Take a look at this example from a recent matchpointed pairs event:
| Vul: NS Dealer: South |
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At most tables the South player advanced a weak two which ran to East who tried 3♥. West was left in an uncomfortable but easy situation, it's at least as likely there are 9 tricks in no trumps as hearts and it scores better.
3NT is a great spot and many declarers helped themselves to an overtrick. How many East Wests would reach it unassisted however? The bidding makes it's way around to East who opens a heart. West has a 2♣ rebid which East might raise but might pass. It's difficult to get beyond 3♣.
Maybe if the West hand were a shade stronger, possibly:
| ♠ | K Q 3 |
|---|---|
| ♥ | 7 |
| ♦ | T 7 2 |
| ♣ | A J T 6 5 4 |
It could be opened at the one level and all would be well but I suspect the existing 10 count doesn't meet most partnerships criteria.
At my table our opponents didn't open the pre-empts which set them on track for an excellent board but then stumbled at their next opportunity:
| South | West | North | East |
| Pass | Pass | Pass | 1♥ |
| Pass | 2♣ | 2♦ | Pass |
| 2♠ | Pass | 3♦ | Pass |
| Pass | X | 3♠ | Pass |
| Pass | X | End |
About to stop bidding in two of a minor our generous opponents thoughtfully offered +800.
Two points:
ReplyDelete1. South has a semi-balanced hand which is the worst sort of hand to preempt with. Give south a singleton in clubs/diamonds and a prempt starts to look good. It makes the opps have to guess at a high level when suits are breaking badly.
2. Preempts are useful offensively. Swap the north and east hands (and give south a singleton in clubs or diamonds). Any way that N-S finds 4S without starting with a preempt?
Thanks for your comment. It was Zia who said the best preempt was on a 7222 shape because you silence your opponents when everything is breaking well for them.
DeletePre-empts are useful and, as you point out, some contracts are virtually unreachable without a pre-empt to start things off.