pesky preempt

[jillybean]

Dealer: West Vul: None Scoring: IMP ♠ K92 ♥ K5 ♦ AKQ5 ♣ QJ83

 

West North East South

 

 Pass  Pass  3♥    ?  

[skjaeran]

It's not perfect, but I'd always bid 3NT.

[P_Marlowe]

3NT.

 

If you dont like it, you have to make a t/o double.

 

The main trouble is, that the t/o double wont solve

your problem, in case partner bids 3S as a reponse

to X.

 

With kind regards

Marlowe

[neilkaz]

I'll double. 18 HCP and a likely (no guarantee over a 3rd seat preempt, but likely) well placed K of ♥. K9x in ♠ will have to be good enough support if PD has only 4 of them. If PD responds in either minor, there's 4 card support.

 

Off course after doubling I will have tough (to me anyhow) decisions on whether to raise to game, if PD doesn't bid game directly. With that in mind, maybe a direct 3NT is best, but I fear that Kx isn't much of a stop since my K is quickly driven out, and if RHO can ever get back into lead..OMG ! Getting set a few in 3NT when a cold 4♠ of a 5-3 fit is missed won't be fun, and perhaps we may miss a 5m game sometimes.

 

However, getting set in 4♠ on a 43 fit with ♠ breaking 5-1 when 3NT is ice isn't good either.

 

I'll double since if PD passes or LHO raises to 4♥ I have plenty of defence and PD could have an ♥ stop in a flat hand and try 3NT if LHO passes.

 

.. neilkaz ..

[jillybean]

I considered a double but decided I would bid 3nt over anything pard said anyway.

 

3nt wasn’t pretty, oh well..

[Vilgan]

Bob Hamman rule about 3 NT seems to apply to this hand. Automatic 3 NT here.

[neilkaz]

I considered a double but decided I would bid 3nt over anything pard said anyway.

 

3nt wasn’t pretty, oh well..

We'd love to see the entire hand , if you don't mind.

 

Note that you experienced the unhappy effect that preempts can really work.

 

My pref to dbl was about 4 to 3 in favor as I feared my stop abit more than I feared having only 3♠ and having to guess over PD's minimum response, but lots of bridge talent here bids 3NT to give a good description of pt count to the passed PD and to try to make game.

 

I'd have bid 3NT with a more stable looking stop as well, noting that you often have to play your K on the first round when the lead comes from xx into opener's AQJxxx(x) and he correctly plays the J. After that, you'd better take 8 tricks instantly.

 

Also if you were buried in 3NT bid some other game make ?

 

... neilkaz ...

[rbforster]

With only 3 spades, I like 3N too. In particular, partner can sometimes bid (or transfer to) 4♠ when it's right.

[jillybean]

Here's the hand, 4♠ wouldnt fare much better

 

[hv=d=w&v=n&n=sat63h987d832ck74&w=sqj74h32d74cat962&e=s85haqjt64djt96c5&s=sk92hk5dakq5cqj83]399|300|Scoring: IMP[/hv]

 

West North East South

 

 Pass  Pass  3♥    3NT

 Pass  Pass  Pass  

 

H3

[jdonn]

I double. But over partner's 3♠ I would have bid 3NT anyway haha.

 

If reaching 3NT on 25 points, two balanced hands, every suit stopped, and no fit in a major is the worst thing you ever do, you will be ok.

[kenrexford]

3NT. Next time, the guy will not have the four-card diamond suit but will have a seventh heart. But, then partner wioll have the doubleton. Damn.

[Finch]

I would double and bid 3NT over partner's 3S bid, and raise partner's 4m to 5m.

 

So like jdonn I end up in 3NT anyway.

[kenrexford]

OK. So, you play 3NT and win the opening heart lead. You "finesse" the club Jack, winning. Then, you exit a heart.

 

RHO wins all five remaining hearts, because he must. He then returns a pointed card, won in hand to cash three more diamonds. This subjects West to a black-suit squeeze.

 

Maybe not the right line. Maybe it is. But, have fun with it and pick up two IMPs on occasion.

[the hog]

I would double and bid 3NT over partner's 3S bid, and raise partner's 4m to 5m.

 

So like jdonn I end up in 3NT anyway.

I agree with this comment. The H stopper is not good enough for a "unilateral 3NT". At least this way you give partner a chance to pull.

[CSGibson]

OK. So, you play 3NT and win the opening heart lead. You "finesse" the club Jack, winning. Then, you exit a heart.

 

RHO wins all five remaining hearts, because he must. He then returns a pointed card, won in hand to cash three more diamonds. This subjects West to a black-suit squeeze.

 

Maybe not the right line. Maybe it is. But, have fun with it and pick up two IMPs on occasion.

As much as I appreciate creative and deceptive play in general, I don't think in this particular case LHO will be fooled as to the honor cards when you put down the J of clubs with him staring at the T9. It is a good try, though.

[neilkaz]

I would double and bid 3NT over partner's 3S bid, and raise partner's 4m to 5m.

 

So like jdonn I end up in 3NT anyway.

Hmmm am learning something here as felt that doubling and rebidding 3NT would show a real monster. I guess it's better to be able to imply tolerance for other suits first, and noting PD is passed so slam isn't likely.

[han]

Double followed by 3NT does not show more strength than a direct 3NT, just a more flexible hand. The danger is that if partner bids more than 3S you won't be able to bid 3NT of course.

[neilkaz]

Double followed by 3NT does not show more strength than a direct 3NT, just a more flexible hand. The danger is that if partner bids more than 3S you won't be able to bid 3NT of course.

How do you show the super monsters then ? ie something like a flat 23+ ?

 

Thx .. neilkaz ..

[han]

You could bid 4NT, but you will indeed bid 3NT with a very large range.

 

I guess people find it more important to get to the right game than to have a quantitative slam auction after a preempt. Does that make sense to you?

[Finch]

OK. So, you play 3NT and win the opening heart lead. You "finesse" the club Jack, winning. Then, you exit a heart.

 

RHO wins all five remaining hearts, because he must. He then returns a pointed card, won in hand to cash three more diamonds. This subjects West to a black-suit squeeze.

 

Maybe not the right line. Maybe it is. But, have fun with it and pick up two IMPs on occasion.

Team-mates laugh at you when hearts were 7-1 all along.

[han]

Laugh? That's the optimistic scenario.

[neilkaz]

You could bid 4NT, but you will indeed bid 3NT with a very large range.

 

I guess people find it more important to get to the right game than to have a quantitative slam auction after a preempt. Does that make sense to you?

Yes...makes sense to just try for the right game, and that is what I've observed now, but 20 years ago, I was taught differently as I recall most people at my club played double followed by a jump as a monster hand. However, one rarely holds that good of a hand.

 

.. neilkaz ..