Extending the Preempt

Your partner has opened with a preempt. You have a very precise idea of his hand. This is an enormous advantage that you are going to use to make your opponents’ task even more difficult, while not neglecting the possibility of declaring magnificent making contracts. This month, we will focus on the first of these objectives.

I. Assessing the Situation

As soon as your partner opens with a preempt, you must assess the offensive and defensive potential of both sides. What does that mean?

Your partner opens 3♠ and you hold the following hand, nobody vulnerable:

He has promised six tricks; you bring him at least two. Your side’s potential is eight or nine tricks with Spades as trump.

Do not stop there and consider the opponents’ side as well: your opponents should concede only one club and one spade, and perhaps one additional trick that is not apparent for the moment. Their potential is therefore ten or eleven tricks. It is therefore clear that the contract of 4♠ (even doubled) on your side will be a good sacrifice.