This Real Deal come from Stefan Skorchev of IntoBridge. 

Vul:NS Dlr: W	Q63  86  1095  AQ963
A109874  J102  Q743  --		2  Q97543  J2  J754
	KJ5  AK  AK86  K1082

West	North	East	South
2	Pass	Pass	3NT
All Pass

The Auction

West should open 2. There are a lot of “flaws” in that the suit isn’t very strong and the hand might be playable in other denominations. Still, the vulnerability is wonderful (white versus red) and the suit isn’t too bad. I love the 10-9-8-7 in the middle. Preempting makes life difficult for the opponents, so it’s best not to have too many restrictions.

North doesn’t have nearly enough to enter the auction and East surely passes (don’t try to “correct” to a different suit when partner preempts in you short suit).

South has 20-21 balanced with spades stopped. A 2NT opening would be normal, but a 2NT bid in this auction wouldn’t show this strong a hand. In fact, a 2NT overcall in direct seat would be natural and about 15-18. In balancing seat, as here, the range would be even a bit lower.

Accordingly, South has two choices. Either 3NT or a takeout double, planning to bid again. I’ve shown 3NT because a double might get North to insist on a suit contract—even worse with the lead coming through our king-jack of spades. This spade holding and balanced hand scream notrump, so let’s just bid it.

What if North produces no help? Then 3NT will go down. Over preempts, it is a bit of a guessing game. You have to hope partner has something. A good acronym is ESP—standing for “Expect Six (or Seven) Points.”  If partner is broke, that’s partner’s fault.

Holding a fairly normal hand, North passes and 3NT is the final contract.

The Play

Normally we lead our best suit against notrump, but it is unlikely to bear fruit here. East would have raised spades with three of them, so it doesn’t seem as if we can set up our suit. As to the J as opposed to a diamond, there are conflicting arguments. The diamonds are longer, but the hearts are safer (J10 – as opposed to queen-empty). Also, the opponents tend to look for major-suit fits more than minor-suit fits, so when in doubt, prefer to lead a major against notrump.

On the heart lead (or any lead, really), declarer would win and work on clubs. How? There is a 100% way to run this suit. Start with an honor from (or leading to) North and even if the suit splits 4-0, the jack can be finessed against. Starting with the king would be a huge error, especially on this auction.

On dummy’s high club, West discards. That allows declarer to take what we call a “marked finesse” against East’s jack. Declarer has 5 club tricks and the ace-king in each red suit. After the spade ace is dislodged, that gets declarer’s total to 11 tricks.

Is there any way to take a 12^th? Only if West discards two diamonds, hard to imagine.

Achieving 660 (11 tricks in a notrump game) is a fairly normal result on this deal and would likely be a little above average for North-South in a matchpoint game.

Conclusion

In retrospect, had West passed as dealer (not something I’d recommend), East would have been able to preempt with 2 in third seat. In that position at this vulnerability we don’t worry about suit quality nor how abysmal the hand might be. Now, if North-South reach their normal 3NT, West could find a profitable sacrifice in 4 doubled (down less than 660).

Lesson Points

• Even without a “textbook” hand, try to preempt as much as possible. Having spots like the 10-9-8-7 make it more attractive.
• When partner preempts and you have a misfit and a poor hand, just pass (don’t try to improve the contract).
• A 2NT overcall of a weak two-bid is natural (with a stopper) and roughly equal to the strength of a 1NT opening bid.
• When the opponents preempt, try to picture (ESP) about 6-7 points in partner’s hand.
• When in doubt, prefer to lead a major against notrump.
• When working on a 9-card fit missing only the jack, start with an honor from the hand with two honors.