Mildly Interesting Blog

Playing the Big Boys and Girls

Tue, 27 Oct 2009 01:48:59 GMT

We played an eight board swiss match against four WBF ranked players (Woman Master, World Life Master, and two Grand Life Masters. Note that these aren't namby pamby titles like ACBL Life Master, since three of them have won a Rosenblum, two won a Bermuda bowl, etc.). I declared six of the eight boards, and had a GLM in my seat at the other table, so I hoped that we'd win big and I'd get a nice blog post. I think there was one IMP decided by card play (I was defending that board) and everything else happened in the bidding. I declared a slam carefully, when I might have gone down, but they weren't in slam at the other table. I lost 11 IMPs in 3N down two when my counterpart made an overtrick, but that all due to the opening lead. GLM on my left led SQ from SQTx (?) and my teammate led a club up to declarer's KJT8x, so that was a two trick difference (the overtrick was gravy). I was so annoyed when I heard their auction. I held A9 K98x Jx KJT8x, and the uncontested auction at the other table was 1D-1H, 1S-3N.

REALLY? I mean, why can't pard hold Kxxx A Axxx Axxx (slam is good), or KQxx A Axxx Axxx or Kxxx A Axxx AQxx (slam is excellent) or even KQxx A Axxx AQxx (grand is excellent. I realize pard might jump over 1H, but try getting to 7C now...).

Anyway, that was super unjust, but we still won 14/20 VPs.

BTW, in another match we had an aggressive auction to 6S:

ATxx Kx KQ98x Ax
KQJx AJTx J7 Qxx

The beer (D7) made me do it:

1N-2C
2H-3D
3S-4C
4N-6S

1N was 15-17. 3D was natural, game forcing. 4C was a control bid for spades (with both minors pard would start with 2S not 2C). 4N was rolling.

LHO led CJ and what's your line? Keep in mind she had already led from the club king against SEVEN DIAMONDS this round. I know they say to lead clubs against slams, but that's ridiculous.

Anyway, I thought about the dummy for a minute then won CA, SK, and tabled HJ. She covered and I won, drew trumps (they broke), cashed hearts pitching my club loser, and led DJ, with the DT dropping eventually.

FOR A PUSH! I don't know how they got to 6S, but they played it the other direction and got a heart lead. (N.B. Opening leads from three small worked very, very poorly all day).

Deep Finesse is Quite Clever

Mon, 12 Oct 2009 23:45:55 GMT

You hold AT62 Q87 KJ2 432 and open 1N (10-12) at matchpoints. The opponents bid naturally:

1N-2S-P-3D, P-P-X

Your partnership agreement is to lead trumps against doubled partscores, so you lead a small diamond. Dummy tracks KQ873 A93 864 T7 and pard wins DA, then plays another diamond and you draw a third round of trump.

Just for fun, I'll tell you that pard started with 954 J652 A7 KJ65 and deep finesse thinks you can hold them to eight tricks. What do you play to trick four and why?

I haven't run this through a double dummy analyzer, but it looks like the quickest way to set the contract is to duck a diamond to declarer's singleton jack!

Bid These Slams With Me (oops, gave away the show there...)

Thu, 08 Oct 2009 06:20:14 GMT

9) 3rd, favorable
ATxxxx Q9xx AKx -

1C-1S
1N-2D
2H-2S
3S-5C
5S-?

1C may be as few as two cards, with a weak NT
1N was 13-15 (not a really good 15)
2D was artificial, game forcing checkback
2H showed 4H, did not deny 3S
5C was exclusion RKC (pard showed 2 without)
Now what?

I wasn't ABSOLUTELY positive pard would take 6H as a signoff, but I was almost sure. Still, I bid 6S in case pard had something like KJx AJTx Qxx Qxx, since I can afford to lose a heart finesse as long as it doesn't result in a spade ruff! Not to mention, pard might have KJx Axxx xx Axxx and RHO might have KHJTxx!

In practice, pard had Kxx AJxx xx AQxx, and I ruffed two clubs along the way (trumps were 2-2) to see if I could drop CK and make seven with HK onside long.

Timed properly, if LHO has CK you can make seven anyway:

On a trump lead draw trumps, DA, DK, ruff, CA, C ruff, lead to HJ, C ruff, run trumps for the club heart squeeze.

4) 1st, both
Qxxx AKxxxx x Kx

1H-2N
3D-3H
?

2N is 4+ hearts, game forcing (not my favorite treatment)
3D is a singleton or void in diamonds, with or without extras (not my favorite treatment)
3H is a punt

We play 3S here as a non-specific, non-serious slam try. 3N would be a "serious" slam try. How do you evaluate this hand? Do you want partner to cooperate in a slam auction without any extra values, even with good controls? Or do you want to back pedal with your 12 HCP?

Since SAK and a minor ace makes slam worthwhile to wonderful pretty much regardless of partner's shape, I think you should make a serious slam try. We control bid first and second round controls economically, so 4C is just right. Pard, with AK Jxxx QJ9 Axxx would sign off over a wimpy 3S try.

31) 1st, unfavorable
AKJxx x KQx QTxx

1S-2C
3H-4C
4S-4N
?

2C is game forcing
3H is a singleton or void in hearts, club support, significant extra values (3C would have shown modest extras, usually four card support)
4C is natural (I think Redwood here has negative utility, though most of the Diamond LM's I know love it)
4D over 4C would have been RKC (I'm not a Luddite, I just don't like Redwood) so 4S is a control bid for clubs, neutral about diamond control

So, what is 4N and what's your call?

Pard could have bid RKC with 4D over 3H, so the RKC boat has sailed. It's either a diamond control bid, or it's rolling, too strong to back pedal with 5C, basically demanding slam when pard has diamond control. I prefer that treatment. What are the odds pard wants to show diamond control on this auction, but can't afford to pass 5C?

Pard had Qx AJx xx AKxxxx, so we had about 16 winners after the DA lead.

Hand Evaluation at IMPs

Mon, 17 Aug 2009 23:46:16 GMT

1) Both, IMPs, 1st seat
Ax xxxx Axx AT9x

1C-1H, 2H-2S, ?

2S is natural (think KQxx), trying for game. I bid 4H, pard went down. What do you think?
If he had something like Kxxx Axxxx xx xx I want to be in game, red at IMPs, since it's over 37.5%, and he should be better than that. I like aces...

2) None, IMPs, 3rd
Ax ATx AJ A98xxx

Pard opens 1N (14+ to 17), opps silent. What's your plan?

We play Walsh relay, so we bid:

1N-2D, 2H-2S, 2N-3C, 3N-4N, 6C

2D was, ostensibly, a transfer to hearts. 2S forced 2N. 3C showed a single suited slam
try with 6+ clubs, but not a great suit. 3N denied interest. 4N was quantitative, asking for
any non-min (4S would have asked for a max). Pard had KQTxx KJx Qx KTx.

I got a heart lead, and led up to CT, to secure my contract. LHO had singleton CJ so I
made seven. At the other table, they bid 1S-2C, 2N-4N, 6N and got a diamond lead,
then misguessed clubs for down one.

I'd waited at least 15 years for a walsh relay auction, and it was nice to reach the right contract for the right reasons. If pard had a max with bad clubs, like KQJ KQxx KQxx xx I'd be happy staying low, though that would be a pretty deep position. I definitely didn't want to force to slam if pard had a min and no interest in clubs.

Meckwell Scoring IMPs

Thu, 30 Jul 2009 22:28:24 GMT

A9753 AQ7 AKT9 2
KQ4 K964 QJ6 J83

1C-(1S)-1N, P-3N

Down 1, -100, win three IMPs!

At the other table 6S went down two. Granovetter got what he deserved for overcalling 1S on JT862 82 87 QT65!

