When the opponents put it to you with a pre-emptive action, sometimes you have to stick your neck out. You'll be doubled now and then, but it cannot be overemphasized that bridge is a bidder's game.

There are risks associated with passing as well. Say the dealer opens a weak two-bid in hearts and you are next to speak. You could pass with a marginal hand and be sure to avoid a big set, but you already know that your right-hand opponent is weak, so that leaves more points for your partner, right? It's true that your left-hand opponent could have a strong hand, but it's just as likely that your partner has some goods — enough, maybe, to combine with your hand to make a game.

The Rule of Eight

Here's a tool that will help you make your decisions when you're under pressure after your right-hand opponent opens the bidding at the two or three level. It's called the Rule of Eight.

Here's how it works: In general, you should consider that whenever your right-hand opponent opens with a pre-empt, particularly a weak two-bid, your partner will have roughly 8 HCP. Sometimes she will have more, sometimes less, but on average she will have about 8 HCP.

When you consider whether to bid or pass, ask yourself if you would feel comfortable bidding if you knew your partner had the “expected” hand. For example, the dealer opens 2 ♦ and you are looking at the following hand:

♠ K65 ♥ AJ432 ♦ 54 ♣ K109

Not a great hand. You certainly wouldn't open it as dealer, but you would overcall at the one level without a qualm. How about the two level? It's close, but you can't afford to sit and wait for the perfect hand — and it would probably be best to pass if the opener began with 2 ♠, forcing you to bid at the three level. Change your heart suit to AJ1098, however, and you're in the ballpark again.

At any rate, your partner might just put down the expected 8 HCP, giving you an excellent shot at your contract, say with a hand such as this:

♠ Q1097 ♥ Q108 ♦ 863 ♣ A65