"Beer in Cans" Bidding over Preempts by Marti Ronemus

This day in 1935 the earth shifted in its orbit when the first beer in cans hit the market. Produced by Krueger Brewing Company, the product was a huge hit.

This is one of those little gems you just have to share, but I'm having a tough time finding a bridge tie-in. How about this?

When Weak Two bids hit the bridge world, they had the same spectacular acceptance that beer in cans did. Will that work?

SO! That brings us to today's quiz. One of the goals of preempts is to make the opponents' lives miserable. And they do it. Let's see some hands where we are faced with this challenge.

Question 1

Your Hand
♠ K 9
♥ 8 6
♦ A 5
♣ A K Q 9 8 5 4

Q: 1 - South:

South	West	North	East
-	-	-	2♠
?

A: 3 No-trump: If you get a Spade lead, you've got nine tricks in your hand. You might as well go for broke on this one. Incidentally, usually if you get any lead OTHER than Spades, it might mean a divorce is in the works! West will know you have a stopper, but rarely will lead anything else... unless he's got a great Heart suit, you'll be just fine.

Your result so far:

Open Question

Question 2

Your Hand
♠ K 9
♥ 3 2
♦ A 9
♣ A K Q 9 8 4 3

Q: 2 - South:

South	West	North	East
-	-	-	2♥
?

A: 3♣: This one is up for discussion for sure. Some players would bid 3♥, asking Pard to bid 3 No-trump with a Heart stopper. Others would play a bid of 3♥ to be Michaels Cuebid. You need to talk to Pard about it. The hand isn't quite big enough to double and then bid our suit, although some players would do that out of sheer frustration. The vulnerability makes us think twice about that however. We'll take the safe route for now and bid our Clubs.

Your result so far:

Open Question

Question 3

Your Hand
♠ K 10 5 4 3
♥ A 9 2
♦ Q 9
♣ K 8 7

Q: 3 - South:

South	West	North	East
-	-	-	2♥
?

A: Pass: Rats. We HATE to pass, but our suit is ratty, we've got what Eddie Kantar calls "death" distribution (5-3-3-2) and no real source of tricks. Sigh. Preempts do their job. Grab a beer and relax.

Your result so far:

Open Question

Question 4

Your Hand
♠ K J 10 8 7 4
♥ A 9 2
♦ 9
♣ A 8 7

Q: 4 - South:

South	West	North	East
-	-	-	2♥
?

A: 2♠: This time, our suit is stuffed with Honorettes. We're not embarrassed. Plus that sixth card is dynamite. Not to mention our great shape.

Your result so far:

Open Question

Question 5

Your Hand
♠ K J 8 7 2
♥ A 9
♦ A 6
♣ 8 7 6 5

Q: 5 - South:

South	West	North	East
-	-	-	2♠
?

A: Pass: This isn't going to happen often, but when it does, for heaven's sake, look innocent, stare into space while you pass. With luck, your Pard will reopen the bidding with a Double for takeout. You will also pass THAT, ignoring Pard's glare. You are the Declarer's worst nightmare... a huge trump stack BEHIND him!

Time for a hand.

Your result so far:

Open Question

Play this Hand

Now that you've bid five hands, let's see how your play goes.

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Overall Results

Your results: out of Average:

What next? You may enjoy playing our prepared hands series.
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