Quiz 8B51   Main

Combatting Preempts

by Richard Pavlicek

Winning combat tactics for the bidder who is troubled?
Parry left! Parry right! Try to escape undoubled!

On each of these 10 problems, your right-hand opponent (RHO) opens with a preemptive bid, and you are presented with two reasonable options. (If you would do something else, don’t admit it, as I’d have to flatten you with a flying scissors kick.) Simply select the button of your choice.

Compare your choice with the two experts who faced the exact same situation in real life and acted differently. Click “Score Me” at any time to see your running score. If you finish plus after 10 boards, consider yourself a black belt.

Problem 1

RHO opens 3 in first seat with only your side vulnerable.

You hold:

Q 10 6 3 2 10 8 3 A K K Q J

What is your call?  Pass  3

In real life…

2006 USBC		Final	Ekeblad vs Jacobs
N-S Vul	Q 10 6 3 2 10 8 3 A K K Q J		WEST Zia 3 Pass	North Greco 3 Pass	East Rosenberg Pass Pass	South Hampson 4
J 4 K 9 7 6 5 4 2 5 4 7 6		A 9 7 A Q Q J 10 9 2 9 4 3
	K 8 5 J 8 7 6 3 A 10 8 5 2		Rubin 3 Pass	Garner Pass Pass	Ekeblad 4	Weinstein Pass

Eric Greco bid 3 and played 4 with the Q lead. Made 5, +650.
Steve Garner passed and defended 4 with the A lead. Down 2, +100.

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Problem 2

RHO opens 3 in second seat with neither side vulnerable.

You hold:

A Q 10 8 A Q J 9 3 2 9 8 7 —

What is your call?  Dbl  3

In real life…

2007 Vanderbilt		Round of 16	Bramley vs Jacobs
None Vul	J 7 6 10 J 4 K Q J 9 6 3 2		WEST Feldman Pass Pass 4	North Weinstein 3 Pass Pass	East Bramley Dbl 3 4	South Levin 3 Pass All Pass
9 5 4 3 K 5 10 5 3 A 10 5 4		A Q 10 8 A Q J 9 3 2 9 8 7 —
	K 2 8 7 6 4 A K Q 6 2 8 7		Zia Pass 3 NT 4	Kamil 3 Pass All Pass	Rosenberg 3 4	Fleisher Pass Pass

Bart Bramley doubled and played 4 with the A lead. Down 1, -50.
Michael Rosenberg bid 3 and partner played 4 with the K lead. Made 4, +420.

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Problem 3

RHO opens 3 in first seat with both sides vulnerable.

You hold:

A J K 10 7 6 3 J Q 10 8 6 3

What is your call?  Pass  3

In real life…

2007 Spingold		Semifinal	Nickell vs H-Welland
Both Vul	A J K 10 7 6 3 J Q 10 8 6 3		WEST Wrang 3 Pass Pass All Pass	North Meckstroth 3 4 5	East Nilsson Pass Pass Pass	South Rodwell 4 4 6
10 6 3 J K Q 9 7 6 4 2 K 4		9 8 7 5 2 4 2 5 3 A 7 5 2
	K Q 4 A Q 9 8 5 A 10 8 J 9		Soloway 3 Pass All Pass	Willenken Pass 4	Hamman Pass Pass	Welland 3 4

Jeff Meckstroth bid 3 and played 6 with the A lead. Down 1, -100.
Chris Willenken passed and partner played 4 with the K lead. Made 5, +650.

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Problem 4

RHO opens 3 in second seat with both sides vulnerable.

You hold:

A J 2 K 6 2 A Q J 10 6 A 3

What is your call?  Dbl  3 NT

In real life…

2007 Spingold		Round of 16	Mahaffey vs Cayne
Both Vul	9 7 9 3 8 5 K Q J 9 7 6 4		WEST Zhao Pass Pass 4	North Versace 3 Pass All Pass	East Fu Dbl Dbl	South Lauria 3 Pass
Q 8 5 4 3 J 9 7 4 2 10 8 5		A J 2 K 6 2 A Q J 10 6 A 3
	K 10 6 A Q 10 8 7 5 4 K 3 2		Nunes Pass Pass	Bertheau 3 Pass	Fantoni 3 NT	Nystrom Pass

Zhong Fu doubled and partner played 4 with the 9 lead. Down 1, -100.
Fulvio Fantoni bid 3 NT and played there with the A lead. Down 3, -300.

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Problem 5

RHO opens 3 in first seat with both sides vulnerable.

You hold:

— A K Q Q 8 6 3 2 K Q 10 9 8

What is your call?  Dbl  4 NT

In real life…

2007 Bermuda Bowl		Final	USA1 vs Norway
Both Vul	— A K Q Q 8 6 3 2 K Q 10 9 8		WEST Helness 3 Pass	North Jacobs Dbl	East Helgemo Pass	South Katz Pass
Q J 9 7 5 4 2 8 J 10 A 6 4		K J 9 7 5 3 A 9 4 J 7 5 3
	A 10 8 6 3 10 6 4 2 K 7 5 2		Garner 3 Pass	Groetheim 4 NT Pass	Weinstein Pass Pass	Tundal 5

George Jacobs doubled and partner passed for penalty with the Q lead. Down 1, +200.
Glenn Groetheim bid 4 NT and partner played 5 with the 8 lead. Down 1, -100.

