Bd 17: Preemptive Strikes |
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Interesting bidding and play here.
Should North open 3♣ , 4♣ , or Pass?
The test when deciding whether to preempt is a) do you have a 7-card suit or longer (yes); have you got less than 4 cards in any Major suit you aren't going to preempt in (also yes); have you 10 or less points (yes); are you sure you will not go more than two down if Vul or not more than three down if Vul (see next paragraph).
North assumes South has one CLub. Then assumes the second worst distribution. The worst is 4-0. The second worst is 3-1 with the Ace and Jack behind the King. If that's the case then North will make 6 tricks. North is non vulnerable so should open 3 Clubs.
What should South do now?
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Show Answer |
South has to think hard about North's hand not just add their 6 tricks to the 6 North promised
North hasn't got ♣ AKQxxxx because they would have opened a gambling 3NT if they had
If North has ♣ KQJxxxx then they can't have both ♠ K and the ♥ K as that would put them over 10 points and may have neither as North has 6 tricks from the Club suit alone.
That makes 3NT a huge gamble as there cannot be more than one entry to North and may be none. And it makes 6 Clubs a huge gamble if the ♠ A gets knocked out at trick one and you still have to lose the lead to the ♣ A.
For those reasons South's best bid is 5♣ .
3NT does make but only with help from the defence.
West should be warned by the bidding from leading a Spade but if they do then South wins in Dummy and finesses a Heart immediately thereby coming to 9 tricks.
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