About the Contested Auction by Andrew Kambites
Opponents pre-empt with the intention to make life hard for you. Deciding what to do after a pre-empt involves assessment of risk. You should usually act with a sound minimum opening bid if you are short in their suit.
This hand occurred in a teams-of-four match.
Layout A – Dealer West. Game All.
West ♠️ A Q 7 6 5 3 2 ❤️ 7 ♦️ 9 ♣️ J 10 4 2
North ♠️ 8 ❤️ K J 9 6 5 2 ♦️ A Q 7 3 ♣️ A 7
East ♠️ K J 4 ❤️ 4 3 ♦️ 8 5 4 ♣️ K Q 6 5 3
South ♠️ 10 9 ❤️ A Q 10 8 ♦️ K J 10 6 2 ♣️ 9 8
Auction B
| West | North | East | South |
|---|---|---|---|
| 3♣️ | Pass | 4♠️ | All Pass |
In one room North chose to pass 3♣️.
East raised to 4♠️ on the basis of bidding to the level of the fit (Auction B).
He expects his side to hold ten spades; therefore he is prepared to contract to make ten tricks.
4♠️ made easily. +620 to East/West.
In the other room North overcalled 3♣️ with 4❤️ (Auction C).
East raised to 4♠️, but South was easily able to compete with 5❤️.
West passed 5❤️ (correctly so, because once you have pre-empted it is never right to bid again unless your partner compels you to do so).
East took the view that his 4♠️ bid had forced the opponents to guess, and that he should not bail them out if they had guessed wrongly.
5❤️ made with an overtrick. North/South +680.
Auction C
| West | North | East | South |
|---|---|---|---|
| 3♣️ | 4❤️ | 4♠️ | 5❤️ |
| All Pass |
This was a huge swing to the North/South team in Auction C.
The North player in Auction B claimed bad luck, pointing out that the layout was a freak and if the South and East hands were swapped, overcalling 3♣️ with 4❤️ would have led to a huge penalty.
This is true, but one of his teammates then constructed a far less extreme layout.
Layout D
West ♠️ A Q 7 6 5 3 2 ❤️ 7 ♦️ 9 2 ♣️ J 10 4
North ♠️ 8 ❤️ K J 9 6 5 2 ♦️ A Q 7 3 ♣️ A 7
East ♠️ K 10 4 ❤️ A 10 4 ♦️ 8 5 ♣️ K 9 6 3 2
South ♠️ J 9 ❤️ Q 8 3 ♦️ K J 10 6 4 ♣️ Q 8 5
The best approach for North is to estimate West’s shape and strength for his pre-empt and mentally divide the missing points between the pre-emptor’s partner and his partner.
Let us examine how it works here.
North assumes West has 8 points. North has 14 points. That gives a total of 22 points.
There are 18 points divided between East and South.
North assumes South and West each have nine points.
How about shape? Suppose West has a singleton ❤️. North has six ❤️.
Assume South and West each have three ❤️s.
So North should assume that South has nine points with three ❤️s, in other words Layout D.
Now it becomes clear that whatever the risk North should be courageous and overcall 3♣️ with 4❤️.
Should North/South be worried that they had missed an excellent slam in Layout A?
Not really. A highly competitive auction with an opponent’s pre-empt makes it very hard for you to judge whether or not you have the right cards for slam.
Also, even if you do bid to a slam that seems good in theory, it is all too likely that the expected bad breaks will sink you.
A slam depending on a 3-2 trump break is normally well worth bidding, being a 68% chance.
After an opponent has pre-empted that percentage falls considerably.
Key Point
After an opposition pre-empt you should concentrate on finding your best game contract rather than try to bid to borderline slams.
Competing over their pre-empt
Competing over an opponent’s three-level suit pre-empt is not fundamentally different from bidding over their one-level opening.
You are two levels higher, but on the other hand the pre-emptor is known to be limited.
There are differences, as you can see in the hands that follow. Quite a few of the minimum hands that justify action over a pre-empt have the values of a sound opening bid. That gives you about 13 or 14 points.
The pre-emptor may have 8 or 9.
That leaves approximately 18 points to be divided between the two unknown hands.
If, as described above, you assume partner has half of these points, you are playing him for about nine points.
This figure would constantly reoccur if you repeatedly did this calculation; therefore it saves you time and effort if you just assume your partner has about 8-9 points.