Rubber bridge at the Mayfair my butt. I wouldn't be surprised if Ira Rubin tracked him down tonight and (expletives deleted).

How to Play Quickly

Fri, 24 Apr 2009 15:55:19 GMT

There are lots of people who play SO SLOWLY you don't know what they're thinking about. Ever. Other people think about valid bridge problems. You can take some of that offline, though. Say you know RHO has 5 spades, 3 hearts, and 2 clubs. 13-(5+3+2) = 3, so he has 3 diamonds. Easy, right? Everybody knows that. But not everybody memorizes it. If you memorize all the distributions, then you don't need to do math. If you're slow at arithmetic, that can speed up your game a lot. Next time, just say 5...3...2...THREE, without the math.

So, memorization is great. Sometimes. The problem memorization, as with anything, is overdoing it. If you memorize something that doesn't always apply (like 2nd hand low, say) you give yourself a mental block. That's a bad idea, though arguably still better than playing super slowly.

I gave myself a mental block to pitch a loser on a loser. A few months ago I built a winner and pitched my loser on the loser but I should have pitched a potential winner on the loser, then pitched my loser on the established winner. It was SUPER costly when the cards hit the 1% chance where it mattered. And my partner expressed his...discontent.

It came up again this weekend, and I got it right. Yay me, for overcoming my learning disability. BTW, I wrote up this deal using bridgebase's deal viewer. Pretty neat, huh?

http://tinyurl.com/df5hju

Pwning Marty Bergen

Sat, 28 Mar 2009 17:27:05 GMT

In the August, 2007 ACBL bulletin, Marty had an article about this card combination:

9865
AJ432

There's a similar one in the 2001 Encyclopedia of contract bridge (AJ9xx opposite xxxx) but that's a little different since you can't pick up KQT7 onside with the actual holding.

He says "if East-West clubs split 2-2, your play doesn't matter." That means he'll play the ace on either the first or second trick. He then says that when RHO plays the 7 he'll play the ace, because QT7 and KT7 are twice as likely as KQ7. He finishes by saying you should finesse the jack if RHO plays the T instead of the 7.

Ok, fine. Not to mention this was in the intermediate players section, and he specified that RHO is a "normal" intermediate player. Still, against an expert, is it right to play the ace? If RHO will play the T from T7 (and why wouldn't he?) you can finesse the J and then cash the ace (remember, he claimed all doubletons), but now a T from QT7 or KT7 picks up a second trick for RHO.

The encyclopedia gives different probabilities of picking up the suit for one loser, and different lines of play, based on whether RHO will falsecard the T from those three holdings. Well done, ACBL! It also gives a probability of picking up the suit when RHO will split from KQ7. That's pretty optimistic.

If you're not sure you'd find this falsecard, as RHO, at the table, just remember it the way I do: play upside down count.

Gems from the Offal

Sat, 22 Nov 2008 18:26:38 GMT

I rarely enjoy a 4/5 place in the one session unit swiss teams, especially with a blitz in the wrong column. This time was different. I played two strip squeezes!

7) 1st, both
Jx AQxx - AKJxxxx

1C-2H-P-P, 3C-P-P-P

LHO starts by giving her partner a heart ruff, and you play 3C:

Axx T98 Txxxxx Q
Jx AQxx - AKJxxxx

RHO returns DK. Now what?

I pitched a spade, ruffed the next diamond (LHO played the ace), cashed CQ (both follow),
so I could afford to ruff a diamond high (lho pitched a heart), and draw another trump, both following. Now I can claim 10 tricks! LHO has to be 3=6=2=2, so I can cash two more trumps and he cannot afford to pitch two more hearts, coming down to KJ tight, or I can establish my hearts, so he must pitch a spade. Then SA, S ruff, small heart endplays him. I suppose, if he's classy, he'd duck the heart and say "Lucky, lucky"

14) 4th, unfavorable
AT8 xxx Kxx AQTx

1C-1H-1S-P, 1N-P-3N-P, P-P

LHO leads HK and you play 3N with:

KQ76 A9xx QJx Jx
AT8 xxx Kxx AQTx

Weird. You have 13 opposite 13, both jacks are working, two tens are working, and 3N is terrible.

I ducked the first two hearts, and won the third (RHO pitched two discouraging clubs). Shoot, no club finesse here. Now, I admit, the deal is a bit flawed. I had to use my Jedi powers to get RHO to win one of the first two rounds of diamonds, then not switch to a club. No problem. She ducked the small diamond from dummy, won the second, then cleared her (entryless) diamonds. Yay. Now four spades, one heart, two diamonds, and a lead away from CK give me nine tricks. LHO pitched a club on the third diamond, btw. It looks like LHO is 3=5=2=3 or 2=5=2=4. I don't have the entries to cash a high spade then finesse the ten, but 1=5=2=5 with a stiff SJ isn't that likely anyway. What's percentage? A priori a finesse is better than a 3-3 break, though it's better to play spade from the top if you have another entry to dummy (I didn't). Still, as the Hideous Hog said, ceteris is never parabis. Does the auction suggest LHO has a tenth high card point? Or a side four card suit?

I broke the tie by deciding not to go down two (spade finesse losing, LHO cashes hearts for down one, exits safely with a spade, and gets CK for down two). So I cashed SA, K, Q (RHO shows out, oh well) and threw LHO in with a heart. Strip squeeze for -50, but I won two IMPs!

Playing with someone from the club

Thu, 23 Oct 2008 03:40:32 GMT

Someone from the club asked me to play, and just a few weeks later I sat west in the unit game. Here are a few somewhat interesting deals:

2) 3rd, favorable
Q64 9754 K6 T972

P-P-?

This seems like a clear 1S opener, so why mess around?

P-P-1S-2D, 3D-P-?

It's absolutely clear to bid 3S if you don't want to give away the show. I passed, hoping LHO would be green enough (even though he's red) to pass. I got my wish, once again confirming that it's EXTREMELY important to wish for the right thing.

Pard got out, miraculously, down four, -200. They can make 5N. There was a 660 for north/south, and any notrump part score would have been worth 210 for them, but nobody got there. Sheesh. One stupid matchpoint for us. The best laid plans of mice...

3) RHO was running her trumps in four of a major after playing club, club, club ruff. Our clubs were 4-4, so I had to decide when to pitch my last club, so pard would know it was safe to pitch hers. I could do it early, middle, or late. I picked middle, and that was wrong. I haven't studied this theory enough. With one regular partner, I would pitch it right away, since she would go into the tank, literally, forever if I made things tough early.

22) 3rd, unfavorable
Qxxx JTxxx ATxx -

P-P-?

This seems like a clear 1H opener, so why mess around?

We bid, uncontested:

P-1H, 1N-2D, 4D-P

1N was not forcing. I later suggested 2S was available as a strong diamond raise.
Pard was a bit quacky for a four level bid, regardless:

AJT Qx J9xxx QJx
Qxxx JTxxx ATxx -

CT-J-K-?

I found SKxx in the pocket, 3-1 diamonds with a stiff honor, and there was no trump promotion, so I scored +130, for a top.

And here's a "bridge" story you'll love.

I decided to play Frankenstein (the doctor, not the monster) and put together two players to be my GNT teammates. After about 70 phone calls, I arranged for one to drive 3.5 hours to play pairs with the other, then play teams with me the following day. Spiffy.

Then I read in the unit column in the forum (not my unit, btw, so I'm probably one of three people in the world reading another unit's column) that the sectional was cancelled! Sheesh.

