All News

It’s Easier for Some

Just not for me. Somehow, when I pre-empt the opposition, the sky is the limit if they want to be aggressive. Yet, when the boot is on the other foot, the roof is just about to fall in!

I held what seemed a pretty standard 3 pre-empt after an opponent’s 1 opener, holding at favourable vulnerability:

 KQT8743

 -

JT

9872

4 even appealed but there is always the chance that partner can exact a 4 level penalty. That was not the case here:

 

 

North doubled negatively with South contenting themselves with 4. Other tables bid on to 6 which just has to make after the normal K lead.

However, I had a more torrid time on another hand when my partner opened 1 and South bid 3 at equal nil vulnerability. I held as West:

 AKQT9

 K6

T8

KQT5

3 was easy but what to do after partner’s 3NT? I was two tricks better than I might have been. Partner’s range was anything from 11 up. I had to move and rather than just bid a quantitative 4NT, I tried my second suit. When partner did very well to revert back to 4, I decided that was enough. I would make a quiet 420 or 450. “Quiet”? No way!

 

 

North had very wisely not opened their weak 2. Why do that when you get to defend the suit at the 4 level! They led their heart and I was a tad surprised and disappointed when South showed out on the first round of trumps. I won and turned my attention to clubs. South took their ace and gave their partner a heart ruff. The club exit only prolonged the evil moment.

I had now to draw trumps as I could not allow West a second ruff and the J. After scoring the jack, North switched to diamonds. It was a finesse that just had to work and did. Winning in hand, I could finally extricate North’s last trump and claim.

In a sense, I had it easy. Had South bid 4 first time, I had a choice of making a negative double (3 tables did and collected 500 when East converted) or dipping my toe in the water with 4. In another sense, I was unlucky as one table played and made 4x. At my table, it would have made redoubled! We did avoid 5 (thanks, partner), down played by West after a spade lead, ruffed, and heart switch.

However, I look forward to being able to exert in the future the same kind of pressure I was put under here rather than the rather easier actions my own pre-empt produced.  

Richard Solomon

 p.s. On the second example, there was a making slam…6NT on the diamond finesse and a squeeze. Just another of those unbiddable making contracts.

 

 

 

Go Back View All News Items