Posted 2013-July-19, 19:02
No to both, because second-seat vul preempts promise something, and I don't have it. The first hand, I don't have a suit; the second hand, I have way too much defence (and no suit). Partner will put me in four and I'll go down (maybe not on the second hand, but I could be off three trumps and a trick); at least with the second, partner will not hit the appropriate number of spades when they bid it, and they'll go down "not enough".
First seat, I don't like the second (and probably won't open it 2), but the first is just fine with most of my partners. Third-seat, I'd open it with Kxx of spades and Txxxxx of hearts, and clearly also the second hand - and maybe the same hand with hearts headed by KQ9.
But it's a swings-and-roundabouts thing; the more you preempt within reason, the more disruption you do when it's their hand (and also when it's your hand; but the goal is for it to be their hand more often). Usually more disruption will benefit the "their hand" side; sometimes it won't. The less you preempt, the better your partner is placed to make the final decision right - but so are the opponents, and they're having a nice auction at the 1 level (when you didn't preempt) where your more aggressive colleagues are forcing action at the 3 level.
When I go to sea, don't fear for me, Fear For The Storm -- Birdie and the Swansong (tSCoSI)