My BART

Sat, 11 Oct 2008 00:26:44 GMT

I met Les Bart at a nationals. He gave me a handout on his convention, and I'd heard good things about it, so I read a few Bridge World articles and decided to give it a try. I moved a few calls around, and here's what I play now.

a) 1S-1N is semi-forcing, so I can pass if I won't accept a balanced invite or a three card limit raise.

b) 1S-1N, 2C can be 5=3=3=2. 1S-1N, 2D promises four.

c) 1S-1N, 2C-2D asks opener to rebid as if I had a weak hand with at least six hearts. If he bids above 2H, it shows interest in game opposite that hand. If he bids 2H and I pull, different bids show different hand types (duh) and cancel the previous message.

d) 1S-1N, 2C-2H shows five hearts and another place to play (2 spades, 5 diamonds, 4 clubs or, maybe, 1=5=4=3). Opener pulls to 2S with short hearts, then responder tries another strain. 1S-1N, 2C-2H, 2S-2N shows 1=5=4=3, and wishes partner luck on finding a decent home.

e) If you have 1=4=5=3 you are in trouble. I recommend you pass 1S, even with a seven count, especially at matchpoints. I just watched some juniors land in their 5-1 spade fit, down three, and they were LUCKY because of the random pull from their 3-2 club fit! Seriously, if you're lucky pard will pass 1N, or rebid something other than 2C, or have at least four clubs. I'm not usually that lucky.

f) I prefer to play 1S-2N is game forcing, balanced. Then 1S-3C is a forcing raise, 1S-3N is a strong notrump, and 1S-1N, 2C-3N is the "Invite" with long clubs and 0-1 spade.

Here's what the bids through 3N mean. A "bid" of 2C after 1S-1N, 2C is really just a pass. Hope that's not too confusing:

	Over 1S	Over 1S-1N, 2C	Over 1S-1N, 2C-2D, 2H
1N	Semi-forcing
2C	GF	To play
2D	GF	Marionette to 2H
2H	GF	Flexible	To play
2S	3+ spades, about 7-10	2+ spades, about 5-7	2 spades, about 8-10
2N	4 card game forcing raise	Balanced invite, 1-2 spades, 2-3 clubs	Balanced invite, 4+ clubs
3C	Invite, long clubs, 0-1 spade	5+ clubs, about 8-9	5+ clubs, about 10-11
3D	Invite, long diamonds, 0-1 spade	6+ diamonds, weak	Invite, long diamonds, 2 spades
3H	Invite, long hearts, 0-1 spade	Invite, 6 bad hearts, 2 spades	Invite, long hearts, 2 spades
3S	4 card limit raise	3 card limit raise	4-3-3-3, choice of games
3N	13-15, flat, 3 spades	6+ clubs, 0-1 spade, lots of shape, about 8-9	"Invite", long clubs, 2 spades

Defend With Your Wife

Fri, 26 Sep 2008 22:46:52 GMT

"Defend With Your Wife"

Get it? Like the Kantar book, Defend With Your Life. But it's a defensive problem from my wife. Oh, nevermind...

She played this at the club

3rd, unknown vul
Kx Jxx xxx Q98xx

2D-X-2H-P
P-3C-?

2D was Flannery, four spades, five hearts, 11-14 HCP

She doubled, led a small heart, and saw this dummy:

xxx QT9xx Jxx Ax

T1: Hx-9-K-Cx -
T2: CJ-x-x-x -
T3: Cx-x-A-Hx -
T4: DJ-x-x-x -
T5: Dx-x-A-x -
T6: DK-x-x-x -
T7: DQ-Cx-Hx-Hx |
T8: ?

I objected to the duck at trick two, since RHO, while nutty enough to bid 3C on JTxxx, might not lead the jack on the first round from that holding. Regardless, it's your play to trick eight.

BTW, it was clear that she had taken the winning action at the table.

Declarer has six tricks pointed his way, and still has CKT. If I let him score both clubs and a spade, he'll make his contract.

Pard has shown ???? AKxxx xxx x and I haven't seen any spade honors. He has 4-7 points in spades, so either Axxx, AJxx, AQxx, or AQJx. If he has SAQJx we can cash four spades and I'll get a promotion at trick 12 for down two. If he has SAQxx, I'll ruff the fourth spade (or not) for for down one. If he has SAxxx we're going -470. But what about SAJxx?

I looked up, beaming, and announced I was cashing SK, then exiting a heart regardless of pard's attitude. That forces declarer to ruff (promoting my club as our third trick) and endplaying declarer into leading up to pard's spade holding (AQ or AJ) for down one. If pard has SAQJ, we'll get down two regardless.

Wife: -470. Pard had a minimum, with SATxx.
Len: Why this problem?
Wife: I set the contract.
Len: ?
Wife: I exited a heart, he played back SQ and I won. I exited a club and he had to lead up to pard's SAT.
Len: WHY didn't he cash CK?
Jo: I don't know.
Len: ZOMFG!
Jo: ...
Len: And you give up on down two if pard has SAQJx
Len: \/

Nobody plays exclusion Blackwood forcing in the team trials...

Sat, 07 Jun 2008 00:10:49 GMT

Meckwell had this auction, favorable, uncontested:

- AKQ76 T9432 Q97
AKQJ T942 K7 AK3

2N-3D, 4C-4D, 4H-4N, P

3D is a transfer, 4C a superaccept, 4N keycard excluding spades. Lose 10 IMPs.

Eric: "You passed this bid in 1985 too. When will you learn?"

Thu, 05 Jun 2008 23:51:55 GMT

Board 50) 1st, favorable, you are Bob Hamman
K763 8 7652 QT52

The opps bid 1S-2H, 2S-4C, 4S-5S, P

Pard leads HJ and dummy tables:

AJ4 KT7432 98 A

HJ-A-8-C4
D8-7-K-A
S8-J-K-2
S3-Q-D4-4
C3-7-A-2
HK-S6-S9-5
C8-9-SA-5

At this point dummy and you hold:

- T7432 9 -
7 - 652 QT

Dummy leads H2 and you play...?

N.B. Among other things, your convention card states:

a) We do not like to signal, period.

b) Count is not given unless it classic long suit entry situation.

So pard's playing up the line in clubs is not relevant. Also, his D4 discard is discouraging. I'm not nearly good enough to use this carding style, since I'd go wrong frequently. As it happens, Hamman pitched a small diamond, giving up trick 11 (the game going trick).

Since I'm a lousy guesser, in this position I would have pitched my trump. Declarer can overruff and cash his last trump, but I'll see pard's pitch before I have to commit myself.

Pard won't know what to do, either, since we don't give count, but at least it'll be his fault if we go wrong. As it happens, since he's down to - Q9 T J6 he can safely pitch a heart (allowing me to stew and go wrong) or a helpful diamond (that can't give away the game going trick).

United States Bridge Championships

Wed, 04 Jun 2008 23:47:20 GMT

With eight boards to go (of 120) in thier semifinal, Weinstein and Garner were stuck 36 IMPs. Maybe that's why Weinstein opened 1S on A9752 86 J93 AJ9. In the other room, his opps went +480, so they were about to pick up 11 IMPs. Garner tried 5H (exclusion RKC?) on KQJT86 - AK5 K643 and the rest is history.

5H went down six tricks...

California Capitol Open Swiss Championships

Mon, 02 Jun 2008 06:50:24 GMT

Each year our district holds one four session swiss team event, with about half the field qualifying for the second day. I only got to the regional for the last two days (having a job can be inconvenient) so this was the only event I got to play. When I saw that one of my teammates had already won two bracket I ko's, I was despondant: we were already mathematically eliminated.

Luckily, things worked out an we won. Yay.

Normally I'd describe all the heroics I went through to win the event, all by myself, against my teammates's best efforts to defeat me, but that didn't happen this year. Despite their occasional -100 in 6DX off a cashing AK, Richard and Warren brought back tons of good results. Jo and Bob (playing with each other or with me) were generally sound despite an almost complete lack of agreement between Bob and either of us. I didn't do anything special though I (and I alone, it seems) think I kept my errors fairly infrequent and low cost.

