As South at IMPs, neither side vulnerable, you hold:
Q 7 4 K 8 3 A J 4 3 A K 8
North, the dealer, opens 1, and East preempts with 3. What is your call?
When this month’s deal arose in IMP games on OKbridge an opposing preempt gave the South players a problem that was nearly insoluble.
Dlr: North Vul: None
North A K 8 5 A 10 6 2 Q 10 9 6 5
West J 10 9 2 J 9 5 2 5 J 7 4 2
East 6 3 Q 7 4 K Q 10 9 8 7 6 3
South Q 7 4 K 8 3 A J 4 3 A K 8
West
North
East
South
1
3
3NT
All Pass
This was the auction at most tables. I suspect that every South who bid 3NTÂ was guiltily conscious that he had significant extra strength. Actually, the South hand was even better than it appeared since North was almost sure to hold a distributional hand and South had first round diamond control. But it’s easier to state the problem than to find a solution. (How helpful it would be if bids could be accompanied by a qualifying adjective; then South could have bid “4NT, natural.”)
A few Souths tried to stall with a negative double, but when North bid 4next, South had no clear continuation. A direct cuebid of 4 was possible, I suppose, but this would have suggested club support better club support. And if North had bid four of a major next, would that have been natural or a return cuebid?
What is my recommendation? South should borrow a call from chess: “Resign.”
At the table I watched, South took a flyer: they judged to try for a penalty and passed 3. Few experts would have risked that action since North was not certain to reopen. However, North did double, and South passed and collected 800 when the defense held East to five trump tricks. Since almost nobody reached a slam, North South gained a bundle of IMPs. The usual result was +460 to North South.
The par result, however, was +990. Suppose South plays 6NT and West leads a diamond. When East plays the queen, South ducks to rectify the count. They win the (say) club return and cashes the A and the black suit winners. With four tricks left, the position is
North 8 A 10 — 10
West J J 9 5 — —
East — Q 7 4 K —
South — K 8 3 J —
The lead of the 10 forces East to pitch a heart. South discards the J and West is squeezed in the majors. Only a couple of South players (who, of course, were at 3NT) found this line of play.
Actually, South can take 12 tricks even if they win the first diamond. They run five clubs and three spades, and the ending is
North 8 A 10 6 — —
West J J 9 5 — —
East — Q 7 4 K —
South — K 8 3 J —
Dummy exits with the last spade, and East must pitch a heart. South throws the J. West must then break the hearts. If he leads the 9, covered by the 10 and queen, South can take the king and return the 8, pinning East’s 7 and making dummy’s 6 high to win the last trick.
Frank Stewart is one of the world's most prolific bridge journalists. He won many tournament events before devoting himself to writing. Frank has published hundreds of magazine and on-line articles. He has written 24 books, among them "Becoming an Expert," "Play Bridge With Me," "Who Has the Queen?" and most recently "Keys to Winning Bridge." In 2014, Frank Stewart received the International Bridge Press Association's Alan Truscott Award. He has been the senior analyst for ACBL-wide Charity and International Fund events since 1980. Frank and his wife, Charlotte, a pediatric speech pathologist, live in Fayette AL. They have a 17-year-old daughter.
Q 7 4
K 8 3
A J 4 3
A K 8
, and East preempts with 3
. What is your call?
next, South had no clear continuation. A direct cuebid of 4
9, covered by the 10 and queen, South can take the king and return the 8, pinning East’s 7 and making dummy’s 6 high to win the last trick.
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