A good declarer tries to use all the information available before committing to a particular plan of play. If an opponent has bid you will know something about the suit length and strength in that opponent’s hand.
One of the most revealing bids made by an opponent is a pre-empt.
An opponent’s pre-empt shows a long suit so that opponent will often have a singleton in one of the other suits. You should be aware that your long suits may not divide evenly.
An opponent’s pre-empt also shows a weak hand so honour-card strength in the unbid suits is likely to be in the pre-emptor’s partner’s hand.
For example, if you outbid an opponent’s pre-emptive bid, and that opponent makes a lead in a suit other than the pre-empt suit, the lead is likely to be a singleton.
Example: Declarer ♦9762 Dummy ♦AQJ10
You are west in 4♥ after north opened 3♠ and partner east doubled for takeout. North leads ♦8. Why did north lead a diamond and not a spade? Who has the ♦K?
North is not leading a diamond from a long suit so looks to be leading a singleton. South has ♦K. So win ♦A, draw trumps then lead a diamond for south to win ♦K.
If you finesse ♦Q at the first trick, south can win ♦K and lead a second diamond for north to trump. You should draw trumps before letting south win ♦K.
If the opponent who has pre-empted leads the pre-empt suit then that opponent is likely to have a singleton in your trump suit!
Example: Declarer ♥AJ983 Dummy ♥K754
You are west in 4♥ after north opened 3♠ and partner east doubled for takeout. North leads a spade which you win with ♠A.
North is likely to have a singleton but led their own long suit. If north has a singleton, it will be in the trump suit – hearts. South will have any length and strength in hearts.
Win east’s ♥K. Next play east’s ♥4. If south plays ♥10, finesse to win ♥J. Your ♥A will now take south’s ♥Q.
When an opponent has pre-empted showing length in one suit, the other opponent may have length in the other suits. You should be prepared for your long suits to divide unevenly.
A good rule after an opponent’s pre-empt is to keep your strength sitting over the opponent with potential length in your suits.
This means you look to preserve honour-card strength in the hand that plays after the opponent you assume has length and strength in the suit. When that opponent plays an honour you will have a higher honour to win the trick.
Example: Declarer ♦KQ102 Dummy ♦A986
You are west in 4♥ after south opens 3♠. North has led a spade which you have won with ♠A. You have drawn trumps and now look to play your diamonds.
South has seven cards in spades so won’t have many diamonds. North is likely to have length in diamonds including ♦J. So win ♦K and ♦Q, keeping ♦A.
If south discards on the second diamond, you can capture north’s ♦J by leading ♦10 from east.
© 2022 John Roberts