Mostly, I'd like to thank Margie, Bob's lady friend, for allowing him to keep us company.

I have two comments now:

1) On the way to Sacramento there were several electronic signs on the highway stating:

NB I-5 closed

I thought that was weird. NB is an abbreviation for the Latin Nota Bene, meaning "Note well". If you already knew that, well, you're special. I just found that out recently, and only because I correspond with an Australian lawyer. Still, isn't that weird? Who talks that way in California?

A little while later Jo suggested that, just perhaps, the sign meant that North Bound Interstate Route 5 was closed. Hmm...

2) Here's the only hand I liked from today. Maybe I'll pick out a few from yesterday, for later.

3rd, unfavorable
T Q94 AQ98 KJ986

1C-P-2C-X
2S-X-3D-P
3S-P-3N-P
P-P

Notes:

a) 2C was a limit or better raise, forcing through, at least, 3C, if pard remembers
b) On Monday, at the club, in a similar auction, an indiscreet pass of 3SX led to -800 against our vulnerable game. No way was I passing 2SX, and 3C wasn't forcing, so I tried 3D
c) I pointed out to RHO, a good player, that, at the club, they ALWAYS double 3S to remind pard they'd doubled 2S. It's true.

On a small spade lead, play 3N at IMPs:

AQ7 T87 T3 AQT74
T Q94 AQ98 KJ986

On the auction I certainly don't want anything to do with 5C, so I'm glad we stopped in 3N, though I have my doubts about my chances. I ducked the first spade to the jack and, on the small heart return, ducked the the A. That was quite lucky. The played a heart back to the K and cleared hearts, all following. Now what?

It turns out that the pointy kings are on your left, but the DJ is on your right, doubleton. At another table, played by my partner's hand, they got a spade lead into the AQ and, on a double diamond finesse, took ten tricks.

On my auction, I was pretty sure DK was off (it was) and LHO had another heart to cash (he hadn't) so, instead, I decided to take the spade finesse, since it pretty much had to be on. Unfortunately, I didn't have a spade to lead (I'd ducked at trick one) so I just ran my clubs and, in the four card end position, LHO had to come down to Kx in each pointy suit. I through him in with SA, SQ and he led into my diamonds (that seems classier than DA, DQ and finessing the spade on the way back).

+600 on a strip squeeze. Jo pointed out, helpfully, that if I'd played SQ at trick one I could have made 10 tricks on the same double diamond finesse she observerd. I suggested that, just perhaps, DJ might have been off, and I might have gone down.

Two more comments:

Good thing about this tournament: At check-in, the Doubletree hotel gives you a hot oatmeal-chocolate chip cookie. YUM!

Bad thing about this tournament: The secion top prizes are glasses with some insignia denoting the tournament. Every year, once the sunday swiss ends, they give away any remaining glasses. By the time the four session swiss (the Marquee event) ends, there are no glasses left for the champs!

This is my third win and I've yet to score a glass!

Well, this time I felt lucky, so I grabbed one Saturday night on spec, but still...

Oh, btw, if you're interested in people who really know how to play, check out the international team trials at www.usbf.org.

Props

Thu, 22 May 2008 13:41:28 GMT

I played a two session swiss team event Saturday. Traditionally, the day before mother's day (yes, I know, this was a week late) my unit holds a two session swiss with a BBQ dinner at the split. At dinner they give out the Mini-McKenney medallions and ace of clubs certificates. What fun. When I found out they gave up on the awards ceremony (you mean I wasted my time winning hundreds of masterpoints last year?) I was crushed. I broke the bad news to the winner of the Grand Life Master category and his teammates (second in Grand Life Master, first in Emerald Life Master, and second in Diamond Life Master. So far this year, they're still first and second in Grand, first in Emerald, and now first in Diamond) he was crushed. He put on a brave face but I could tell. Those multiple world championships are little consolation. In fact, it was such a disappointment, that neither of our teams won the swiss. A team from other units (units which, no doubt, award medallions) won.

I did notice two very interesting hands in the same round. Once I was dummy, the other on opening lead. Each time dummy put down AQx, not in trump, traditionally a bad place to put AQx. Each time the suit was lead through dummy. Each time the lead was from the king, up to Jx. Maybe AQx is the perfect holding to put in dummy.

Monday night, after work, I stopped by the club for the monthly swiss teams, to pick up my wife. She was playing against another Grand Life Master (he got a medallion a different weekend) so I watched him for the last two boards. I would have watched her, don't get me wrong, but she prefers I watch anyone else.

1st, favorable
K9xxx Tx JTx Kxx

P-P-1D-X,
1H-1S-2H-P,
4H-?

They play weak NT, so 2H shows either 15-17 balanced or a sound min with shape, with four hearts either way. GLM announced that he shouldn't trust the opps but he would, so he tried 4S, passed around to my wife, Jo, who doubled.

AJTx Kxx x JT9xx
K9xxx Tx JTx Kxx

He (correctly) pointed out that a 2S call would have promised 4S without showing extras (that sort of makes his 4S call an insult, but what can you do...) and thought about the hand. LHO continued a small heart, won in dummy, and now declarer ducked into a deep trance. He came out with a diamond off dummy and Jo played DK, declarer and opening leader followed small. She cashed CA and led another club. He won CK and cleared LHO's CQ, Jo pitching a diamond. After HQ ruffed, and S9 (no cover) to the ace (all follow small), he led SJ-x-?

1) We know LHO is either 2=4=4=3 or 1=4=5=3. He's shown HAQ and CQ and we haven't seen SQ, HJ, or DAQ. If he's 2=4=4=3 he has to have SQ and DA and at least one of the other two red pictures. If he's 1=4=5=3 he has DA and maybe the red honors. Not helpful.

2) Let's check out the IMP odds.

a) Teammates make 4H for +620

We score 1H and 1C on defense assuming my hand doesn't lead a club (it wouldn't) and pard leads a club before trumps are drawn and RHO gets a pitch on a long diamond, so to make 4H LHO must be 1=4=5=3. If GLM takes a spade finesse now, -100, wins 11 IMPs and playing for the drop, -300, wins 8 IMPs.

b) Teammates go down in 4H for -100

Spades must be 2-2, so finesse now, -300, loses 9 IMPs. Spade drop, -100, loses 5 IMPs.

c) Teammates defend 4SX (or 4S or 3S)

Unlikely, not worth worrying about. Note that GLM's teammates play a strong NT, so they are unlikely to get to 4H on a 4-4 fit with only 24 HCP, and if they do a save is wildly unlikely. With the 1=4=5=3 hand it's unlikely opps at the other table would get busy with the nine count.

d) Teammates play a heart partial

i) LHO is 1=4=5=3 for +170

Finesse now, -100, wins 2 IMPs and playing for the drop, -300, loses 4 IMPs.

ii) LHO is 2=4=4=3 for +140

Finesse now, -300, loses 4 IMPs and playing for the drop, -100, wins 1 IMP.

So, if they bid game:

LHO's shape\Spade guess	Finesse	Drop
1=4=5=3	+11	+8
2=4=4=3	-9	-5

and if they don't:

LHO's shape\Spade guess	Finesse	Drop
1=4=5=3	+2	-4
2=4=4=3	-4	+1

Declarer played for the drop, saying he didn't want to go -300 in a phantom. Fine. The IMP odds are 3:4 or 6:5, depending on the contract at the other table, so that's a pretty frail reed on which to pin your hopes.

