Defending Against Preempts

They open 3♥. You’re looking at a decent hand. Do you bid? Double? What does double even mean at the three-level?

Preempts exist to make your life difficult. They work. You have less room to describe your hand, less time to find your fit, and you’re forced to make decisions at uncomfortable levels. That’s the point.

But you can fight back. Here’s how to handle opponent preempts without guessing.

The Two Types: Weak Twos vs Three-Level Preempts

These aren’t the same animal. A weak two (2♥ or 2♠) shows 5-10 HCP with a six-card suit. Annoying but not devastating. You still have room to explore.

A three-level preempt (3♣, 3♦, 3♥, 3♠) shows a seven-card suit, usually less than opening strength. This destroys bidding space. Different strategies apply.

Defending Against Weak Twos (2♥ or 2♠)

You have options. Let’s go through them.

The Takeout Double

Most pairs play double as takeout, showing opening values (12+ HCP) with support for unbid suits.

After 2♥ - Double, you should have:

  • At least opening strength
  • Good holdings in spades, clubs, and diamonds
  • Shortage (two cards or less) in hearts is nice but not required

Example:

♠ K Q 9 6
♥ 8 3
♦ A Q 7 4
♣ K 6 2

RHO opens 2♥

Double. You have opening strength, support for all unbid suits, and heart shortness. Perfect takeout double.

Example (more marginal):

♠ A J 8 6
♥ Q 5
♦ K 10 7 3
♣ Q 9 4

RHO opens 2♥

Double. You have 12 HCP, good spade holding, adequate minors. The doubleton heart with the queen isn’t ideal, but the hand is worth competing.

The Direct Overcall

Overcall with a good suit and sound values. At the two-level, you need:

  • A good five-card or longer suit
  • 10+ HCP (preferably 12+)
  • Concentrated values in your suit

After 2♥, you can bid 2♠ with less than you’d need for 3♣ or 3♦. Why? You’re only at the two-level.

Example:

♠ A Q J 9 6 4
♥ 8
♦ K 7 3
♣ 10 6 2

RHO opens 2♥

Bid 2♠. Good suit, decent hand, right level. Don’t double when you know where you want to play.

Example (minor suit):

♠ 8 3
♥ 7
♦ A K Q 9 7 4
♣ K 10 6 2

RHO opens 2♥

Bid 3♦. Your suit is solid and you have decent values. You’re bidding at the three-level so you need a good suit.

The 2NT Overcall

Most play 2NT over a weak two as showing 15-18 HCP balanced, like a 1NT opening. Some play it as “unusual 2NT” showing minors. Know your agreements.

When to Pass

Pass when:

  • You don’t have opening strength
  • Your hand is balanced with stoppers in their suit (defend)
  • You’re not sure what to do (passing is underrated)

Remember: They preempted with a weak hand. You might beat 2♥ on defense. Not every hand requires action.

Example:

♠ K 8 6
♥ A Q 9
♦ J 7 4 2
♣ K 10 3

RHO opens 2♥

Pass. You have 12 HCP but they’re defensive. You have heart stoppers. Let partner decide if they want to balance. If this gets passed out, you’re probably beating it.

Defending Against Three-Level Preempts

This is where it gets tricky. They’ve eaten up tons of bidding space. You’re forced to make decisions at the three or four-level.

The Takeout Double

Double shows opening strength with support for unbid suits. Same idea as over weak twos, but:

  • You need a bit more (13+ HCP is safer)
  • Shape matters more (shortage in their suit is more important)
  • Be ready to compete to the three or four-level

Example:

♠ A Q 9 6
♥ K J 8 4
♦ 7
♣ A 10 6 2

RHO opens 3♦

Double. You have opening strength, support for all unbid suits, and singleton diamond. Textbook.

Example (shakier):

♠ K 10 8 6
♥ A Q 7 4
♦ 9 3
♣ K J 5

RHO opens 3♦

This is borderline. You have 13 HCP and support for majors, but if partner bids 4♣, you’re at the four-level with three-card support. Still, double is probably right. You can’t pass with this hand.

The Direct Overcall

Overcalling at the three-level requires:

  • A good six-card suit (or strong five-card suit)
  • 13+ HCP
  • Most values in your suit

The suit quality matters more than the HCP count. A thin overcall with ♠AQJ1094 is better than a higher HCP count with ♠KJ9763.

Example:

♠ A K Q 10 7 4
♥ 8
♦ K 7 3
♣ 10 6 2

RHO opens 3♥

Bid 3♠. Easy. Good suit, decent values, and you want spades as trumps.

Example (don’t overcall):

♠ K 10 9 7 6 3
♥ 7
♦ A Q 8
♣ K 6 2

RHO opens 3♥

Pass or double. Your suit isn’t good enough for 3♠. If you double and partner bids 4♣ or 4♦, you can try 4♠. But a direct 3♠ overcall should promise a better suit.

