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 H in first seat with only your side vulnerable.

You hold:S Q 10 6 3 2
H 10 8 3
D A K
C K Q J

What is your call?  Pass  3 S


In real life…

2006 USBCFinalEkeblad vs Jacobs
 
N-S VulS Q 10 6 3 2
H 10 8 3
D A K
C K Q J
WEST
Zia
3 H
Pass
North
Greco
3 S
Pass
East
Rosenberg
Pass
Pass
South
Hampson
4 S
S J 4
H K 9 7 6 5 4 2
D 5 4
C 7 6
Table S A 9 7
H A Q
D Q J 10 9 2
C 9 4 3
S K 8 5
H J
D 8 7 6 3
C A 10 8 5 2
Rubin
3 H
Pass
Garner
Pass
Pass
Ekeblad
4 H
Weinstein
Pass

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

Quiz 8B51   QuitTop   Combatting Preempts

Problem 2

RHO opens 3 C in second seat with neither side vulnerable.

You hold:S A Q 10 8
H A Q J 9 3 2
D 9 8 7
C

What is your call?  Dbl  3 H


In real life…

2007 VanderbiltRound of 16Bramley vs Jacobs
 
None VulS J 7 6
H 10
D J 4
C K Q J 9 6 3 2
WEST
Feldman
Pass
Pass
4 C
North
Weinstein
3 C
Pass
Pass
East
Bramley
Dbl
3 H
4 H
South
Levin
3 D
Pass
All Pass
S 9 5 4 3
H K 5
D 10 5 3
C A 10 5 4
Table S A Q 10 8
H A Q J 9 3 2
D 9 8 7
C
S K 2
H 8 7 6 4
D A K Q 6 2
C 8 7
Zia
Pass
3 NT
4 S
Kamil
3 C
Pass
All Pass
Rosenberg
3 H
4 C
Fleisher
Pass
Pass

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

Quiz 8B51   QuitTop   Combatting Preempts

Problem 3

RHO opens 3 D in first seat with both sides vulnerable.

You hold:S A J
H K 10 7 6 3
D J
C Q 10 8 6 3

What is your call?  Pass  3 H


In real life…

2007 SpingoldSemifinalNickell vs H-Welland
 
Both VulS A J
H K 10 7 6 3
D J
C Q 10 8 6 3
WEST
Wrang
3 D
Pass
Pass
All Pass
North
Meckstroth
3 H
4 H
5 D
East
Nilsson
Pass
Pass
Pass
South
Rodwell
4 D
4 S
6 H
S 10 6 3
H J
D K Q 9 7 6 4 2
C K 4
Table S 9 8 7 5 2
H 4 2
D 5 3
C A 7 5 2
S K Q 4
H A Q 9 8 5
D A 10 8
C J 9
Soloway
3 D
Pass
All Pass
Willenken
Pass
4 D
Hamman
Pass
Pass
Welland
3 H
4 H

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

Quiz 8B51   QuitTop   Combatting Preempts

Problem 4

RHO opens 3 C in second seat with both sides vulnerable.

You hold:S A J 2
H K 6 2
D A Q J 10 6
C A 3

What is your call?  Dbl  3 NT


In real life…

2007 SpingoldRound of 16Mahaffey vs Cayne
 
Both VulS 9 7
H 9 3
D 8 5
C K Q J 9 7 6 4
WEST
Zhao
Pass
Pass
4 S
North
Versace
3 C
Pass
All Pass
East
Fu
Dbl
Dbl
South
Lauria
3 H
Pass
S Q 8 5 4 3
H J
D 9 7 4 2
C 10 8 5
Table S A J 2
H K 6 2
D A Q J 10 6
C A 3
S K 10 6
H A Q 10 8 7 5 4
D K 3
C 2
Nunes
Pass
Pass
Bertheau
3 C
Pass
Fantoni
3 NT
Nystrom
Pass

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

Quiz 8B51   QuitTop   Combatting Preempts

Problem 5

RHO opens 3 S in first seat with both sides vulnerable.

You hold:S
H A K Q
D Q 8 6 3 2
C K Q 10 9 8

What is your call?  Dbl  4 NT


In real life…

2007 Bermuda BowlFinalUSA1 vs Norway
 
Both VulS
H A K Q
D Q 8 6 3 2
C K Q 10 9 8
WEST
Helness
3 S
Pass
North
Jacobs
Dbl
East
Helgemo
Pass
South
Katz
Pass
S Q J 9 7 5 4 2
H 8
D J 10
C A 6 4
Table S K
H J 9 7 5 3
D A 9 4
C J 7 5 3
S A 10 8 6 3
H 10 6 4 2
D K 7 5
C 2
Garner
3 S
Pass
Groetheim
4 NT
Pass
Weinstein
Pass
Pass
Tundal
5 D

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

Quiz 8B51   QuitTop   Combatting Preempts

Problem 6

RHO opens 3 H in second seat with neither side vulnerable.