On the other hand, would RHO play DK from a holding like Kxxx? If she has DAK, CA (she's a passed hand) the spade finesse is off. If she has DKQ, CA, and HJ she can't have SQ or she'd have opened 1N (12-14). So it comes down to:

Qxx xxxx KQxx Ax opposite x AQJx Axxxx Qxx
vs.
xx xxxx KQxxx Ax opposite Qx AQJx Axxx Qxx

She would always bid 4H with the latter hand, but would she double 4S? Unfavorable at IMPs after a forcing pass? And what of the forcing pass. Which hand is more likely for opener?
Finessing seems clear to me, and it was right at the table.

To be fair to GLM, allow me to point out:

a) LHO is unreliable, so his forcing pass may be (heavily) discounted
b) This particular GLM is unlikely to play Jo, a girl, for playing DK, in 2nd seat, from Kxxx
c) Jo held Qxx Jxxx Kxxx Ax

Nice play!

Another STAC and I'm...back!

Mon, 12 May 2008 06:11:10 GMT

Ok, I'm WAY, WAY behind on deals, so here we go:

4th, both
K85 AK874 K74 AT

Opps are silent. 1C-1H, 2C-?

We play that 2N here is a one round force, 3N is a picture jump, with 3=5=3=2, one of the top three clubs, and a quick trick in each of the other three suits. I knew pard didn't remember, so I tried 3N hoping some slam aspiration would get through anyway, and she passed with 7 Q9 A65 KQJ8752. On a spade lead to the ace I claimed 12 tricks. LHO offered that everyone would get to 6N. Sheesh.

4th, none
AQ KQJ642 KQJ AK

P-P-1N (10-12)-?

This player bid 2C Hamilton and, after a lucky not-pass from pard, the auction went:

P-(1N)-2C, 2D-4H, P

Dummy was JT53 A75 A762 J7

a) 7N is cold, so you be the judge
b) The play is quite interesting at matchpoints in hearts, since you can't unblock the diamonds before killing your side entry (hearts are 3-1). How should you play? A spade finesse? A squeeze? The real question is, would RHO psych more frequently with no high cards, or with a king or king and queen?

I haven't seen much of this subject in the literature.

4th, unfavorable
- JT Q8xxx KJT9xx

P-P-1N-P,
2C-P-2S-P,
3S-P-4S-?

I thought it would be fun to double, and went +500 for +14 IMPs. Obviously our teammates had us covered.

4th, none
Axx KTx KJx KJT8

(1H)-P-1N, 2C-2D, 2N-3N, P

Now play it:

KTxx xxx AQTxx Q
Axx KTx KJx KJT8

Hx-x-J-?

LHO was 4=5=1=3, so on the run of the diamonds he had to find four pitches, successively slower until he popped out a heart. Then I led CQ for +400 and win 7 IMP.

4th, unfavorable
A AJxxx AQxxx Jx

P-1C-4S-?

I bid 4N and corrected 5C to 5D. Pard had something like xx Q Jxx AKQxxxx so I won the spade lead and led up to DJ. LHO ducked from KTxx and I scored 1S, 1S ruff, 1D, 2C, 2H (HK onside), 2H ruffs and trump endplayed LHO for a sweet +600. In case you hadn't noticed, 6C is cold for lose 13 IMPs. Tough to win a match when you lose 13 on your good boards.

1st, favorable
x xxxx xxx AQxxx

P-P-1S-2D, P-2N-P-3N, P-P-P

Pard led a small club (!) and dummy tracked a lot of winners with a stiff club. I returned my original fourth best club, declarer played his final club, the J, and pard went into a study! He decided my spot, the seven, was ambiguous and trusted LHO's auction so he ducked, playing me for a side entry. CJ was their tenth trick, amidst some cackling.

Long time readers already know the theme for the next deal:

1st, favorable
Qxxxx AQxx Kx Kx

1S-2S, 3H-3S, P

Pard thought 3H was a short suit game try (it wasn't) and signed off, then feared we'd missed game.

K9x KJ Txxx Qxxx
Qxxxx AQxx Kx Kx

DA was onside, so how do you play the trumps? I don't KNOW who has the ace. I don't KNOW who has the doubleton. So, I led small from dummy and won my queen. LHO, not a regular reader of this column, failed to unblock from Jx, so when I returned to dummy and led another spade, RHO hopped from ATx and BOOM I made +170. We WON THE MATCH BY ONE IMP!

Don't get carried away, it just meant 11 VPs.

Back to MPs.
4th, unfavorable
T54 AJ873 KT4 85

1N-2C, 2D-2H, P

2H showed a mild invite, pard pass, reasonably, leaving me to play 2H with:

72 K5 A763 AKQ97
T54 AJ873 KT4 85

They let me get a spade rough (trying to promote LHO's HQ9xx) but the clubs and diamonds broke, so I scored 3C, 2D, 1D ruff, HK, 1S ruff, then ruffed the good diamond low from HAJ8 in a classic endplay position, for +170 after LHO had to overruff and lead into my HAJ.

That's all for now...

Another STAC, Another Second Place

Sat, 22 Dec 2007 00:52:15 GMT

We played a round against a Detroiter who came to visit for the NABC, picked up a national championship, and stayed to visit his kids. I mentioned I am a University of Michigan, Ann Arbor alum, and he said I might know his kids. I asked their age (not his last name, for some reason, but it worked out to be more interesting this way) and he said 48 and 52. I told him he's a nasty old man and he grabbed my arm.

Ok, that's not so bad. He even did it as a semi-joking, friendly gesture. Still, I just saw "I Am Legend" and he looks just like the CGI vampires and it...was...creepy.

And then his partner perpetrated this:

93 AT7532 9 AK42
KQ 6 AKQJ72 JT83
1H-2D, 2H-3C, 4C-4N, 5H-6D, P

She gave the appropriate, shocked expression when he bid 5H and she knew she had to go to slam off two key cards, but he had just been lying and everyone was happy.

Sigh.

7) 4th, both
Q876 A873 3 A763

1D-2C-2D-X, P-2N-P-3C, 3D-P-P-?

What now? Pard doubled for -670. I didn't play him for the FOURTH trump.

12) 1st, favorable
KQ7 AJ85 AQJ9 Q9

1C-P-1H-1S, 3H-P-P-P

Pard had J62 KQT6 642 853

I think 3H is a strong enough bid with a hand like this. Deep Finesse would make eight tricks in hearts on these cards. Pard asked for a review after the D5 lead, and LHO said:

1D-P-1H-1S, 3H-P-P-P. I felt weird pointing out that I'd opened 1C, so I didn't. I'm not sure whether I'm required to disclose that, especially to my partner.

Anyway, they kicked a trick, he kicked it back, and so on until he emerged -50. Oh, the hearts were 5-0.

16) 1st, unfavorable
KJT82 Q8 5 Q7542

P-P-2H-X, P-3D-P-3S, P-P-P

We defended well for +150. Please note that dummy held 954 542 KQ32 JT3 and had NO PROBLEM passing 3S. Sigh.

18) 3rd, favorable
QJ7542 542 A 982

Pard opened 1H, opps silent. Now what? Kokish told me it's not profitable to bypass good, five card spade suits. I extrapolated to decent six baggers and tried 1S. I can always bid 2H over 1N, then tell partner it was (or was not) constructive, depending on how many tricks he took.

Of course he wouldn't BID 1N. He tried 2C and...now what? I tried 2H (it was matchpoints) and he made three.

Should I start by raising to 2H? It's easy to construct hands where that's wrong. Should I jump to 3H? Same problem.

28) 1st, favorable
4 KQ AJ83 QT9854

1C-1H, 2C-P

KT96 T732 KT54 A
4 KQ AJ83 QT9854

S2 lead, fourth best.

RHO broke diamonds, so the only question is how to play the trumps. I won the ace, got back to hand, and led the queen, catching the doubleton jack.