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Problem 6

RHO opens 3 in second seat with neither side vulnerable.

You hold:

A Q 7 4 3 Q J Q J 7 A J 9

What is your call?  Dbl  3

In real life…

2007 Bermuda Bowl		Quarterfinal	Italy vs South Africa
None Vul	10 A 10 9 8 6 3 2 K 6 10 5 3		WEST Fantoni Pass 3 NT	North Cope 3 Pass	East Nunes Dbl Pass	South Holman Pass Pass
9 6 2 K 7 5 8 4 3 K Q 6 2		A Q 7 4 3 Q J Q J 7 A J 9
	K J 8 5 4 A 10 9 5 2 8 7 4		Bosenberg Pass 4 All Pass	Bocchi 3 Pass	Eber 3 Pass	Duboin Pass Dbl

Claudio Nunes doubled and partner played 3 NT with the 10 lead. Down 1, -50.
Neville Eber bid 3 and played 4 × with the 4 lead. Down 4, -800.

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Problem 7

RHO opens 3 in second seat with only your side vulnerable.

You hold:

K Q 8 6 5 A 3 2 K 8 K J 6

What is your call?  Dbl  3

In real life…

2008 World Championship		Semifinal	England vs Germany
E-W Vul	9 3 2 K 4 A J 9 7 6 4 3 9		WEST Hackett,Ja Pass 4 5	North Gromoeller 3 Pass All Pass	East Hackett,Ju Dbl 4	South Kirmse Pass Pass
10 Q 8 7 5 10 5 A Q 8 7 5 3		K Q 8 6 5 A 3 2 K 8 K J 6
	A J 7 4 J 10 9 6 Q 2 10 4 2		Elinescu Pass Pass	Sandqvist 3 Pass	Wladow 3	Malinowski Pass

Justin Hackett doubled and partner played 5 with the A lead. Made 5, +600.
Entscho Wladow bid 3 and played there with the Q lead. Down 1, -100

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Problem 8

RHO opens 3 in second seat with neither side vulnerable.

You hold:

K 10 4 8 K Q J 10 9 4 A 8 7

What is your call?  Pass  4

In real life…

2009 USBC		Final	Fleisher vs Robinson
None Vul	Q 8 3 A Q J 10 9 3 2 3 J 4		WEST Weichsel Pass 4 NT	North Woolsey 3 Pass	East Ekeblad 4 Pass	South Stewart Pass Pass
9 7 6 5 2 K 6 A 6 2 Q 10 9		K 10 4 8 K Q J 10 9 4 A 8 7
	A J 7 5 4 8 7 5 K 6 5 3 2		Wildavsky Pass Pass	Granovetter 3 Pass	Doub Pass Pass	Rubin 4

Russ Ekeblad bid 4 and partner played 4 NT with the 3 lead. Down 6, -300.
Doug Doub passed and defended 4 with the Q lead. Made 5, -450.

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Problem 9

RHO opens 3 in second seat with neither side vulnerable.

You hold:

A 9 3 K J 9 6 2 6 3 A K 6

What is your call?  Pass  4

In real life…

2009 USBC		Quarterfinal	Strul vs Welland
None Vul	Q J 10 6 5 4 2 8 7 A 10 9 3		WEST Strul Pass Pass	North Smith 3 Pass	East Becker 4	South Cohen,B Pass
K 8 10 5 4 K 10 9 8 7 Q J 4		A 9 3 K J 9 6 2 6 3 A K 6
	7 A Q 3 Q J 5 4 2 8 7 5 2		Willenken Pass Pass	Martel 3	Welland Pass	Stansby Pass

Michael Becker bid 4 and played there with the 7 lead. Down 2, -100.
Roy Welland passed and defended 3 with the 6 lead. Down 1, +50.

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Problem 10

RHO opens 3 in first seat with neither side vulnerable.

You hold:

K 3 2 A K 9 6 2 5 4 K 4 2

What is your call?  Dbl  3

In real life…

2009 USBC		Round of 32B	Rogoff vs Jacobs
None Vul	K 3 2 A K 9 6 2 5 4 K 4 2		WEST Levin 3 Dbl 4	North Milgrim Dbl Pass All Pass	East Weinstein Rdbl 3 NT	South Aker 3 Pass
Q Q 5 Q J 10 9 7 6 3 J 8 3		A 8 6 10 8 4 3 A 2 A 9 7 5
	J 10 9 7 5 4 J 7 K 8 Q 10 6		Johnson 3 Pass	Katz 3	Simson Pass	Jacobs Pass

Glenn Milgrim doubled and defended 4 with the K lead. Down 1, +50.
Ralph Katz bid 3 and played there with the A lead. Down 2, -100.

Results and IMP scores are based on what happened in real life, so the winning decision is not necessarily correct in theory, nor does it prove anything. Nonetheless, you must accept the result of your choice, whether you agree with the actual auction or not.

Well, did you earn your black belt? Or is your body just black and blue?

Quiz 8B51   Main

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© 2010 Richard Pavlicek