Should I.....?
Board 3
South Deals E-W Vul | ♠ A J 8 ♥ 7 5 3 ♦ 6 2 ♣ Q 9 7 6 4 | ||||||||||
♠ K 4 2
♥ K J 9 6 4 2 ♦ J 5 3 ♣ 8 |
| ♠ Q 7 5 3
♥ Q 10 ♦ Q 10 8 7 ♣ A K 10 | |||||||||
| ♠ 10 9 6 ♥ A 8 ♦ A K 9 4 ♣ J 5 3 2 |
| West | North | East | South |
| 1 ♦ | |||
| Pass | 1 NT | Dbl | Pass |
| 2 ♥ | All pass |
| 2 ♥ by West |
| Made 2 — +110 |
Lead: six of diamonds
With only 19 points 3C makes for NS but they never find it because North doesn't have 10 points for an overcall. One adventurous South bid 3D and was spanked down two vulnerable for the magic 200 and a well-deserved bottom board. Two hearts steals the bid for EW making 110 while three hearts goes down 1.
Decision time for EW
Board 9
North Deals E-W Vul | ♠ J 10 6 3 ♥ 6 4 ♦ A K Q 7 6 4 ♣ 3 | ||||||||||
♠ K Q 7
♥ A 9 7 3 ♦ 8 5 ♣ Q 10 5 2 |
| ♠ 8 5 4
♥ K Q J 5 2 ♦ 10 3 2 ♣ A 7 | |||||||||
| ♠ A 9 2 ♥ 10 8 ♦ J 9 ♣ K J 9 8 6 4 |
| West | North | East | South |
| 2 ♦ | 2 ♥ | 3 ♣ | |
| 3 ♥ | All pass |
| 3 ♥ by East |
| Made 3 — +140 |
Lead: jack of diamonds
The general rule in competition is to never let the opponents have the a contract at the two level. On this hand one EW allowed 2H while two NSs allowed 2D (!). Come on! Please! Every North should open the hand with 2D. Regardless of vulnerability East should overcall 2H with the nice heart suit. The one rule broken is you shouldn't have 3 of your opponent's suit; a good rule that normally comes back to bite you. South leads the higher of his diamonds, intending to echo on the next trick to show two in the suit. North wins two diamonds and shifts to a club, instantly putting pressure on East who decides not to finesse since the king is marked to be in South's hand. Trumps are drawn quickly and a club led through South, who must rise with his king, establishing the queen. South would like to give the ace of spades to his partner but leads the 2 anyway, won by West and the queen of clubs cashed, a spade pitched. East loses two diamonds, a club and a spade; 140 and a top. Two diamonds makes 2 and 3 for 90/110 NS.
Thursday evening January 24, 2008
Board 7
North Deals Both Vul | ♠ 8 6 5 3 ♥ Q 10 9 5 2 ♦ 8 5 ♣ K 4 | ||||||||||
♠ K Q
♥ K 7 ♦ A K J 9 7 2 ♣ J 10 6 |
| ♠ A 7 2
♥ J 8 4 3 ♦ 10 4 ♣ A Q 8 2 | |||||||||
| ♠ J 10 9 4 ♥ A 6 ♦ Q 6 3 ♣ 9 7 5 3 |
| West | North | East | South |
| Pass | Pass | Pass | |
| 1 ♦ | Pass | 1 ♥ | Pass |
| 2 NT | Pass | 3 ♣ | Pass |
| 3 ♦ | Pass | 3 NT | Pass |
| 4 ♣ | Pass | 4 ♠ | Pass |
| 6 NT | All pass |
| 6 NT by West |
| Made 6 — +1440 |
Lead: nine of hearts
This could have happened but didn't. Four of the six teams bid three NT and made 6; but bidding six is a horse of a different color. Given the lack of information in the bidding, the nine of hearts is just as good a lead as any other. West has to make the same finesses he would have had to without the heart lead. The king of clubs has to be with North and the queen of diamonds has to be with South. They are, and all's right with the world.