Yay! That's the first time I've ever had a correct play pay off. Note that guessing the doubleton king wouldn't have helped, since I'd still have to lose a trick to the Jxxx.

Deep Inferences (NOT agreements, that would be illegal...)

Wed, 19 Dec 2007 23:24:21 GMT

Second in our direction at the club. A STAC, even. What could POSSIBLY be more fun, short of full on root canal.

We had a half table, as did the novice game (no wisecracks yet, please) so the director asked anyone to volunteer to switch from either game to the other. I always volunteer (before someone else volunteers me) but a novice pair came to our table. We had to make two sets of three boards, and they were about as pleased about that as we were.

4) 4th, both
8542 K2 QJ7 K754

P-1N-P-P, 2C-P-2D-?

As I was picking up their card to see what 2C means, LHO bid 2H. Turns out 2C shows a single suited hand, and this time it was hearts. Well, the director asked us to be nice to them, so instead of calling the director I just doubled 2D and he bid 2H again.

So, what does my double of 2D normally show? What about after I already know he'll pull to 2H? Better not ever, ever discuss this with a partner, since that would be illegal! You're not allowed to have agreements about what things show over irregularities.

BTW, in a real event I would have called the director, not just to protect my rights, but to protect the opponents' rights, too. Either pard or I would be able to accept the 2H bid, and they have the right to know we're not discussing whether or not to accept his call (another no-no). Here, I just thought they'd find it annoying, and it would contribute to our predestined late play warnings. Not to mention that I wasn't going to do anything except pass or double, so he'd just bid a penalty free 2H anyway.

I suggest that doubling 2D shows something in diamonds, and some cards so pard can pass 2DX or double his real suit. I don't, necessarily have my call (yes, pard's 1N shows 10-12), and I was, perhaps, catering to these particular opponents.

After not accepting the 2H call, I think doubling 2D should show the same as I described above. I suppose I could accept 2H with a blizzard, not accept but pass 2D with a cooperative type hand (some flat 11-13 HCP hand, when I wouldn't mind pard taking a swing at down one doubled anywhere, even the two level if he has three trumps), and double 2D with real diamonds, interested in competing. As always, I could pass (or accept 2H) and double later for pure penalty.

But it's illegal to have these agreements, so I hope nobody I play with reads them.

This came up a few weeks ago at the sectional, and, when I pointed out these agreements are illegal, an opp (a director, who appears to know the laws and the reality of tournament bridge) agreed but pointed out that many pros have agreements anyway. I think it's stupid to have them illegal, since all it does is prevent the "ethical" pros from explaining their agreements to the opps. They're just going to have agreements anyway, and call them "bridge logic" (the MOST odious term. Why don't they ever discuss "bridge arithmetic"?).

Anyway, RHO pulled to 2N, I doubled (incorrectly, as it turns out, since they have eight tricks), and we were +200 after she slopped a trick.

5) 3rd, unfavorable
QJ73 9 87542 AJ8

1H-1D-?

Well, it turns out that this particular night at the club would be quite interesting, indeed. Recalling the director's request, I didn't holler "DIRECTOR!" and, instead, I just made a negative (?) double. We play 1D-1H-X denies four spades, so I hoped pard wouldn't think that applies here, but IT'S NOT LEGAL TO DISCUSS IT!

Pard bid 2C and made two. She held 64 KJ652 AQ Q765. What do you think?

I think 2C promises five clubs, since, with a non-descript hand, she could punt with one heart! Unfortunately, it's NOT LEGAL TO DISCUSS IT! Still, I don't blame her for not bidding 1H, since we were using bidding boxes and it would have been awkward.

7) 1st, both
K86 QJT98 T82 82

P-1D-1S-2C, 2S-3C-P-5C, P-6C-P-P, P

Your lead?

It was a five or seven hand, and I led a heart for +100. Yay! Pard even said nice lead. LHO, while defending his auction, even said nice lead. I usually reserve "nice lead"'s for leads of unsupported kings (the lead I wanted to make) rather than prosaic sequences like Queen Jack Ten Nine Eight.

18) 2nd, unfavorable
J6 632 9732 A984

The opps bid: 1S-2C, 2H-2N, 3N-P. They weren't playing 2/1. Pard led a fourth best D5, and dummy tabled AK543 AK87 84 J3.

I played D7 (no beer tonight...) and declarer won DA. He led a small club and pard won the king as I failed to make a Smith echo. She plugged away with D6-8-9-K, and declarer played a club to dummy's jack and my A (pard followed).

Now what? Dummy's down to SAK543 HAK87. The rhythm suggests a diamond continuation, but can that be right? Pard would have led the queen from QJT, and declarer would have won the ten or jack at trick one if he'd started with AKJ or AKT, so pard has to have JT65 (or T65) and declarer has DQ and three clubs in his hand. Why should I put declarer in his hand to take four winners?

Declarer's hand was 98 954 AKQ QT762, so any major suit card works now. I led a spade for down one.

Last Weekend's Swiss

Mon, 17 Dec 2007 23:38:19 GMT

I still owe you a ton of deals from the nationals, but you'll have to wait. For now, two mildly interesting deals from a swiss teams.

17) 2nd, none
QJ8 KTxxxx Jx xx

P-P-1C-3D, P-P-X-P, 3N-P-P-P

Your lead? I couldn't imagine I could set up pard's suit AND find him with an entry, so I tried a heart.

As you have already guessed, I knocked out his side entry before establishing his (establishable) suit.

I like a good joke as much as anyone, so I was a good sport when he asked "Would you have led a diamond if I'd jumped to 3H?"

Ho, ho, ho.

11) 3rd, none
Kxx KQxx Qxx K9x

1C-1H, 2H-3N, P

QJT AJxx xxx AJx
Kxx KQxx Qxx K9x

I won the spade lead, then played HK, HA (they broke), HJ so I could duck or overtake, depending on whether RHO followed. That way someone would have to make two pitches before seeing his partner's first pitch. The tossed some pointy cards, so I led a spade, they cleared spades, and I ducked a diamond, hoping for an endplay. LHO got stuck and had to lead a club, but she had neither club honor so I ended up down one, for a push. I think 3N is a better contract than 4H, but I'm open to comments.

About the auction:

We play 1C-1H, 2H-2N as a natural game try, forcing one round. So, what's the difference between that and a jump to 3N (assuming you drive to game later)? I think the 2N bid, ostensibly a game try, allows pard to jump to 4H, so it should say you want to play any game (if you get to game) in 4H if pard has any four trumps. A jump to 3N should say that NT might be the right strain, regardless the number of pard's hearts, if he has a slow hand.

Stray Team Deals

Thu, 06 Dec 2007 01:41:59 GMT

I have hand records for a lot of events, so I'll just crack out the stray team deals now. But first, an anecdote:

Playing against a couple with a bridge column, with a ton of defensive carding agreements, I asked what their agreement was when splitting honors on a lead off dummy, and how they played Smith Echo (it wasn't obvious, since they play reverse smith by one partner and "standard" by the other). I was treated to an outburst about how "you" (not "me" but men in general) have all kinds of blah blah, but she just plays cards, and she's "just sick of this" and then her partner piped in that he's probably only needed to smith twice, ever. That's fine, but it seems pretty weird to keep two versions of smith on your card when you don't even play one.

One of them accused me of not having a sense of humor (I don't think it was mean spirited, and might have been a joke, though I don't know how I would be expected to get it, lacking a sense of humor). When I admitted I have no sense of humor, blaming my religion, they gave me a Moshiach wallet card ( http://www.sos-israel.com ). Oooooookay...

The next day I asked what the card says, since I'm not fluent in Hebrew, and they just walked away (perhaps to compare with their teammates, and urge I understand).

Wacky.

