Question: S has 7D and 6 HCP and opens a “weak 2D”. N has 22 HCP and
4D and invites game with a bid of 4D. The hand made 6D. Is there anything
that N could have done to invite slam?
Mark:
South is a bit of a whimsical bidder, which can be good
sometimes and can backfire at other times. Whenever you make a preemptive
bid, you make it difficult for whichever side has the likely best and highest
contract to bid and make. As a preemptor, you are betting the dominant side is
the opponents, which on this hand looks to S like a pretty good bet, but hardly
a sure thing with partner not having spoken.
Some experts would look at
the diamond suit as follows: Too long for a weak 2 bid; too weak a suit to
open 3 by a dealer, so pass.
Another expert might be nervous about the quality
of the diamonds but hate to give up on pre-emption so would do as south and
open only 2 diamonds.
Most experts would look at the vulnerability and the fact
that either opponent and only 1 partner might be holding an excellent hand and
open the S hand 3 diamonds. I would do that but that doesn't make it the
"correct" bid.
In this case, 2 diamonds could have worked
spectacularly. Most pairs have an asking bid, usually 2NT, to check with
partner about specific extra features as well as strength outside the suit. In
this case, if asked for a feature, S would bid 3 clubs (A or K) and N could
gamble ( a pretty good bet, but not a sure thing) that 6 diamonds will be made
and bid it.
Once South has preempted 2 or 3 diamonds, N is about 99% sure of
making 3NT. Think about it. You can count 9 tricks or more. Even if S has only
6 diamonds, that's 6 sure tricks in diamonds, 1 in clubs and 2 in hearts. There
is nothing the opponents can attack effectively. When S has a useful extra
card, a 7th diamond, a king of clubs, Q of hearts, you have an immediate 10
tricks in NT or more.
North's thinking with that monster hand should be a
choice between bidding 3 NT immediately, taking a near sure thing or exploring
for 6 diamonds. In fact, N can be pretty sure that if 5 diamonds is bid and
made it will be a poor match point result, usually outscored by taking 10
tricks or more at NT. 10 tricks at NT even outscores 5 diamonds making 6 (430
vs 420). As it happens, the 4 diamond bid almost paid off. S probably thought
hard about bidding on with the extra length and an outside K.
I understand the
reticence with neither A nor K of the trump suit. Had S bid 5 diamonds, N
would get a chance to redeem him/herself. Knowing that 5 diamonds is a poor
matchpoint contract, N should risk 6 diamonds or even 6NT. If E leads the A of
spades against 6 NT, N can claim the next 12 tricks. Count them! If the A is
not led, any number of plays will bring in 12 tricks, the simplest being a lead
of a spade toward the J early in the hand. Again, count them!
For
players who are surprised I'm advocating a slam on a combined 28 high card
points, this is a special case. N knows that the long diamonds will bring in
lots of tricks for a relatively modest number of high card points.
In a field of less aggressive players, I'd project
that 3NT making 5 or 6 will score well above average, so there's no need to
risk the excellent slam that should be bid in an aggressive field.
I can't resist adding a point that is pretty advanced
for this discussion. Feel free to ignore it unless you are really on the verge
of the next level. When deciding whether to preempt or not, your position is
very important. If you are dealer, you should not be either very aggressive or
very conservative. If you are in 2nd position (i.e. R hand opp has passed and
neither LHO or partner have spoken) you should be at your most
conservative relative to vulnerability. In 3rd seat you should be your most
aggressive. In 4th seat, when you are in position to pass the hand out, be
fairly conservative. If the decision is close, open if your suit is spades,
pass if your spades are 2 or fewer.
