Loading ...goofy preempts
I was on BBO quite a bit yesterday, mostly playing with Shannon but then I happened upon an interesting table (the Jills were playing Shane & Owen) at an opportune time: Shane, holding T6542 / Q875 / K / J82 opened 2D (weak with both majors). Shannon and I play this convention (5-4 majors, 7-11), picked it up from Alfredo and George. It’s a great treatment but too easy to abuse. Shane and Owen apparently play it far weaker than we do, and on this hand didn’t observe the key component — we have a sub-opener, but we’re not totally broke and our stuff is in our suits.
Meyers, sitting West, held AKJ9 / AJT9 / T76 / K6 and after a little conversation bid double, showing a strong notrump with stuff in the majors (suggesting a desire to punish at least one). Owen preferenced hearts with 8 / 432 / AQ432 / AQ97 and Jill and Shane both passed. Meyers doubled, Owen passed and Jill bid 2NT, ending the auction. I was disappointed, I can’t quite get out of my mind how fun it would have been to see the Jills defending 2H doubled on the lead of the King of Hearts from Jill Levin.
2D showing both majors (or 2H, at Matchpoints) is a fun little gadget, but probably too dangerous on Txxxx / Qxxx. The defense we offer opponents is of inexact origin and not probably best: double is card-showing, 2H is 6-4 minors, 2S is 5-5 minors, 2NT shows a strong notrump and 3m is natural. After 2D (pass) 2H, we suggest double to show cards, 2S for the minors, 2NT and 3m natural.
But as I’ve thought about the hand the Jills had yesterday, I am persuaded that double showing NT values and chunky majors, 2NT as a trick-taking NT and everything else natural is probably better. An immediate pass followed by double is takeout, double followed by double is penalty. Now, what happens over 2D (pass) 2H? Double should still be that good hand with majors?
April 18th, 2007 at 6:48 pm
The convention is called Ekren (or Ekrens), and is Norwegian in origin. I first encountered it when other juniors were playing it at Bridge Camp in 1996 at Marco Island.
Levin’s pass was a little timid, to be sure. Good defense would have netted 500. Hard to say if the ladies would have found it or settled for 200.
An interesting article discussing a suggested defense to Ekrens can be found here: http://www.cavendish.demon.co.uk/bridge/weak.two/ekren-defence.htm
April 18th, 2007 at 6:50 pm
Sigh, I’ve got pass on the brain today. Levin’s pull was a little timid.
April 18th, 2007 at 8:12 pm
They are juniors, of course their preempts are too light
I also like X to be a strong balanced so that you can penalize the opps while 2N is more of a trick taking hand.