Deal E – Game All
West ♠️ K Q 9 8 7 ❤️ A 7 6 ♦️ 6 ♣️ K J 7 6
North ♠️ J 3 2 ❤️ Q 5 4 ♦️ Q 8 7 ♣️ A 5 3 2
| West | North | East | South |
|---|---|---|---|
| 3♣️ | Pass | Pass | All Pass |
Deal F – Game All
North ♠️ K Q 7 6 ❤️ A J 8 ♦️ 7 ♣️ A K J 5 4
East ♠️ A 9 5 4 ❤️ Q 5 3 ♦️ 8 3 2 ♣️ 10 3 2
| West | North | East | South |
|---|---|---|---|
| Dbl | Pass | 3♣️ | Pass |
| 4♠️ | All Pass |
• West is at least an ace stronger than the usual 13+ for a take-out double.
• East has what West expects, so 3♣️ is quite enough.
Deal G – Game All
West ♠️ K Q 7 6 ❤️ A 8 3 ♦️ 7 ♣️ A J 5 4 3
East ♠️ A 9 5 4 ❤️ K J 5 ♦️ 8 3 2 ♣️ K 10 2
| West | North | East | South |
|---|---|---|---|
| Dbl | Pass | 4♠️ | All Pass |
East has three valuable cards – more than West expects – so East must take the initiative and bid game.
Deal K – Game All
West ♠️ K Q 7 6 ❤️ A J 8 ♦️ 7 ♣️ A J 7 5 3
North ♠️ A 4 3 ❤️ K 4 3 ♦️ J 9 6 5 ♣️ 9 6 2
| West | North | East | South |
|---|---|---|---|
| Dbl | Pass | Pass | Pass |
This hand demonstrates a major difference between passing a take-out double of a one-level contract and a pre-empt.
East would not dream of passing 1♦️ doubled with such weak diamonds but here he expects to beat 3♣️ while partner would need a good hand for 3NT to make.
Deal E. Game All.
West ♠️ K Q 9 8 7 ❤️ A 7 6 ♦️ 6 ♣️ K J 7 6
North ♠️ J 3 2 ❤️ Q 5 4 ♦️ Q 8 7 ♣️ A 5 3 2
| West | North | East | South |
|---|---|---|---|
| 3♠️ | Pass | Pass | All Pass |
¹ West has roughly the minimum values that would justify a three-level suit overcall of 3♠️ over 3♣️.
² East has 9 points, but West has already assumed that so East should not raise.
It is also helpful that you understand the concept of ‘useful points’. Minor honours (queens and jacks) are unlikely to be of any use unless you have a concentration of such values and intend to use them as stoppers in no-trumps. East’s ♦️ Q is unlikely to provide any trick-taking value in a suit contract, so really East has just 7 useful points.
Deal G. Game All.
West ♠️ K Q 7 6 ❤️ A 8 3 ♦️ 7 ♣️ A J 5 4 3
East ♠️ A 9 5 4 ❤️ K J 5 ♦️ 8 3 2 ♣️ K 10 2
| West | North | East | South |
|---|---|---|---|
| Dbl | Pass | 4♠️ | 3♣️ |
¹ This time East has three valuable cards. This is more than West expects so East must take the initiative and bid game. Of course there is a danger that West might have only three spades but there is no better way of proceeding.
Deal H. Game All.
West ♠️ K Q 7 ❤️ A J 8 2 ♦️ 7 ♣️ A J 9 4 3
East ♠️ A 9 5 4 ❤️ 9 5 3 ♦️ A 3 2 ♣️ K 10 2
| West | North | East | South |
|---|---|---|---|
| Dbl | Pass | 3NT | 3♣️ |
¹ Should East bid 3NT or 4♠️? It is a guess that might divide an expert panel, but 3NT has a lot going for it. The ❤️ A is a particularly effective stopper because you can hold it up until the third round, thus hopefully cutting South off from his diamond winners. If 4♠️ is best then 3NT is unlikely to be a foolish contract. However if you bid 4♠️ and find partner with unsatisfactory trumps, then 4♠️ could be hopeless. After a 3♣️ pre-empt, bad breaks are to be expected.
Deal K. Game All.
