Preempts



What to do with a 7-card suit ?
The classic rule of preempting 2 down non-vul and 3 down vul has been replaced by aggressive preempts.
The modern tendency is to use preempts to make life difficult/unbearable for the opponents.
I am assuming that Namyats are being used just to illustrate the whole range.
I have also pegged the openings to points, though points are probably the least important
consideration - distribution and suit quality are certainly more important.
There is a big difference in preempts of the minor and major suits.
For the most part the recommendation is for non-vul hands; be a bit careful when vul


Points Bid Objective Addl qualification Samples Comments
           
3-7 3H Destructive Almost trickless x, QJTxxxx, xxx, xx
xx, KQJxxxx, Jxx, x
Jx, KQJxxxx, Jxx, x
 
8 - 10 2H Dest/const Some defence xx, KQTxxxx, Kxx, x
x, AKxxxxx, xx, Qxx
*1
10 - 13 4H Destructive High offense x, KQJxxxx, Ax, xxx
x, AQJxxxx, Qx, Kxx
 
11+ 1H Constructive Defensive tricks Ax, KQxxxxx, Qxx, x
Kxx, AQJxxxx, Jx, x
 
13 - 15 4C Dest/const Some defense Axx, AKQxxxx, xx, x
x, KQJxxxx, Ax, Axx
*2

*1 2H is usually opened with a 6 card suit, but these hands with one-and-a-half defensive tricks are too strong for a 3-level preempt. Alternatively, these hands could be passed in the first and second position and preempted in the third position.
*2 Namyats are stronger than a 4-level bid. With slam interest partner bids the suit in-between or RKCB.
Namyats are typically 7.5 to 8.5 trick hands; no more than 9 tricks. Namyats were introduced to the US bt Sam Stayman; since there was already a convention named after him,   this new convention used his name backwards.

Minor suit preempts

If 4C and 4D are used for Heart and Spade Namyats, use 3NT as minor suit Namyats.
Some examples:
Kxx, xx, x, AKQJxxx ;  Ax, xx, x, AQJ10xxxx ;   x, Ax, Axx, KQJxxxx ;  Qxx, Qx, AKQJxxx, x

That leaves a wide range of hands for minor suit 3-level preempt
Some minimum hands: xxx, xxx, x, KQJxxx ;   xx, xxx, x, KQ10xxxx
Some maximim hands: xx, Kxx, KQJxxxx, x ;   x, Qxx, KQ10xxxx, Qx ;
With better hands it is better to pass and come in later or open the bidding at the one level


    Home     Conventions