Bidding Over PreemptsYour LHO deals and opens Three Clubs. Your partner then makes a bid:Vs. Opp's Preempts Dbl. Is
Takeout Opt. Penalty
Wk. 2's [ ] [ ] [ ]
3 Bids [ ] [ ] [ ]
Conv. takeout _________________
What does it mean ?Preempts Are Very Common. Because of the near universal use of Weak Twos there are a lot of preempts in competitive play. You have to be able to deal with them and find your games and partials or even slams. The only thing the convention card is concerned with is your treatment of Double as a call after a preempt. The choices are three -- Takeout or Optional or Penalty.1. If you always play them as takeout or always as penalty, indicate in the box.2. If you play one or more of them differently, use the appropriate boxes.
3. If you play them as sometimes penalty and sometimes takeout, you must call them Optional, meaning the fourth hand can pass for penalty or bid on.
Our Card for Vs. Opponents Preempts Double
Vs. Opp's Preempts Dbl. Is
Takeout Opt. Penalty
Wk. 2's [ ] [X] [ ]
3 Bids [ ] [X] [ ]
Conv. takeout _________________
Always an Option - With Guarantees. We play these doubles as optional, meaning third or fourth hand can pass the Double for penalty or bid something. Our double guarantees any unbid major suits.
Our overcalls of preempts show only the suit bid with points appropriate to the situation -- if vulnerable, a near opener; if not-vulnerable, a decent suit and the desire to compete.
We don't use any conventional takeouts over preempts. An immediate NT overcall is used by some players as a takeout, making the Double call always for penalty.
(c) Robert D. McConnell, 1998 All Rights Reserved