Many times you end up having a hand with 5-10 HCP (or less than 13 total points) but a long 6 cards suit. If the suit quality is good (top 2 of 3/top 3 of 5), you can bid 2!D or 2!H or 2!S as your first bid. This is called a weak pre-emptive bid.

Notice that you CANNOT bid 2!C for 6 CLUBS as (2!C first bid is reserved as artificial bid for a strong hand). So a weak 2 bid at level 2, can happen only in DIAMONDS, HEARTS or SPADES.

7 or 8 cards suit (Also as an exception, a good 6 cards Club suit) with 5-10 HCP (or less than 13 total points) can be bid as 3!C or 3!D or 3!H or 3!S. Here even CLUBS can be weak pre-emptive bid.

Overcalls can also be weak pre-emptive when

• Opener bids 1 level Minor and overcall is 2!H or 2!S
• Opener bids 1 level Major and overcall is 3!C or 3!D
• 2!S overcall on 1!H is pre-emptive but 2!H over 1!S is not as there is no jump on a level

The advantage of weak 2 bids are:

• To thwart the opponent attempt to bid a safe lower level contract.
• To fully describe your hand to partner in a single bid.

For weak 2 bids the HCP should be concentrated mostly in the bid suit.

Vulnerability plays a role via rule of 2, 3 and 4, while making your opening bid. This rule will protect you if you get doubled, as the opponents know you’re weak.

Rule 2 : Your own hand (not counting your partner’s contribution) should be able to make 2 less than the bid contract, if vulnerability is unfavorable. Conversely, be ready to go down by 2 tricks.

• • E.g. You intend to win 2!S bid, make sure your hand can make 6 tricks on its own strength.

Rule 3: Your own hand (not counting your partner’s contribution) should be able to make 3 less than the bid contract, if vulnerability is equal. Conversely, be ready to go down by 3 tricks.

Rule 4: Your own hand (not counting your partner’s contribution) should be able to make 4 less than the bid contract, at favorable vulnerability. Conversely, be ready to go down by 4 tricks.

Seat position too, can be an incentive to bid weak preemptive bids when the bidder is at 3rd seat after passed hand of your partner. Your partner had the first chance to bid and he passed instead. It only means that collectively, your partnership is weak. Here, chances of a game by opponent improve if you allow the 4th seat opponent to bid by passing. Weak preemptive bid by you will interfere and disrupt the auction. Especially,  when opponents are vulnerable and you are not, chances of a Double are very less.

Opening a weak 2 bid at seat 4 after all others have passed is rarely an incentive. You should avoid and let this hand pass out.

If you don’t receive favorable response from partner, DO NOT rebid just pass.

There are some golden rules for preemptive bids:

• After weak 2 bid. Leave the decision making to your partner. Partner may make a forcing bid (2NT or 5+ cards new suit), then it’s your chance to take a call on sign off or showing side suit stoppers.
• As a general advice, DO NOT bid weak 2 when you also have a void or a 4 card side suit. ACBL advises that these kind of hands deliver poor results although human judgement is needed.
• After you realise that your partner has bid weak 2 bid and you have a singleton or void in any suit, DO NOT bid 3NT. Keep auction in trumps.
• Responses should be at 10+ points.
• When opponent preempts, your overcalls and doubles must be made with higher points as you are bidding at high levels.

• Keep in mind the partner of preemptor may have values to reach game (15+ points)
• If a weak 2 bid is overcalled and then responder DOUBLES, it’s a penalty double where responder expects the opener to pass.
• Your DOUBLE as overcaller on a pre emptive bid up to 4H should be takeout double and not penalty double.

Response to Weak 2 bids

• 2NT is artificial strong and 1 round forcing invitational bid by responder, showing 3+ card support and 15+ points hand. This bid intends to explore game.

• After 2NT response, next bid of opener at Level 3 of a side suit is for stoppers. Opener must have 9-11 points. E.g. 1!c-2!h:2NT:3!S shows Ace/King in Spades side suit and a 9-11 points. Game is possible.
• After 2NT response, opener rebidding at level 3 with same suit means sign off. Preemptive bidder is at lower end of the points (5-8 HCP).
• A pre emptive jump to game level 4 on Majors, assumes that contract will succeed based on The Law of Total Tricks even while having a weak hand. Count one trick extra for safety as the opponents may DOUBLE for penalty.

• When responder has 15+ hand but no support in opening bid, he may bids a new suit. It is forcing for 1 round showing 5+ cards in a different suit and denying support in opener’s suit.

• If a weak 2 bid is overcalled and then responder DOUBLES, it’s a penalty double where responder expects the opener to pass.