Should You Preempt? #07-13

IMPROVE YOUR PLAY
with Larry Matheny

There is no doubt that preempts (either by the opponents or partner) quite often keep you out of your best contract. However, there are times when a preempt allows you to reach a contract that you might not otherwise bid. Take a look.

Scoring: Matchpoints (Pairs)

Hand #13
Dlr	W
Vul	N/S

	2
	AQ4
	AQ5
	AK10874

	KQJ9654
	973
	J6
	5

	A10
	J1085
	109732
	J2

	873
	K62
	K84
	Q963

West	North	East	South
3	DBL	Pass	4
Pass	4	Pass	6
All Pass

BIDDING: North had a very good hand and made a takeout double over West's 3

bid. South wasn't sure whether to defend and take a sure plus score or bid his best suit. Since his pass would have been a final decision, he bid 4

in case his partner had a big hand. On his way to 5

, North cue bid 4

to show interest in reaching slam if South had extra values. Definitely at the top of his bid, South promptly bid the slam.

PLAY: West led a top spade and South won the next trick, drew trumps, and claimed twelve tricks. This was in a local game and only one pair bid the slam. Several N/S pairs decided to defend 3

doubled and collected +300. The rest of the field ended in 5

making six for a score of +620. From North's point of view, it's true that 5

could possibly be too high but his hand was too strong to pass 4

. Suggesting slam on the way to game didn't cost and, as shown above, could certainly gain.

Without the preempt and E/W passing, the auction might begin 1