The 3NT Overcall

This shows a strong balanced hand (usually 16-18 HCP) with stoppers in their suit. You’re essentially treating it like they opened at the one-level and you have a 1NT overcall, but stronger because of the level.

Example:

♠ A Q 8
♥ K J 10
♦ A 10 6
♣ K Q 7 3

RHO opens 3♥

Bid 3NT. You have 18 HCP, balanced, and heart stoppers. You’re bidding what you think you can make.

When to Pass (Critically Important)

At the three-level, passing is often right. They’ve used up their bidding space but they’ve also used up yours. Coming in at the three-level can lead to disasters.

Pass when:

  • You don’t have clear action
  • Your hand is balanced with stoppers (you might beat it)
  • You’re minimum with no great fit
  • Partner will get another chance in the balancing seat

The Rule of 2/3/4: When deciding whether to compete over a preempt, count your likely tricks. At favorable vulnerability, you can afford to go down 3 (500) rather than let them make a vulnerable game. At unfavorable, you can only afford down 2. This affects your competitive decisions.

When Partner Doubles

If partner doubles their preempt (takeout), you must bid unless you have a stack in their suit and want to convert to penalty.

With no clear fit and balanced shape, bid 3NT if you have stoppers and 10+ HCP.

With support for an unbid suit, bid it. How high? Depends on your HCP:

  • 0-7 HCP: Minimum response (3-level)
  • 8-10 HCP: Jump one level
  • 11+ HCP: Jump to game or cuebid their suit

Example:

♠ K 8 6 4
♥ 7 3
♦ Q 9 7 2
♣ 10 6 3

RHO opens 3♥, partner doubles, passed to you

Bid 3♠. You have four spades and minimum values. Don’t pass - partner’s double is forcing.

Example:

♠ 9 7 4 2
♥ A K J 10 6
♦ 8 3
♣ 7 4

RHO opens 3♠, partner doubles, passed to you

Pass. You’re converting partner’s takeout double to penalty. You have five natural trump tricks, and partner has opening values. Take your plus score.

Balancing Position

If the preempt is passed around to you (you’re in fourth seat), you can be more aggressive. Partner couldn’t act, so they don’t have a great hand, but they also might have values with no clear action.

You can balance with lighter doubles and overcalls. The key: Don’t let them buy it at the two or three-level when your side has half the deck.

Example:

♠ K 10 8 6
♥ A 7
♦ K 9 7 3
♣ Q 6 2

LHO opens 2♥, passed around to you

Double. You only have 11 HCP, but this is a balancing double. Partner is marked with some values (they would’ve acted with a big hand), and you can’t let them play 2♥ undisturbed.

Decision Guidelines Summary

Over Weak Twos (2♥ or 2♠):

Double: 12+ HCP, support for unbid suits
Overcall 2♠ over 2♥: Good five-card or longer suit, 10+ HCP
Overcall 3m: Good six-card minor, 12+ HCP
2NT: 15-18 balanced with stoppers (or unusual, by agreement)
Pass: No clear action, or balanced with stoppers

Over Three-Level Preempts:

Double: 13+ HCP, support for unbid suits, preferably shortage in their suit
Overcall: Good six-card suit (or very strong five), 13+ HCP
3NT: 16-18 balanced with stoppers
Pass: More often than you think

Responding to Partner’s Double:

Bid your best suit at minimum level with 0-7 HCP
Jump one level with 8-10 HCP
Jump to game with 11+ HCP
Pass only with a stack in their suit (penalty conversion)

Common Mistakes

Mistake 1: Doubling three-level preempts with balanced 14 HCP. If you’re balanced, pass unless you have 16+ for 3NT. Double shows support for unbid suits.

Mistake 2: Overcalling at the three-level with mediocre suits. Your suit needs to be good. If it’s not, double or pass.

Mistake 3: Passing partner’s takeout double with minimum balanced hands. You must bid something. Pick your least-worst suit.

Mistake 4: Competing to the three-level at unfavorable vulnerability when they’re not making anything. Let them have their 2♠ making exactly for 110. Going down 300 in 3♦ loses 5 IMPs.

The Psychological Battle

Preempts work because they force you to make uncomfortable decisions. They’re bidding to the level of their fit immediately, and you’re guessing.

The key: Don’t let them push you around, but also don’t overcompete. If you’re not sure, passing is fine. If they’re making 3♥, you need to compete. If they’re going down, collecting 50 or 100 is often good enough.

And remember: Sometimes they nail you. That’s the game. Don’t compound it by going for 500 trying to “get them back.”

Pick your battles. Know when to fight and when to pass. And always keep suit quality in mind when overcalling at the three-level. That’s what kills you - bidding 3♠ on garbage and finding dummy with three small spades.

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