26) 1st, both
Txx AJT9x Q9xx x

P-1N-X-2C, X-2H-P-2S, X-P-P-P

1N was weak. Double of 1N was penalty. Double of 2C was takeout.

Pard had Axx xxx KJ KQJxx.

-670 didn't score as well as I'd hoped. I felt that pard didn't have a penalty double of 1N when he couldn't set 3N. We (I) could have set it a trick, and that would have been better.

These particular opponents were SO pleased with themselves, not just because of that board, and kept congratulating each other. Then came:

33) 2nd, none
9xx AJ9x xxx Jxx

They bid 1D-1S, 1N-3N, P

I went passive and, when in with CJ, looking at HTx in dummy, decided I only needed pard to have HKxxx to set the contract. In fact, declarer won the HQ and, when pard got in, I scored three more heart tricks to set the contract. Declarer informed his partner he had had no chance to make. I suggest that, perhaps, HT from dummy on the first heart lead might have been a bit luckier.

18) 2nd, unfavorable
Tx Kx AKxx JT98x

P-P-2H-X, P-3N-P-P, X-P-P-P

+1350. Neat. I don't know what else to say, except that we won the ko match on this, fairly random, board.

11) 2nd, none
KJx KJxx Qxx Q98

This is, by far, my favorite board of the tournament, +1350's excepted.

P-P-1S-X, P-1N-P-P, P

I didn't do the calculation in my head, but I figured the Kaplan and Rubens hand evaluator would give this hand about 10 points (it turns out I was optimistic, it's only worth 9.65). Still, I wavered when dummy tabled a healthy 14 HCP hand. Oops, playing at the ONE LEVEL, at IMPs, with 26 HCP and all suits stopped (and a 4-4 heart fit...)!

I made +150 but they can always hold me to eight tricks, and 4H is down off the top.

To be fair, at the other table I opened, so LHO didn't open 1S, so it wasn't quite so obvious how lousy 4H is when pard has Tx AQxx AKx Jxxx.

Post NABC Club Game

Thu, 06 Dec 2007 00:57:05 GMT

Just a few deals, before I start slogging through the hand records from last week.

12) 4th, unfavorable
Ax Qxx Qxxxx KJx

P-1D-X-XX, P-P-1S-P, P-X-P-P, P

+800

Ok, this looks like a lucky (stupid?) result, so I'd like to explain my methods before you judge me.

a) I play that the redouble sets up cooperative doubles. If you pass and then double, that's absolute penalty. Partner should never play you for that unfavorable (that is, he should pass your double, but he shouldn't balance in case you were trapping).

b) When I pass 1S, I'm denying a cooperative double (think KTx), so when pard doubles Ax is pretty, pretty good. In fact pard had KQJx, and we drew trump.

I think this is the opposite of a system Ed Manfield wrote up in the Bridge Worlds in the early 80's, and I like this better. I've heard that Marshall Miles plays this way (though I don't want to libel him, it's just what I heard and I don't know the details) though I still thought I was pretty clever with the inversion, until I saw it written up in the Bridge Journal from the early 1960's!

Some complain that you rarely have them nutted, and when you do you might pass the double and pard bids in front of you. I can live with that, since frequency is what's important. I get to redouble without absolute control of two of the three suits, and that lets me show my values more frequently.

This works over Michaels or Unusual 2NT, too. When I pass and double, they're in trouble. If I double and double, it's cooperative.

17) 3rd, none
AQJxx Ax ATxx Kx

P-3C-3N-P, P-P

It's uncomfortable to bury the spades, but it looked like the only shot at playing 3NT.

xx 9xx KQJxx JTx
AQJxx Ax ATxx Kx

LHO led his stiff club and RHO won his ace, then shifted to a spade. I put in the queen, losing to the king, and then ducked LHO's HK. He shifted to a diamond and I won the ace. Now what?

I can count 2S, 1H, 5D, and 1C, and I've lost 1S, 1H, and 1C. If the spades are 3-3, I could have won the first heart and taken 11 tricks, but how likely is that? I ducked a heart so the timing would be right for a squeeze. RHO seemed to have 7C, and rated to have a few pointy cards, leaving him only two hearts. If LHO had played another spade at any point I'd have needed 3-3 spades, but he hadn't. I cashed HA, CK, and ran the diamonds coming to:

Sx H9 CT
SAJx

and LHO had to keep HQ, so he had to unguard the spades. +430.

One comment about nationals. Most people play A from AK against suits, though a small number play Rusinow. A few people have other agreements. One I hear see somewhat frequently is A asks Attitude, K asks Count (or Kount. How clever.). Someone played something that sounded very interesting:

A from AK, but K from AKJ or from AK if you plan to shift to a singleton at trick two. When my partner leads an A and shifts, I never play him for a singleton. That means no ruff when the disobey me and peek at dummy before leading their stiff, but it sometimes means their AK go away. Not optimal. Maybe this has some merit.

Not sure whether the AKJ part is worth playing, but I'm certainly open to comments. Anybody?

Another Kelsey/Ottlik Hand

Wed, 21 Nov 2007 22:32:48 GMT

Just pointed out to me:

Monday night my partner had a non-material throw in.

23) 3rd, both
9xxx QJx Ax Qxxx

1C-P-1S-2D, 2S-3D-P-P, X-P-3S-P, P-P

2S promised four. The double of 3D was undiscussed.

DK lead:

AQxx Kx Tx AJ9xx
9xxx QJx Ax Qxxx

She won the first diamond, finessed SQ (RHO dropped the ten), SA (LHO dropped SK but he's good enough to do that from KJx, RHO followed small but she's good enough to play this way from JTx although it would be suit preference) and led HK losing to HA (possible defensive error). RHO won HA, cashed DJ, exited a heart. Pard cashed a third heart, pitching a club as LHO pitched a diamond, and led CQ-K-A-x. Now what?

It's hard to believe RHO wouldn't have cashed SJ, so she seemed to be 2=6=3=2 or 2=6=4=1. Just in case she's 3=6=3=1 it seems safe to exit a trump. She won and...was caught in a non-material endplay!

She could exit a red card, giving up a useless ruff-sluff, but pard ruffed and could take the club hook. +170.

Nicely played.

Winning a club game

Wed, 21 Nov 2007 01:42:13 GMT

Wow. The best thing happened: a north-south bump on the last round, so we could leave early! And this morning I woke up to find we'd scored 70%!

We only had six tops out of 24, but nothing below a 25% board (though we left quite a few matchpoints on the table). Here are a few deals:

5) 3rd, unfavorable
AKTx K7 AJxxx Tx

P-1N, 2C-2S, 4S-P

QJxx AJ9xx K Jxx
AKTx K7 AJxxx Tx

LHO led H8 and my nine held (they lead 3rd and low). I cashed SQ, SA, HK, DK, and led HA. RHO ruffed and I overruffed, so now I could count 4S in my hand, 2D, 3H, and two diamond ruffs for 11 tricks. I had to preserve entries to enjoy the long heart, and I had to leave a trump out (he ruffed a winner but I got two ruffs in return). Neat hand.

20) 4th, both
Kx Kxxx Qxxxx Qx

P-1D-P-1H, P-1S-P-1N, P-P-2C-2D, P-P-3C-?

1D may be as few as two, but promised a sound hand. 1S showed shape. So, pard was 4=1=4=4 or had at least five diamonds.

At matchpoints, opposite a sound opening, it seemed clear to double 3C. If pard had six diamonds she'd pull, with 4=3=5=1 she'd use her judgement, and with 4=2=5=2 3CX rated to fare poorly. I could only dream about 4=1=4=4.

Dummy tabled some values, along with honor FOURTH of trump. We nipped it a trick, routinely, and scored a top. RHO quoted The Law and LHO started laughing, pointing out that they hadn't scored a single matchpoint, and question the authority of the law. Good times.

