Preemptive Jump Raises and Cue Bid Raises

Preemptive Jump Raises use up bidding space the opponents would like to use to find the appropriate fit and level for their contracts. Cue bid Raises allow us to show strength so that the Preemptive Jump Raises do not negatively affect our own constructive auctions. Remember that the more you preempt the more problematic decisions you create for the opponents. Decisions the opponents will sometimes get WRONG!

A Preemptive Jump Raise is a jump in your partner’s suit that shows a weak hand, 3-7 points, with more than normal length in partner’s suit. The decision on how high to make the preemptive jump raise is often made using the Law of Total Tricks. In depth discussion of “The Law” is better done in a separate article, but, simply stated, it means that when you and partner have a combined trump holding of 9 cards you want to compete to the 3 level, with 10 cards to the 4 level, etc. A Preemptive Jump Raise that many new players are familiar with is the “weak freak” hand like, S9 HQ10974 DK52 C10983, that will bid 4H opposite partners 1H opening. This hand will either have a shot at taking 10 tricks or blocking the opponents out of 4S. Partner has a 5 card heart suit. We have a 5 card heart suit. Thus “The Law” says we should compete to the 4 level with our 10 card trump fit.

Imagine your left hand opponent bids 1D, partner bids 1S, and right hand opponent makes a negative double. You hold SK732 H86 D74 CQ10962. This is a good hand for a Preemptive Jump Raise. You have a weak hand with 4 card support for partner’s suit. Partner has 5 spades and we have 4 spades for a total of 9 spades. “The Law” says that we can compete to the 3 level. If partner made a minimum overcall with SAJ1094 HQ1042 D10 CA87, the opponents will surely figure out to compete to 3D if you bid 2S. If you jump to 3S and left hand opponent chooses to pass, then right hand opponent may have a difficult time choosing between passing, raising to 4D, or doubling 3S. Being forced to make lots of tough choices is what makes playing against good players so difficult. They never let us rest!

Let’s look at another hand. Partner opens 1H and we hear right hand opponent bid 2D. What should we bid holding S106 HJ1072 D972 CKQ105? We have a fairly poor hand with 4 card support for partner’s 5 card suit. With 9 cards in the trump suit a Preemptive Jump Raise of 3H seems right. Imagine left hand opponent holds SQJ987 H86 DAJ CJ432. Will he bid 3S? Would you? Doesn’t 3S seem dangerous? Whatever left hand opponent does your 3H call will put him in a much more difficult spot than if you had bid 2H.

If we are going to bid 3H in auctions like 1H-2D-3H when we have bad hands and support for partner, than we need a new way of showing a good hand for partner. This is where Cue Bid Raises come in to play. Pretend on the hand above you hold SA6 HK1072 D972 CKQ105. We want to tell partner we have a good hand with support. We can’t bid 3H because that shows a bad hand. Instead we cue bid the opponent’s suit, diamonds. After 1H-2D-3D partner will understand we have at least 10-12 points and support for his suit. This is a cue bid raise.

For more information check the Overcalls (Part 2) column at http://www.acbl.org/play/ commonlyUsedconventions.html or the book 25 Conventions you Should Know. For more info. on “The Law” read To Bid or Not to Bid by Larry Cohen or an article on Unit 241’s website, by our own Grand Life Master, http://www.omahabridge.org/MHemPubs/LAW1.wps.pdf.

OGUST over Weak Two Preempts

Undisciplined two’s come up twice as often as disciplined two’s. The more you preempt the more problematic decisions you create for the opponents. Decisions the opponents will sometimes get WRONG! OGUST responses to a 2NT ask will let you and your partner preempt more without hurting your own constructive auctions.

A disciplined weak two bid traditionally shows 5-10 High Card Points and a 6 card suit headed by either 2 of the top 3 honors or 3 of the top 5 honors. An example of a traditional weak two might look like : S 97 HKQ7653 D 943 C A2. After opener makes a traditional weak two bid, his partner can find out if he has a “feature” of an Ace or King in a suit outside of the weak two suit. On the hand above the auction might go 2H-2NT- 3C and the 2NT bidder will know partner has 2 of the top three or 3 of the top 5 heart honors and the A or K of C. This works well on hands that need help with a stopper to play in NT or need a side entry to run the weak two bidder’s suit in NT. Perhaps something that looks like SAJ84 H98 DAK107 CQ1063 might like to try 3NT opposite the above weak two. Unfortunately, it helps the defense gain useful info too.

Playing undisciplined weak two bids you only need a 6 card suit, 5-10 points, and a belief that you won’t get killed at the current vulnerability: you will want a better preempt red or in second seat. An undisciplined weak two could look like any of the following hands:
S1065 HQJ8632 DKJ C53 SK6 HK109752 DK10 C1085
S86 H53 DJ109852 CKJ103 SKJ9432 H98 DJ104 C96
If you and your partner decide to play undisciplined weak two bids, it can be very dangerous to play 2NT asks for a feature. Look at our sample hand from the second paragraph above. Responder holds SAJ84 H98 DAK107 CQ1063. After our auction of 2H-2NT- 3C the preemptor might hold either S97 HKQ7653 D943 C A2 or SQ52 HQ108753 D98 CA6. Opposite the first preempt responder wants to be in game and opposite the second he will hope signing off in 3H is not too high. 2NT asking for a feature can not distinguish between these two hands.

Harold OGUST came up with a solution for how to differentiate between when partner has a disciplined weak two bid and a not so disciplined one. The 2NT call is no longer a feature ask but instead requests partner to describe his hand using these calls:
3C minimum strength hand (5-7) and a poor suit (undisciplined), bad bad
3D minimum strength hand (5-7) and a good suit (disciplined*), bad good
3H maximum strength hand (8-10) and a poor suit (undisciplined), good bad
3S maximum strength hand (8-10) and a good suit (disciplined*), good good
3NT A solid weak 2 suit, i.e. A K Q 6 5 2, Tony the Tiger, Greeaat
*Disciplined is 2 of top 3 or 3 of top 5 honors
Let us see how this might work in practice. Using our first example two bid the auction would go 2H-2NT- 3S (good hand, good suit) and responder could bid a comfortable 3NT. The auction for the second hand might go 2H-2NT- 3S (good hand, bad suit) and responder could pass knowing game would be unlikely.

For more examples and information on OGUST check the Commonly used Conventions column in your past ACBL magazine or find the articles on the web at http://www.acbl.org/play/ commonlyUsedconventions.html. Another great resource is the fantastic book 25 Conventions you Should Know by Barbara Seagram and Marc Smith.

Better to have tried and failed

Well, we didn't win in Chicago. We lost. I guess that is life. I can't say I wasn't disapointed because I was. I thought we worked hard, and gave it our best. 'nuff said.

Jonathan