IMPROVE YOUR PLAY
with Larry Matheny

Preempts sometimes work but every now and then they turn around and bite you.  Take a look at this one from a recent team game.

Scoring:  Team Game (IMPs)
 
Hand #18
Dlr  S
Vul none
S 1096
H K1076
D 752
C 873
S KQJ8732
H 92
D 64
C 62
    
S
H QJ8543
D 1083
C KQJ10

S A54
H A
D AKQJ9
C A954
West North
 East
 South



1C*
   3S    Pass    Pass  
   3NT  
All Pass
  
   
    
*Precision Club

BIDDING:  I was sitting in the West seat and after South opened a strong club, I jumped to 3S.  South looked at his eight likely tricks and bid 3NT. 
 
PLAY:   I led the king of spades and declarer saw that he had nine tricks if he could only get to dummy.  He won my spade lead and ran his diamonds.  Next he unblocked his ace of hearts and then played ace and another club.  My partner had no choice but to win the trick.  He could cash two more club tricks but eventually had to lead a heart to dummy's king and declarer had his game.  Unfortunately, at the other table my team mate opened the South hand with an off-shape 2NT and that ended the auction.  He found the same play but since they were not in game, we lost a lot on this hand.

This example is not meant to suggest you avoid preempting but rather understand that the action can sometimes create a result that otherwise might not have occurred.

Copyright ©2007 Larry Matheny.