You hold:S A Q 7 4 3
H Q J
D Q J 7
C A J 9

What is your call?  Dbl  3 S


In real life…

2007 Bermuda BowlQuarterfinalItaly vs South Africa
 
None VulS 10
H A 10 9 8 6 3 2
D K 6
C 10 5 3
WEST
Fantoni
Pass
3 NT
North
Cope
3 H
Pass
East
Nunes
Dbl
Pass
South
Holman
Pass
Pass
S 9 6 2
H K 7 5
D 8 4 3
C K Q 6 2
Table S A Q 7 4 3
H Q J
D Q J 7
C A J 9
S K J 8 5
H 4
D A 10 9 5 2
C 8 7 4
Bosenberg
Pass
4 S
All Pass
Bocchi
3 H
Pass
Eber
3 S
Pass
Duboin
Pass
Dbl

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

Quiz 8B51   QuitTop   Combatting Preempts

Problem 7

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

You hold:S K Q 8 6 5
H A 3 2
D K 8
C K J 6

What is your call?  Dbl  3 S


In real life…

2008 World ChampionshipSemifinalEngland vs Germany
 
E-W VulS 9 3 2
H K 4
D A J 9 7 6 4 3
C 9
WEST
Hackett,Ja
Pass
4 D
5 C
North
Gromoeller
3 D
Pass
All Pass
East
Hackett,Ju
Dbl
4 S
South
Kirmse
Pass
Pass
S 10
H Q 8 7 5
D 10 5
C A Q 8 7 5 3
Table S K Q 8 6 5
H A 3 2
D K 8
C K J 6
S A J 7 4
H J 10 9 6
D Q 2
C 10 4 2
Elinescu
Pass
Pass
Sandqvist
3 D
Pass
Wladow
3 S
Malinowski
Pass

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

Quiz 8B51   QuitTop   Combatting Preempts

Problem 8

RHO opens 3 H in second seat with neither side vulnerable.

You hold:S K 10 4
H 8
D K Q J 10 9 4
C A 8 7

What is your call?  Pass  4 D


In real life…

2009 USBCFinalFleisher vs Robinson
 
None VulS Q 8 3
H A Q J 10 9 3 2
D 3
C J 4
WEST
Weichsel
Pass
4 NT
North
Woolsey
3 H
Pass
East
Ekeblad
4 D
Pass
South
Stewart
Pass
Pass
S 9 7 6 5 2
H K 6
D A 6 2
C Q 10 9
Table S K 10 4
H 8
D K Q J 10 9 4
C A 8 7
S A J
H 7 5 4
D 8 7 5
C K 6 5 3 2
Wildavsky
Pass
Pass
Granovetter
3 H
Pass
Doub
Pass
Pass
Rubin
4 H

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

Quiz 8B51   QuitTop   Combatting Preempts

Problem 9

RHO opens 3 S in second seat with neither side vulnerable.

You hold:S A 9 3
H K J 9 6 2
D 6 3
C A K 6

What is your call?  Pass  4 H


In real life…

2009 USBCQuarterfinalStrul vs Welland
 
None VulS Q J 10 6 5 4 2
H 8 7
D A
C 10 9 3
WEST
Strul
Pass
Pass
North
Smith
3 S
Pass
East
Becker
4 H
South
Cohen,B
Pass
S K 8
H 10 5 4
D K 10 9 8 7
C Q J 4
Table S A 9 3
H K J 9 6 2
D 6 3
C A K 6
S 7
H A Q 3
D Q J 5 4 2
C 8 7 5 2
Willenken
Pass
Pass
Martel
3 S
Welland
Pass
Stansby
Pass

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

Quiz 8B51   QuitTop   Combatting Preempts

Problem 10

RHO opens 3 D in first seat with neither side vulnerable.

You hold:S K 3 2
H A K 9 6 2
D 5 4
C K 4 2

What is your call?  Dbl  3 H


In real life…

2009 USBCRound of 32BRogoff vs Jacobs
 
None VulS K 3 2
H A K 9 6 2
D 5 4
C K 4 2
WEST
Levin
3 D
Dbl
4 D
North
Milgrim
Dbl
Pass
All Pass
East
Weinstein
Rdbl
3 NT
South
Aker
3 S
Pass
S Q
H Q 5
D Q J 10 9 7 6 3
C J 8 3
Table S A 8 6
H 10 8 4 3
D A 2
C A 9 7 5
S J 10 9 7 5 4
H J 7
D K 8
C Q 10 6
Johnson
3 D
Pass
Katz
3 H
Simson
Pass
Jacobs
Pass

Glenn Milgrim doubled and defended 4 D with the H K lead. Down 1, +50.
Ralph Katz bid 3 H and played there with the D 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   MainTop   Combatting Preempts

© 2010 Richard Pavlicek