Works for me! Saturday February 17, 2008

Lead: jack of spades

This is a very nice example of Cuebidding To Slam. The pair got to the slam because John opened with the Rule of 20 (high card points + the length of his two longest suits = 20, a Marty Bergen addition to the game). Even with the interference, Jill's 5C bid showed a club control as did John's 5D bid. South had gone as far as he could with his interference, although six spades doubled down three would only be 800 instead of the 980 Jill and John received on the hand. But, a sacrifice is only worth it when everybody else is making the makable contract; alas, Jill and John were the only ones to bid and make this slam.

Train wreck.

South interpreted North's jump in hearts to be a request for a super transfer instead of the 6-card suit opening hand that it was intended to be. South jumped right into ace-asking and North knew where South was driving to; so he ignored her Blackwood request and jumped to six hearts; a contract that is dead cold. Instead, South continued to six spades, thinking that North intended his jump to be a transfer. North had no choice but to limit his losses in seven hearts down one.

Good contract, bad score.

Lead: queen of spades

The queen floats around to the ace; declarer now knows where the king are located by West's overcall. The ace of diamonds is forced out and a benign club returned to the ace, which then allows declarer to finesse the K-10 of spades. Declarer makes four diamonds, a club, two spades and a heart for a nice 90 points. Unfortunately, 2S goes down by East as does 2NT, each for 100 points.

I love bridge. Thursday evening February 21, 2008

Lead: two of spades.

This hand was passed out twice this evening! North--in remote control mode--returns a spade which is trumped. Declarer knocks out the ace of trumps and wins the diamond return with the ace, then draws the remaining trumps and goes to the board's heart ace. The nine of hearts is floated, covered by the jack-king-queen! Declarer loses a spade, diamond and club for a nice sacrifice. Four spades NS makes four all day long, losing a diamond and two hearts. It can make six if defenders don't find the hearts and let declarer establish the diamond suit!

All sorts of scores. Thursday evening February 21, 2008

Lead: ten of diamonds.

East's double was negative indicating hearts and the unbid suit clubs; and not enough points to overcall. NT was out of the question because of spades, so West reluctantly passed. Two spades makes, losing a spade, a heart, two clubs and a diamond. Other scores on this hand were: three spades down one, four clubs by East down 1, three hearts by East down two, and 2NT by North, down three.

Sometimes it's not very exciting. Friday night February 22, 2008

Lead: three of spades.

I hate leading from South's hand, especially from a K-J with your other choice being an ace. Ugh. The spade is captured by North who should shift to clubs and not just plunk down a Return My Partner's Lead kind of lead. East says to himself "why didn't we bid this?" as he knocks out the ace of hearts and claims the rest of the tricks.

I didn't say I would make it! Friday night February 22, 2008

Lead: nine of diamonds

The top of nothing or two higher (coded 9s and 10s) is a benign lead, taken by East's ace. A club comes back to the ace, followed by the king and a prayerful club to the board's low trump. