your double is for takeout.

You need the proper shape: 4-4-4, or very strong with 4-4-3 with the three having like 3 honors.

Point requirements are similar to those when doubling an opening suit bid of one, but since partner is forced to bid at higher levels you need a better hand. The higher the level the stronger the hand.

Doubles of the Preemptive Bid – At the Game Level

Doubling 5C or 5D is always for penalty.

If the responder makes a preemptive bid by raising partner’s opening 1H to 4H your double is always for takeout. Requirements are the same as doubling a 3H opening bid.

Doubling an opening 4H or 4S bid is an “optional” double.

Don’t double unless you don’t care whether your partner bids or not.

The onus is on partner whether to bid game or better, or pass for penalty.

Responses To Partner's Double of Opponent's Opening 4-Bid

When partner doubles the opponent’s opening four-bid, you have a number of options. Normally, partner’s double is for penalty (a three-level opening preempt double is for takeout).

You want to look at your hand and determine:

You have slam possibilities
You have a long-suited hand without slam interest
You have a shapely hand with game potential
You should pass for a penalty

Bidding goes as follows:

[ 4 of a suit Dbl Pass ?? ]

With Slam Interest:

5 of a new suit = slam invitation in your suit without a stopper in opponent’s suit.

5NT = pick a slam

6 of opponent's suit = jump cue bid shows 5-0-4-4 pattern (void in opponent’s suit).

6 of a new suit = a “shot” at slam in your suit.

Game Try - usually no slam interest and vulnerability dictates that your side be at game rather than penalizing opponents.

4NT = a two-suiter (bid up-the-line to find a fit)

5 of opponent's suit = cue-bid shows any one-suiter (partner relays to the next cheapest suit)

Penalty – no slam interest

Pass = with a flat hand and good values since vulnerability dictates that your side go for a penalty.

Pass = with a flat hand and few, if any, values.