Preempt and Shut Up — Results 923

Preempt and shut up - Results 9/23

Results 9/23. Seven tables in play. NS 1 Barbara Besse & Jim Kaplan. 2. David Donald & Gail Farrish. EW 1 Bill Blakesley & Hugh Knipmeyer. 2 Dan & Nancy Cabot. 

            This hand came up at a two-table Swiss game at the Fokoses’ house on Sunday:

                                           ♠ KJT8743
                                           ♥ J6
                                           ♦ K65
                                           ♣ K
                                              N
              ♠ A65                                        ♠ –
              ♥ AQ82                                     ♥ –
              ♦ 98          W                      E     ♦ AJT7432
              ♣ T854                                      ♣ AQJ976
                                              S
                                         ♠ Q92
                                         ♥ KT97543
                                         ♦  Q
                                         ♣ 32

Dealer West. Neither side vulnerable

Table 1:
            North               East                  South               West
                                                                                    Pass
             2♠                   2NT*               3♠                    4♣
             4♠?                 5♣                    5♠??                Pass
             Pass                6♣                   all pass
                               * unusual, asks for best minor

Table 2
            North               East                  South               West
                                                                                    Pass
             3♠                   4♦                     4♠                   Pass
             Pass!               5♦                   Pass                 Pass
             Pass!

            At Table 1, North chose to rebid after preempting, always risky. South’s 5♠ would have been down three, not a good save doubled (-500) if all EW can make is a not-vulnerable game. Worse, it pushed EW into a makable slam they had not bid.
            The moral of the story: When you make a preemptive bid, you’ve told your story. Shut up unless your partner forces you to bid again. Let your partner decide whether to sacrifice or not.