To preempt, or not preempt

[Mbodell]

There were a decent number of hands that partially revolved around if people choose to preempt or not, and if so at what level. I realize that not everyone has the same system or style agreements, so some differences might be due to that, but here are a set of hands where a preempt or not may have effected the outcome of the match, and I'll poll people for if they preempt or not on these 7 hands. Remember it is IMPs. See part 1 for earlier hands.

 

Hand 4, unfavorable, 2nd seat (board 18)

[hv=pc=n&s=sq8hkt98652da43cj&d=e&v=n&b=2&a=p?]133|200[/hv]

 

Hand 5, all red, 1st seat (board 23)

[hv=pc=n&s=shj82dkqj832cj873&d=s&v=b&a=?]133|200[/hv]

 

Hand 6, favorable, 1st seat (board 25)

[hv=pc=n&s=skj3hk96543d96ck6&d=s&v=e&a=?]133|200[/hv]

[Fluffy]

hand 3 was the tough on for me, pass is not on my book, but I at least find it reasonable this time. I would open 1♥ due to vulnerability, 2♥ on any other vul I think.

[the_clown]

1. 3♥ seems normal. You have 7 of them and enough strength the suit is OK.

 

2. I would open only 2♦s because we are vulnerable, otherwise I would open 3. Holding Jxx of ♠ and a ♥ void it will not be so clear.

 

3. At the table I passed not because I thought I am too strong for a weak 2, but because I didnt like to have 7 of my points outside of ♥s. Partner will never play me for so much defense once I open. But on the other hand it is white/red where you should preempt as much as you can so I was not very happy about my pass.

[Mbodell]

Results:

 

Hand 4: (at this post in time we have 5 votes for 1♥, 3 for 3♥, 2 for 2♥, and 1 for pass)

Open room: 6♥S-1 -100

[hv=pc=n&s=sq8hkt98652da43cj&w=st9hdqjt976cakq32&n=skj432haqj74d2ct4&e=sa765h3dk85c98765&d=e&v=n&b=2&a=p2h4n(minors)5h6cpp6hppp]399|300[/hv]

Closed room: 5♦W= +400

[hv=pc=n&s=sq8hkt98652da43cj&w=st9hdqjt976cakq32&n=skj432haqj74d2ct4&e=sa765h3dk85c98765&d=e&v=n&b=2&a=p3h4d4h5dppp]399|300[/hv]

 

Imps -7 to BBOForums. I tried to link to the decision West faces over the two openings at this thread but only 2 voted (and they split between 4nt and cheapest diamond bid). The 6♣E would make if S doesn't lead ♦ or ♠, but 5 is cold for ♣ and ♦ for E/W and for ♥ for N/S. Again JEC takes the low road with 2♥ while jfaria bids 3♥.

 

Hand 5: (at this point in time we have 5 votes for 3♦, 4 votes for 2♦, and 2 for pass)

Open room: 2♦S+2 for +130

[hv=pc=n&s=shj82dkqj832cj873&w=sq8653hakt7d9765c&n=sa42h643dtcakq652&e=skjt97hq95da4ct94&d=s&v=b&b=7&a=2dppp]399|300[/hv]

Closed room: 5♠W= for +650

[hv=pc=n&s=shj82dkqj832cj873&w=sq8653hakt7d9765c&n=sa42h643dtcakq652&e=skjt97hq95da4ct94&d=s&v=b&b=7&a=p1s2c4s5cpp5sppp]399|300[/hv]

 

Imps -13 to BBOForums. I linked partners decision in the balancing seat here and the 8 voters there were unanimous about a 2♠ call. If that were made we would have likely bid and played 4♠ for a push. But preempts put people under pressure, and even if you think the balancing pass is wrong, if the preempt doesn't happen we surely find it (I open the W hand with our limited openers for sure, not sure I would in standard). Interestingly here it is Moki that is opening the 9 hcp 1♠ call and jfaria that is taking the low road and passing the south hand while JEC preempts the 2♦.

 

Hand 6: (at this point in time we have 4 votes for 1♥, 4 votes for pass, and 3 votes for 2♥)

Open room: 3♣E-1 -100

[hv=pc=n&s=skj3hk96543d96ck6&w=sq752hatdkjt54c83&n=st984hqjda732c752&e=sa6h872dq8caqjt94&d=s&v=e&b=3&a=ppp2c(10-15%2C%206+%21C%2C%20no%205M)2hd(takeout)p3cppp]399|300[/hv]

Closed room: 2♦W= +90

[hv=pc=n&s=skj3hk96543d96ck6&w=sq752hatdkjt54c83&n=st984hqjda732c752&e=sa6h872dq8caqjt94&d=s&v=e&b=3&a=ppp1c1hdp2cp2dppp]399|300[/hv]

 

Imps -5 to BBOForums. This is the other one where the same no preempt decision was made by the_clown and BridgeGoth. I didn't play the hand super great, as covered at the thread here. But one of the things that came in to my head during the play when I knew N had the ♥K, ♣K, and likely just 2 diamonds was I thought with a hand like N's they would have bid 2♥ so I was discounting the chances that the ♥ would break 6=2 for me, thinking even with the 2♥ favorable overcall that 5=3 split was more likely.