22) 2nd, favorable
KQJxx Tx Kxx xxx

P-P-P-1C, 1H-1S-P-2N, P-3H-X-3S, P-3N-P-P, P

Notes on the auction:

a) 1S promised 4+ spades.
b) absent competition, 3H would have been a transfer. In comp it was undiscussed, but intended and interpreted as a cue bid / checkback.
c) I meant 3N as a choice of games, but pard was confused and passed.

As usual when I play 3N instead of 4M, it makes the same number of tricks if a key finesse is off, one fewer if the finesse is on. Of course it was on, so we got a 3/8. Playing 4S would have gotten us 6/8.

All in all, it was fun to win, but I really liked going home early. And the brownie bites they put out at the beginning of round six. I stared at them during all three boards, then RAN over to grab the last one.

Birthday Swiss

Wed, 21 Nov 2007 00:58:55 GMT

Steve got a partner for Sunday, but he only has 1100 masterpoints. In fact, they wanted to play in the Blue Ribbon pairs this month, but he doesn't have a Q. On MY team! On the bright side, he has a great sense of humor and he knows C++ so I can live with him.

Oh, he also brought back a pretty good card each round. That's important, too.

13) 2nd, both
AJTx Qx AQxxx A9

Ah, the first board of the day. And it's a good hand. Sweet.

P-1D-2C-X, P-3C-P-3H, P-3N-P-P, X-P-P-P

We had discussed that a jump to 3M here is natural and forcing. I can jump to 3H with both majors. We hadn't discussed, explicitly, that 3C would say to bid 3N with a stop, 3S with spades, and 3H otherwise, but the first board of the day seemed like a good time to spring this particular surprise. Note that I can't afford to try 3S, since pard won't bid 3N without a club stop.

Should partner have pulled 3NX to 4S holding 9xxx ATxxx x J8x? Or not doubled 2C? Sure, but that's water under the bridge. 1400 later she said "Sorry" and I said "No problem" and we started the next board.

I try really hard to be a good partner, but it's not that difficult when you hear "sorry, my fault". It's much more difficult when pard comes up with excuses or, much worse, blames you. That leads to fisticuffs...

14) 2nd board of the day
The opps bid 2N-3N, P. 3N shows 5S and 4H but opener forgot. No problem, as they made game anyway. Looks like I have a long day in store.

9) 2nd, unfavorable
AKJx J Axxx KQxx

1D-1N, 2C-2D, 2S-3D, P

1N was 6-11, but 2D was more like 6-9, and 3D was more like 6-7. No WAY do I have a strong jump shift. Pard tabled a max:

98x K9x KQTx 9xx. Not sure I would have bid 3D, but we were +130 to win eight IMPs, so what do I know.

12) 4th, favorable
Q9 ATx KQJTx Axx

We have six minutes on the clock and have to get the RESULT turned in before the buzzer. Pard and an opp have been particularly slow, so I don't have any time to spend on the hand that matters. Note that there's a 2 VP penalty for a second late report (the first is a warning) but there's NO PENALTY for dropping a board so you finish on time. Bizarre.

Pard opens 1D, may be as short as two with a strong NT, and I get to wheel out a neat-o toy. I bid 2H showing either a 16+ notrump hand or a strong jump shift in hearts. I wasn't crazy about bidding NT with Qx or Axx in the majors, but the 9 and T swayed me. Pard relayed with 2S and I bid 2N, showing this hand. Pard jumped to 4N, quantitative, and still thinking about the lose 18 on the first board, I tried 6D. Pard sat for THREE MINUTES and bid 6N. Won't have a lot of time to play this one. The opps wanted me to explain the auction, and I said that 2H could be various types of hands but once I bid 2N it was 16+, balanced. Well, that's what I would have said if they'd let me finish my explanation.

TIME PRESSURE, people! Just let me answer...

Anyway, LHO led a club and dummy tabled Ax Qxxx Axxx KQJ.

Ax Qxxx Axxx KQJ
Q9 ATx KQJTx Axx

Ten tricks seemed pretty easy (our teammates were -430) but I needed more. I won the club in hand and led a heart at trick two. Let's put LHO to the test right away. He hopped HK and returned a club. I cashed HA and RHO dropped the jack, so I claimed 12 tricks. Well, that's what I should have done. Instead I cashed out the SA and minor winners, to set up a major suit squeeze. Wasted everyone's time and got us each a late play warning, while the HJ was dropping all the time!

After the event was over, LHO asked what would have happened if he'd ducked. I said I'd have won HQ, HA, CAKQ, DAKQJT and he would have been strip squeezed. If he stiffed his SK I'd drop it. If he kept no hearts I'd run hearts. If he kept one heart I'd throw him in to lead away from SK. He asked if I'd have gotten it right at the table, so I said "No, of course not. Way over my head. :-P"

10) 1st, both
xxxx A9xxx J AKx

1H-X-2N-P, 4H-P-P-P

2N showed 3+ hearts, at least invitational. With the quicks I bid game. LHO cashed a high spade and shifted to a trump, RHO following.

x KQJxx Axxx Jxx
xxxx A9xxx J AKx

I have 5 hearts, 3 ruffs, 1 diamond, and 2 clubs, making five. Since LHO was 5=1=4=3 with CQ I could have made six on a trump squeeze if she had shifted to a dimaond. I'd ruff three diamonds, getting to dummy with trump, trump, and spade ruff, then cash two more trumps, coming to:

Hx CJxx
Sxx CAK

If LHO kept CQxx I'd ruff out the long spade. If not, I'd drop CQ.
I told her she made a nice shift, but I guess shifting to a diamond would have been a little weird.

We went to the break with a slight lead, and Steve bought lunch/dinner in honor of Alan's birthday (I shouldn't say which one).

13) 2nd, both
QJ8x ATx Ax 9xxx

1N-2C, 2S-2N, 3N-P

LHO led D8, fourth best, and dummy tabled:

T9x Q98x QT AKQx
QJ8x ATx Ax 9xxx

A note on the auction: 1N was 10-12. We agreed that pard can invite with 13 and a major, not 4-3-3-3. She had a clear invite anyway, with all the texture. I always accept with a non-minimum. So, here we are in a 24 point game, just as we expected.

Rule of 11 said it didn't matter which diamond I played, but just in case he'd led from DK98 I put in the queen. It might have been smarter to win DT to discourage a continuation in case RHO got in, but it turns out this was even better.

At trick two I led a heart from dummy and RHO impressed me with his learning. He flew second hand high with the HK, to clear diamonds before I knocked out his partner's entry. Very nice. As it happens, that let me make an overtrick, but I still paid him the compliment. At the other table they played 3N the other direction and the diamond lead set the contract two tricks. Later, LHO asked if the 10-12 always rightsides the contract and I told him about putting the AKxxxxxxx or AKQxxxxx on lead. Ugh.

29) 2nd, both
AQTx Q8xx xx Kxx

1N-2D, 2H-3D, 3H-4C, (X)-XX-4D, 6H-P

I was pleased RHO doubled 4C, since I hadn't known what to bid otherwise. Pard had, of course, x AJT9x AKJxxxx -. We won two IMPs when our counterparts were in 6D, but we could easily have won 17 IMPs when 6H makes and 6D goes down, roughly 25% of the time. Oh well.

30) 1st, none
Axx Ax KJxx Kxxx

1C-P-1H-2S, P-P-X-P, ?

1C can be a weak NT, 13 to a medium 15. What now? I tried 3N and went down. 5D is cold. Pard overbid, a bit, with xx Kxxx AQxxx Qx or something like that, but I didn't find 5D. They got to 5D at the other table, though.

We won the event and Alan had a happy birthday. Still no blue ribbon Q, though.