Preempt or not

[GrahamJson]

Look at it another way. Assuming that you play a 3C response to an opening one bid as weak, would you bid it on this hand? You certainly wouldn't opposite 1H or 1D as you have already found a good fit. You might opposite 1S, but I think 1NT more likely as a better option to keep the bidding low and finding a fit.

 

So, if you would not respond 3C why open it when partner could easily have an opening hand?

 

One other factor is, who are the opps? Off beat pre-empts are common in high level play because you can rely on oppo to bid to the best contract (well, generally). Playing on BBO that is rarely the case. Why make things difficult for them when they are perfectly able to do that for themselves?

 

Finally, why be too concerned about oppo buying the contract when three suits look like they will be breaking badly? Exchange two of your diamonds for spades and a pre-empt makes far more sense.

[helene_t]

Why play preemptive openings at all if you don't want to preempt with this hand? The hand is perfect.

[Cyberyeti]

You have a spade void. You have very little defense.

 

The nice thing about a void is that it means you have cards in other suits but this isn't a disincentive to bid. I can't believe preempting is more attractive if we held 1336?

 

Defense is something you share with partner, how is their 8 or 9 card spade fit going to break ? You could easily be exchanging a plus from their spade contract for a minus in 3♣.

[broze]

I bid 3♣ and don't consider it close at all.

 

Pass is wet. 1♣ is another planet

[Tramticket]

Partner might want to bid 3NT over our 3C opening, so this depends on what partner expects from a 3C opening. If partner expects you to hold two top honours in first seat then you can't really open 3C. My partners know that I pre-empt often and will have no such expectation. I bid 3C.

 

[in third seat I would be considering 4C!]

[kenberg]

Why play preemptive openings at all if you don't want to preempt with this hand? The hand is perfect.

 

The perfect bid is but a shadow. If Plato had written on bridge he would have said this.

 

Here are a couple of recent experiences.

Hand A: Partner interfered and the opponents landed in 3NT instead of 4S. Too bad, since spades split 5-0, 3NT made , 4S went down.

Hand B: I interfered. They found their nine card fit and played in it. Missing the trump queen, declarer played me for a stiff instead of playing for the drop. He was right.

 

Michael Rosenberg, and probably a lot of other people, once noted that if the opponents eventually buy the contract, you will regret every bit of information that you have given them during the bidding. That seems relevant here. The opponents are not going to die when I open 3C. If partner has several clubs, we might then buy the contract. That would be good. Or maybe it would be good. But he won't always have the right cards.

 

Of course there are hands where it goes the other way. Recently it began P-P to me and I had a "perfect" weak 2D opening. But we were playing Flannery. So, taking a shot, I opened 3D. We played in a miraculously undoubled 4D but even doubled it would have been fine, off 2 non-vul, since they can make 4S.

 

So I play preempts and I preempt a fair amount. But not always. And for me, not here. I promise not to say I told you so if you do it and it goes wrong.

 

On this particular deal, if the opponents come in with their spades it will be easier to find 6C if I start with 3C. If the auction were to begin, say, Pass-(2S)-X-(4S) I suppose it could all get a bit iffy. Might be easier if I start 3C.

 

I don't see 3C as either perfect or crazy, it's a choice. I pass.

[Oceanss]

wow, such variety in answers and most so well agrumented.. tons to learn from this subject.

Just for fun, let me tell u traveller stats:

2 tables under game,

6 in 4H

2 in 3N

1 in 4S x-1 by opps

1 in 6c

2 in 6h

1 in 7c (us)

and last in 7N

 

now you may understand why i needed your help - i thank you all ! ♥