They disturb an auction when they make any bid of 1NT or higher. We disturb it when we pre-empt or when we pass opposite partner's call or when we use a rescue redouble or when we make a takeout double of one of a major.
A lot of bidding space can be lost quickly in disturbed auctions, and the system needs to shift to more practical, less exact methods. For example, when the opponents are bidding their socks off, delicate searches for grand slams will often have to be put aside for more brutal stabs at six.
The three-level is critical in competitive auctions, and we need new tools to distinguish quickly between competitive and stronger hands. We also need to be able to deal with cooperative pre-emption over our strong club.
As for neutral auctions, generic disturbed rules are bid-centred. Some easy ones:
- Redouble is for rescue, as in a neutral auction
- 4NT is Blackwood for aces
- 5NT is pick-a-slam, whether before or after Blackwood.
All disturbed bids below 2NT are natural and not in themselves forcing, even if they are cue bids.
| West | North | East | South | ||
|---|---|---|---|---|---|
1 | 2 | ||||
2 |
| West | North | East | South | ||
|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| 1 | 1NT | ||||
| 2 |
In this section we will look in more detail at:
We also look at our style and philosophy of pre-empting.
NEXT: disturbed double