Marty Sez - Bergen's Bevy of Bridge Secrets

Note: Only summaries are included below -
see book for details

Sock It To 'Em With an Opening Three-Bid 81

Responding to Preempts is a Cinch 83

The Weakest Weak Two-Bid Ever Made 88

Why Not Have a Grand Old Time 90

Sock It To 'Em With an Opening Three-Bid

What do you need for a three-level preempt?

1. You should have less than an opening bid, including distribution. The following hand is too strong. Open 1, based on the Rule of 20.

AQ86532 5 KJ4 64

2. An opening three-bid should contain fewer than 10 HCP. The exact number is not important.

3 Suit quality is crucial. The difference between preempting with QJ76432 (versus QJ109853) can be one or two tricks. A suit with good texture is a big plus.

However, do not open at the three level with a suit headed by the AKQ. A solid seven-card suit is too good. Open 1 with:

6 53 J72 AKQ10865

4. Vulnerability is definitely relevant, as it is with all preempts and overcalls. Avoid making a vulnerable preempt with a weak suit like K976432. However, do not worry when your suit is good. Too many otherwise sensible players forget to make the indicated bid because they were vulnerable! If you fail to open 3 with the following hand, I would rather be your opponent than your partner:

5 KQJ10986 954 86

5. Distribution is also important. 7–3–3–0 is better than 7–3–2–1, which is better than 7–2–2–2.

6. Avoid preempting with too many outside honors. Even though I love to preempt, I would not open 3 with this mess:

KJ10 Q6 J876532 Q

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© Marty Bergen

7. Three–level openings ususally promise a seven-card suit. The only exception would be 3, where you may have only six clubs because 2 is not available as a preempt. Be happy to open 3 with:

9 74 10762 KQJ1097

8. The above applies when preempting in first or second seat. In third seat, you should try harder to preempt. Your LHO must have a good hand. Make him sweat. Open 3 with:

KQJ987 — 10986 643

Open 3 with:

2 K6 AQJ9765 J106

9. In fourth seat, there is no reason to preempt with a weak hand. Pass and take your chances on the next deal if you hold:

97 KQJ8754 75 J6

In fourth seat, only open three with a promising hand. After three passes, open 3 holding:

AKQJ1074 7 532 43

The philosophy of third- and fourth-seat preempts also applies to weak two-bids: Fourth-seat bids are never “weak,” while anything goes in third seat.

10. Last, but certainly not least, be attuned to partner's style. Knowing whether partner is aggressive, conservative, or middle-of-the-road is critical. I believe that knowing partner's tendencies is as essential as remembering the conventions you have agreed to play.

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© Marty Bergen

Responding to Preempts is a Cinch

What should you do after partner opens three of a major? This question is a lot easier to answer than most players realize, because:

1. You know a great deal about what partner has — a weak hand with a good seven-card suit. He is interested in playing only in his major. You can almost see his hand before you see his hand.

2. Unless you have a fantastically strong hand or an unbelievable suit of your own, there are only two realistic options. Most of the time you pass; sometimes you raise partner's major to game.

...

The Weakest Weak Two-Bid Ever Made

“Desperate situations often warrant desperate measures.”

Anonymous

I agree! Such was my analysis late in the finals of the 1983 Spingold Teams, a major event that can lead to the world championships. Time was running out. Our team was trailing by a significant margin.

   87642
   J93
   AK3
   104

As dealer, vulnerable, I held the East cards. Although I had the most routine pass you could imagine, I found something to say. I had a fancy bid available, and I could not afford to wait around for the perfect hand. I therefore opened 2, which, in our system, promised a weak two-bid in spades.

...

Why Not Have a Grand Old Time

You are pleased to be dealt a terrific hand:

   KQJ103
   AQ5
   AK753
   —

...

CHAPTER 11 - THE RULE OF 11:
CAN YOU SUBTRACT? 93