[Kingjy1]

I like to take liberties when in 3 rd hand after 2 passes.
Like opening a weak 2 with 5 cards only in majors or a preemp 3 with 6 in a minor.
I expect my partner not to criticize me for not following " the book" even a new partner.
I would appreciate all comments.
No trump opening are regular and I prefer sound openings . I would pass a 11 or 12 pts with more than 6 losers (losing tricks counts)

[ralph23]

♣♦♥♠

Yes, take liberties indeed, especially when it goes Pass-Pass to you, and you and white and they are red. Opening a weak-two on a five-bagger is well within advanced/expert standards IMHO, in this circumstance. I don't know that I'd do it if we're red and they are white, but certainly almost any time we're white.

Preempting at the three-level on a six-bagger is also OK, depending on the vulnerability. And don't be concerned so much about major-minor.... 3♠ third seat on a six bagger at favorable vul might be devastating to the opps. And 2♦ on a five-piece suit is OK provided you have the right 5 piece suit.

My partnership plays the rule of 2-3-4-5 (also called I think "light" pre-empts on the ACBL convention card, as opposed to either "sound" or "very light"):

1. Count the number of tricks your hand can take, all by itself, if your suit is trump (sometimes or maybe usually this is an educated guess of course).

2. If we are red and they are white, add two to this number.
3. If vul is equal, add three.
4. If we are white and they are red, add 3, 4 or even 5, depending on what you had for breakfast.

The result tells you how high to pre-empt, e.g. 6+3 = 9 tricks, so open 3 of your suit.

I don't add 5 very much, but I will say that the few times I have, we've generally gotten good results. That's not to advocate it, just to say it's not as crazy as it sounds.

And remember the Golden Rule of pre-empts, as stated by Bill Root: Open as high as you dare, and then shut up, unless forced or invited to bid by your partner. Partner is the captain after you pre-empt. If you're hesitating between 3 and 4 ♥ opening, and you decide on 3, then live with that; don't come back later, all on your own, with 4♥. If 4♥ is right, then open 4♥.

And tell your partners not to be such wimps. Esp. at favorable vul. Get them on board with your philosophy, whatever it turns out to be; partnership understanding is critical in this area. You don't want to be playing "very light" pre-empts when your partner is playing "sound"!!

On your other comment: Open light 1-of-a-major in 3rd seat when you're white with a decent 4 card major (esp ♠) and some (e.g. more than 8) points, and play Drury (or Reverse Drury). You will need to study this some but IMHO it's a good tool. Mike Lawrence's Book "Passed Hand Bidding" covers this whole topic in depth.

[gwnn]

it's totally OK to open 3m with a FIVE card suit, provided you're white, opps in red or white.

but i don't mean

xxx
xx
xxx
J7xxx


but


x
xxxx
xxx
KQJTx

Spot cards are paramount. Opps will be much more reluctant to pass out a t/o X with a holding like A542 than AJ97, if they're good opps. As long as you have the spots, you can take liberties.


IMPORTANT: your partner HAS to know the extent you take liberties. If he always expects basically slightly tuned down gambling 3NT openers for 3m preempts, that's fine (well, not exactly effective, but fine), but then you can't open anything but slightly tuned down gambling 3NT openers. What acknowledged liberal preempts mean is basically that pd can't raise very liberally. Usually only raise 3m to 4m if you have 4 card support or 3 card support and a singleton. And yes, sometimes you'll go for a number. Such is life.

[FrancesHinden]

and in one match recently, third in at favourable,

xx
AQJx
xxxxx
xx

was opened 1H in one room and 2H in the other...

[ralph23]

♣♦♥♠

2♥, LOL Frances.

Here is one (more or less) from a Bill Root class -- not exact.

♠ 8765432
♥ 3
♦ 5432
♣ 2

You are white and they are red. Sp you are in third seat after two passes (already, a miracle to hear 2 passes in front of you!)

Count your tricks.

You are missing 6♠, and on a good day they will divide 2-2-2. On an incredibly good day, they will divide 2-2-2 and your partner will have the Ace.

On a normal day they will divide with one opp. holding three of them, and partner doesn't have the Ace. So suppose you lose 3 of your ♠ tricks. You should take 4 ♠ tricks then, and using the rule of 3/4/5 at favorable vul, you can add 5 to 4 and get 9. Open 3♠!

Your LHO may be planning to open 2♣ after all, or 2NT.

Players are worried about getting whacked and going for a number. Yes it happens but the real thing to worry about is the opps finding their vul slam and getting that huge bonus.