Pesky Preempts

[Guest Jlall]

RHO opens 4S and you are red/white at imps with Kxx AJ9xx Q AJTx. Your bid.

[ochinko]

I reluctantly pass. Whatever happens this looks like a winning decision in the long run.

[whereagles]

Pass. Pard is short in spades. If we are to make something, he'll double this.

[mr1303]

Pass. I might X if that was for penalty, but it isn't, so I won't.

[Echognome]

Pass. Fairly automatic. Give me this hand in 4th and I take action now probably with 4NT or X depending on my agreements.

 

I could be in front of a big hand and I will get hammered in whatever I do and I'm venturing to the 5-level. I understand that even in 4th it's a risk, but definitely less of a risk than in 2nd. Maybe LHO has a difficult bid over 4♠ and we just helped him out by bidding. For now I pass and see if partner can do anything. In all likelihood I should be thinking about my lead.

 

Also you didn't mention the form of scoring. I have an easier time in 4th at MPs, since a bottom's a bottom and that's that. At imps, coming back to teammates with -1700 versus +650 just isn't fun.

[Free]

Depends a lot on opponent's agreements and style at this vulnerability. However pass is probably my choice in any situation.

[Al_U_Card]

Since this shows offense and defense, double and take the pressure off pard. With his random 7 count he won't hesitate to show you the green lite (card).

[mikeh]

Truly a nightmare hand :)

 

We have so much stuff that partner will be hard-pressed to reopen. Yet we have the wrong stuff to commit to a 5-level adventure.

 

Double usually gets left in, but when it doesn't it will probably get pulled to 5♦.....yuck!

 

So colour me yellow: at least (according to the poll so far) I'll have company.

 

The good news is that if partner does take action, he'll like my hand... even if that action is 5♦: my hand is so good that I'd seriously consider raising 5♦... that's how much I hate passing.

 

BTW there is no contradiction between hating a 5♦ pull of my double and loving a free 5♦ balance: compare the hand-types shown by these actions, and the difference will become clear.

[Guest Jlall]

I agree with the majority on this one, but I wouldn't really feel too happy about passing either.

 

When you pass you can easily just get robbed blind. Going +150 isn't that much of a stretch. However, as Mike said when you X and pard bids 5D you just puke. There's no way out.

 

Anyways, let's say you managed to pass in tempo. Pard balances with a X! You now bid 4N (tell me if you disagree).

 

What will you do if pard bids 5C over 4N? What about if he bids 5D?

[pclayton]

Isn't a pull to 5♥ (after 4N) slammish?

 

I held this hand at the other table and only had to deal with a 3♠ opener. I felt 4♥ was plenty with this hand, which made the auction a lot simpler.

[Guest Jlall]

Isn't a pull to 5♥ (after 4N) slammish?

Not if partner bids 5D... imagine x Kxxxx xx Qxxxx

[ArcLight]

>What will you do if pard bids 5C over 4N? What about if he bids 5D?

 

I pass 5♣ and hope it can make, we probably have a decent chance. I dont look for slam.

 

5♦ forces a 5 ♥ bid.

When you bid 4NT you told pard you had a 2 suited hand. Hopefully he has a better tolerance for ♥ than ♣.

[han]

misread post.

[mikeh]

Anyways, let's say you managed to pass in tempo. Pard balances with a X! You now bid 4N (tell me if you disagree).

 

What will you do if pard bids 5C over 4N? What about if he bids 5D?

I pass over 5♣ and bid 6♥ over 5♦.

 

I swing low over 5♣ because there is a strong possibility of our being in an 8 card fit. The possibility of A♠ ruff a ♠ is also there as an extra push to being conservative.

 

However, when partner bids 5♦, I am going to assume that we have a 9 card ♥ fit available and I will take my chances on avoiding a ♠ ruff. For all I know, even if partner has xx in ♠, LHO can't lead one :huh:

[Guest Jlall]

However, when partner bids 5♦, I am going to assume that we have a 9 card ♥ fit available and I will take my chances on avoiding a ♠ ruff.

Which brings up the point, once again, that partner with 1354 should bid 5 CLUBS over 4N to cater to you having hearts and clubs. Although 1363 and 2353 are still possible.

 

So basically if your longest suits in order of the three are

 

HDC-- bid diamonds.

HCD-- bid clubs.

DHC-- bid diamonds

DCH-- bid CLUBS.

CHD-- bid clubs.

CDH-- bid clubs.

[cherdano]

Anyways, let's say you managed to pass in tempo. Pard balances with a X! You now bid 4N (tell me if you disagree).

 

What will you do if pard bids 5C over 4N? What about if he bids 5D?

(I agree about passing and hating it.)

I have an urgent slam desire. Over 5♣ I raise to 6 -- I see no way to get to 6♥ when that is better. I will just pull 5♦ to 5♥, however.

 

How did I do?

 

Arend

[han]

In simpler words: bid the lower of your two longest suits.

[Guest Jlall]

At the table it went 4S p p X p 4N p 5C p 6C. Partner's hand was x KQxx AKxx K9xx. Obviously 6H is cold, but the CQ was with the non 4S bidder so 6C was also made.

[cherdano]

At the table it went 4S p p X p 4N p 5C p 6C. Partner's hand was x KQxx AKxx K9xx. Obviously 6H is cold, but the CQ was with the non 4S bidder so 6C was also made.

Why didn't partner bid 5♦? He prefers both diamonds and hearts over clubs (good trumps are obviously important when we might be playing in a 4-4 fit with bad breaks), so I do not understand 5♣.

 

Arend

[Chamaco]

Anyways, let's say you managed to pass in tempo. Pard balances with a X! You now bid 4N (tell me if you disagree).

 

I pass pard's takeout double. (yes, just read the rest of the thread, and saw I mised the slam ! :) ).

 

Nice thread, I love these threads were the bidding starts at the 4+ level, help developing the "feel" for situations that are not so well documented in literature and that did not arise quite frequently in my table experience :-)

[mr1303]

I don't.

 

Who was it who said "Take-out partner's take-out doubles"? Probably Kaplin, but it was well said either way. Here I expect to make something, likely at the 6 level.