I pre-empted partner

[AL78]

MPs, in third seat you hold this hand:

 

♠J97

♥AQJ82

♦AKQ5

♣9

 

EW vuln. Partner in first seat opens 3♣ (don't you hate it when that happens?!), RHO passed. Your call?

[Cyberyeti]

What seat are you in are you NS/EW ?

[DavidKok]

It depends too much on partnership agreements to say anything sensible. Opposite my own favourable first hand preempts the choice is between pass and 3♥ (NF). Opposite some other partners it is a close choice between investigating 4♥ and blasting 5♣. You better have good partnership understanding for your preemptive bids.

[AL78]

What seat are you in are you NS/EW ?

 

Sorry, we were NS.

[Cyberyeti]

Sorry, we were NS.

 

What's the range for a first seat green v red preempt ? For us Jxxxxxx and out is more likely than AKJxxxx but YMMV

[Douglas43]

Looks like a pass to me. If we miss 4[hearts opposite a 1=3=2=7 shape with the Ace of clubs, so be it. YCWTA.

[mw64ahw]

3♥ at equal vulnerability expecting partner to have 6+ playing tricks

5♣ at unfavourable vulnerability expecting partner to have 7+ playing tricks

[helene_t]

I am not sure if I would be disciplined enough to pass in practice, but it's probably the best call. Unless partner has three hearts, we probably don't have game, and even if he has three hearts, there's no guarantee. 3NT can be good opposite some hands but there's no way to find out.

[P_Marlowe]

Hi,

 

3H.

 

I have 3-4 fast tricks, which means, we will survive 4C, and I dont mind getting raised to 4H with a doubleton.

Green vs. Red, I may pass, but at any other vuln. I would give it a go.

 

A 4C opening would be a lot tougher.

 

With kind regards

Marlowe

[mycroft]

Agreements, as everyone says.

 

This one is an exception with my regular partner; in 1st and 2nd, no matter the vulnerability, 3♣ or 3♦ is "happy to put dummy down in 3NT".

 

But even with that, gambling that partner has a half-spade stopper, and an entry after clearing the clubs, is too much for me.

 

I'm with all - 3♥ or pass. Yes, 5♣ could also be on, but only if partner has a stiff spade, and there's a chance that if I pass, I'll find that out.

 

Now if we didn't have this exception (if our 3m openers looked like our 3M openers), I'm passing without a thought, and hoping to make it.

[apollo1201]

My first instinct is to pass because I’ll catch KQJ 7th at green with three small spades cashed on the opening lead.

 

But on a good day x Kxx xx AQ 7th makes an easy game…and slam on a finesse or friendly opps.

 

At MPs I’ll let go, but would try sth at IMPs.

[AL78]

This was the full deal. I will admit to not having what I would call an ideal pre-empt but I was loathe to pass. We haven't had any detailed discussions on what to expect with pre-empts at various colours and seats, but in the first two seats, my pre-empts are fairly sound with an expectation (or hope) of six (green) or seven (red) playing tricks opposite a small doubleton support. I don't tend to pre-empt on something like Qxxxxxx and a bust except in third seat non-vuln. We do play gambling 3NT so I won't have seven to the AKQ.

 

The full deal:

 

[hv=pc=n&s=sj97haqj82dakq5c9&w=sqt86hkt543d84cj2&n=sa43h97d3ckq87543&e=sk52h6djt9762cat6&d=n&v=e&b=9&a=3cp3nppp]399|300[/hv]

 

Partner got a fourth best heart lead and drifted one off, we were in good company and got an average plus with several pairs in 3NT making between six and 11 tricks. Despite the combined 26 HCP 3♣ is the last making contract so passing is the winning action on this deal.

 

If I pass and the opponents don't bid (likely here) I think we still end up in 3NT played by me.

[mycroft]

This is why preempts sometime bite you. This hand, you'd better stop in 3♣ and you'll be happy if they come in.

[hv=pc=n&n=s86hk43d3caq87543]133|100[/hv]...and you lose to everyone in hearts, and everyone defending spades.

 

If you're not comfortable getting bad results when you preempt, don't preempt. But you'll get a lot of bad results from not preempting.

[P_Marlowe]

Hi,

 

I think even AJ in clubs instead of KQ gives 4H some play, the 5-1 break

obviously does not help in the current layout.

 

But on the other hand, the 3C opener is a solid max. opener, for me,

this would be a 4C opener at the given vul.

 

With kind regards

Marlowe

[AL78]

Hi,

 

I think even AJ in clubs instead of KQ gives 4H some play, the 5-1 break

obviously does not help in the current layout.

 

But on the other hand, the 3C opener is a solid max. opener, for me,

this would be a 4C opener at the given vul.

 

With kind regards

Marlowe

 

Yes, it is a matter of style. I can see that aggressive bidders would open 4♣.

 

One advantage of opening 3♣ is that it leaves 3NT in the picture when it is right.

[P_Marlowe]

Yes, it is a matter of style. I can see that aggressive bidders would open 4♣.

 

One advantage of opening 3♣ is that it leaves 3NT in the picture when it is right.

Fair enough.

But this may mean, that you may need to look for excuses for bidding on over a 3m preempt.