🚀 go-pugleaf

Aren't preempts fun?  Anyway, there are two ways 7 spades could be
bad news.  First, hearts could be 7-4-1-1.  Second, the 4 heart bidder
could have a side-suit ace.  Partner could easily bid 4 spades on
QJ9xxxx -- Kxxx Ax, RHO 7 hearts on -- Kxxxx xxx xxxxx, and your grand
has this one little problem.  So an immediate 7 spades seems a bit
too aggressive.  What about pass?  This would convey interest in a
grand but leave the choice to partner.  Hopefully, with AQxxxx --
Kxx Axxx, partner would bid.  Partner should appreciate the value
of three first-round controls plus the diamond king.  Could partner
go without the necessary controls, say on the 7-0-4-2 given above?
It's possible.  Finally, there is double.  This gives up on the grand
but avoids going minus.

In situations like this, where any action could be right, and all
of them have significant dangers, it is usually best to go middle-
of-the-road.  Pass will leave partner a decision which he will no
doubt get wrong some of the time; but there will also be times when
partner definitely knows what is right.  (e.g. with AQJxxxx x xx Axx
he doubles, and with AQJxxxxx -- Kx Axx he bids.)

IMP's versus matchpoints doesn't appear to be a strong issue here.
A slam swing's worth of IMPs hinge on whatever you do (results ranging
from +2210 to +700 to -100), so you want to find the best spot as
often as possible.  At matchpoints you have the same objective, since
(1) if the grand is making, +700 will be a terrible score
(2) if the grand is not making, -100 will be a terrible score.
Actually, you might be a little more aggressive at matchpoints since
if the grand is not making, you will lose to all the pairs who score
up +1430 no matter what you do.

At least, you can always argue in the post mortem that your pass
was right; partner's misguided (7 spade bid / double) cost you
the event.
				"milla"