West ♠️ K Q 7 6 ❤️ A J 8 ♦️ 7 ♣️ A J 7 5 3
North ♠️ A 4 3 ❤️ K 4 3 ♦️ J 9 6 5 ♣️ 9 6 2
| West | North | East | South |
|---|---|---|---|
| Dbl | Pass | Pass | 3♣️ |
¹ This hand demonstrates the difference between passing a take-out double of a one-level contract and a pre-empt. East would not dream of passing 1♦️ doubled with such weak diamonds but here he expects to beat 3♣️ while partner would need a good hand for 3NT to make. Passing carries risk, but this time it could well result in two off, giving you +500.
Deal L. Game All.
West ♠️ K Q J 7 6 5 2 ❤️ A 6 ♦️ 2 ♣️ A Q J
North ♠️ A 4 3 ❤️ K 4 3 ♦️ J 9 6 5 ♣️ 9 6 2
| West | North | East | South |
|---|---|---|---|
| 4♠️ | All Pass |
¹ If South had opened 1♦️ then West might take the view that his hand was too strong for any immediate spade overcall. He would start with a take-out double and intend to bid spades strongly next time.
If you look at the previous hand you will see the dangers of this. East is too likely to pass a double, leaving East/West defending a 3♣️ contract that might even make if South has no spades, with 4♠️ cold for East/West. West’s practical bid is 4♠️. Of course this makes it very hard to investigate a slam, but that is often true after opponents pre-empt. Finding the best game contract takes priority over slam investigation once opponents have pre-empted.
Deal M. Game All.
West ♠️ J 6 2 ❤️ K 3 ♦️ A 5 4 ♣️ A K J 7 6
East ♠️ A 8 4 3 ❤️ A J 4 ♦️ 6 ♣️ 10 3 2
| West | North | East | South |
|---|---|---|---|
| 3NT | Pass | Pass | 3♣️ |
¹ There are many hands that West could have for 3NT. If balanced, he should have between 16–25 points and a diamond stopper. Note that points alone do not define balance. He has running clubs and a diamond stopper. For the most likely game 3NT fits, effectively daring North to find the killing lead if one exists. If West is balanced then 4♠️ will be better than 3NT. However East bears in mind that West could be anything but balanced and makes the spectacularly successful decision to pass. If partner overcalls a three-level pre-empt with 3NT, it is usually safest to pass — spot on!
Deal N. Game All.
West ♠️ J ❤️ 6 3 2 ♦️ A 5 ♣️ A K Q J 7 6 2
East ♠️ Q 8 6 4 3 2 ❤️ A 7 4 ♦️ 6 3 2 ♣️ 10
| West | North | East | South |
|---|---|---|---|
| 3NT | All Pass |
¹ On this hand West is not remotely balanced. He has running clubs and a diamond stopper. Most likely game is 3NT, so West bids it, daring North to find the killing lead if there is one. East faces the dilemma – if West is balanced then 4♠️ will be better than 3NT, but he chooses to pass and is right again.
Deal P. Game All.
West ♠️ K J 10 6 5 ❤️ A Q J 7 6 ♦️ 8 ♣️ K 5
East ♠️ 7 3 ❤️ K 9 8 5 ♦️ Q 4 3 ♣️ A J 7 2
| West | North | East | South |
|---|---|---|---|
| 4♦️ | Pass | 4❤️ | 3♣️ |
¹ 4♦️ is a sort of Michaels cue-bid, showing at least 5-5 shape in the major suits. West isn’t strong enough to force to game but bids to find the best fit. East has some useful assets but is not remotely strong enough for a slam. If the pre-empt had been in a major (eg 3❤️), then 4❤️ would show spades and a minor suit.
Deal Q. Game All.
West ♠️ 5 ❤️ A Q 2 ♦️ K J 8 5 4 ♣️ A Q 6 3 2
East ♠️ A Q 8 6 4 3 2 ❤️ 6 2 ♦️ K 8 7 6 5 ♣️ 10
| West | North | East | South |
|---|---|---|---|
| Dbl | Pass | 4NT | 3❤️ |
¹ In a competitive auction the priority is to find the right game, not borderline slams. The partnership agreement is that after both sides bid, 4NT is take-out, showing a two-suiter (unusual no-trump style). Here the two suits are clearly the minors. If spades had been involved, East would have avoided 4♠️.
