Preemptive Openings
Our preemptive openings include the traditional 3 level bids, four and five level openings and overcalls, and weak two Spades.
Never, Never, Never. Having once made a preemptive bid or overcall, you will NOT make another call that hand, unless absolutely forced to by your partner - never by your opponents.
You may not bid "just one higher" if opponents overcall your preempt, or your partner has the right to inflict any punishment he wants upon you. If you want to bid "just one higher", bid it the first time.
Your partner may be sitting there like a cat bird with a trump stack against the opponents, waiting for a 500 point set and a top board after your opening 3§. To hear you later say "5 Clubs" over the opponents' 4©, thereby guaranteeing a 500 point set for your side, is grounds for partnership mayhem. Bid 5§ on the first bid if you are ever going to say it.
What's the Bid? Especially important in a decision to preempt is the prior bidding. If your partner has passed, bid like crazy! If he has not bid, be careful to not preempt him or her -- wait until your next turn and then preempt if possible. Who's Got the Majors? Also important is the Majors situation. If you are considering preempting in Hearts with a singleton or void in Spades, you can be sure the opponents will be bidding Spades -- get your preempt in early. If you have Spades, you can overcall an opposing preempt in Hearts, so don't preempt your partner. Length is Strength. With 7 or more cards in a suit, be very aggressive, especially if you are weak in HCP. Remember, there is no penalty for going down 1400, other than a possible bottom board. But, if you prevent the opponents from making 1430, or force them to bid too high and go off one instead of making their bid, you make a top. War. Competitive bridge is war, not a symphony.