Pre-empts

Openings at the three level and above show long suits with little defence, opened high to take away the opponents' bidding room. The weaker the hand and the longer the suit, the higher the opening. The opponents then have to guess at a high level.

Fourth seat is the exception. With three passes in front of you there is nothing to pre-empt against, so a weak hand passes the deal out and a three-level opening is strong instead: a long suit, typically six cards, with about 17–19 points.

Responding to a pre-empt

Partner has shown a long suit and little else, so nothing moves without a reason. Over a three-level major, raise to game by the Rule of 17: high-card points plus the number of trumps held come to 17 or more. Over a three-level minor, bid 3NT with 15 or more high-card points, a balanced hand and every side suit stopped; raise to five with four-card support and 16 or more support points, or three-card support and 17 or more. A new major is forcing: 16 or more points with a self-sufficient six-card suit, or a solid five-card suit headed by the ace, king and queen. With none of these, pass; a raise on less would only be obstruction.

If the opponents double or overcall, the same game raises apply, and a competitive raise joins them: to game in the major, or to four of the minor, with three-card or longer support and 10–15 support points, by the Law of Total Tricks. Opposite a four-level minor pre-empt, partner raises to five with four-card support and 13 or more support points.