Is this a 3S pre-empt for you?

[bd71]

[hv=pc=n&w=skqjt93h6dk3ct952&d=s&v=e&b=3&a=p]133|200[/hv]

 

Matchpoints.

 

Is it worth 3S?

 

If not, what change in conditions (vul?, seat?) would make you want to open 3?

[nigel_k]

Second seat vul it is a 2♠ opening for me. Non-vul I would open 3♠ in any seat, and maybe also 3♠ vul in third seat.

[aguahombre]

2S, any seat, any colors. Closer to 1S for me than 3.

[tom allan]

This is a 2♠ opening most of the time would try 4 in 3rd Fav 3 in 3rd Neither Is close to a one level bid I have not had good experience opening hands like these at the one level

[the hog]

2S, not 3.

[P_Marlowe]

Hi,

 

No, wrong colors, wrong seat.

We can talk about 3S in 3rd seat, equal colors or fav.

 

With kind regards

Marlowe

[Fluffy]

clear 3♠ any position any vul

[Fluffy]

2S, any seat, any colors. Closer to 1S for me than 3.

It surprises me a lot that you think about 1♠ with this extreme ODR, 1 level openings are meant to give space to both sides because you have the power to control the bidding and/or the need to show something like a side suit, here there is no power at all to control and no need of space to show anything, 1 bid is much better than 2 strategically.

 

at other vulnerabilities and position I'd rate 4♠ above 1♠

[Quartic]

2♠ for me Vul, especially in 2nd. Would bid 3♠ NVul 1st or 3rd.

[ahydra]

For me, I call 3S with that if nonvul in 3rd seat. In 2nd seat, particularly R/W, you need to "have your bid". This is therefore a 2S opening.

 

If the DK was the CK I would consider 4S non-vul in 3rd.

 

ahydra

[Cyberyeti]

2nd seat unfav 2♠, first seat I'd open 1♠ as our weak 2s are very wide ranging and don't include rule of 19 hands. 3rd seat I might consider 3♠.

[MrAce]

2♠

[cargobeep]

2S, this hand is just awful. With such a bad hand, a 3♠ preempt is not going to do anything.

[RunemPard]

2S, this hand is just awful. With such a bad hand, a 3♠ preempt is not going to do anything.

 

Since when did 6421s with working values and a very solid 6 card suit become awful?

[wyman]

Yeah this hand has enormous odr but for me 2nd red/white I'm content with 2s.

[y66]

2S. Awfully good hand for me.

[neilkaz]

In 2nd seat unfavorable this is about exactly what I want to hold for a 2♠ opening.

[VM1973]

I don't see what's wrong with a 1♠ opener. It's 26 zar points even without adding 1 for spades.

 

Even at favorable vulnerability 3♠ is likely to be wrong. You must assume that your partner has at most 2 spades (with 3 he would raise, wouldn't he?) so you're considering that with an 8-card fit you are going to bid to the 3-level? Surely 2♠ is plenty as that already forces your opponents to start looking for their fit at the 3 level. In 3rd seat maybe...

[EricK]

If there's ever a position where pre-empts should be super-sound it is second seat, vulnerable. I am very happy to bid 2♠ here. Assuming partner knows my style, it is hard to imagine him making the wrong decision as the auction develops. I think this hand is more of a problem in other seats or at other vulnerabilities.

[mycroft]

Second seat, unfavourable? I'm never bidding 3. Partner will never get it right. The loser count is right for an EHAA 3-bid at unfavourable, but I've got too many high, so I'm still having to bid 2.

 

I might open this 3♣ with the black suits reversed, though (not at EHAA, of course) - it's almost perfect for "partner if you bid 3NT, you won't be disappointed", even short one club.

[nigel_k]

I don't see what's wrong with a 1♠ opener. It's 26 zar points even without adding 1 for spades.

The loser count is right for an EHAA 3-bid at unfavourable, but I've got too many high, so I'm still having to bid 2.

I don't understand how people play bridge this way.

[mycroft]

EHAA may not be a great system, but it's simple, aggressive, and bites you badly if you mess with its (very few) rules. And one of them is that an EHAA 3 bid (but not a game preempt) denies 6HCP. It does so because the key is to massively overload the 2-bid to protect everything else, and you need hands like this one, where you will redouble if it comes around to you (well, okay, maybe not - maybe you just take your +760 and not scare them into their sacrifice) to save you when you open with the same hand, but K76543 in the trump suit.

 

If partner knows that my 3-bid is "<6 HCP, but 5-6 simple LTC", she knows what to do over it. If I start showing up with a trick or two more defensively than I promise, she stops being able to.

 

In all systems, there are Rules You Don't Break, and rules you can use Judgement on. This just happens to be one of EHAA's.

[Siegmund]

More than a trick short of an unfavorable 3S bid in my world. At equal I'd probably do it. At favorable I'd bid 3 in second seat, and be torn between 3 and 4 in first or third.

 

And I DO know quite a few people who would open this hand 1S happily. I am not one of them.

[SteveMoe]

agree with 2♠. 2nd seat preempts should be (very) disciplined. Besides, partner deserves to see some hands from the top half of the promised range from time to time, no? Quoting a favorite partner, "Never apologize for extras!" Would want a 7th spade for a 3-bid.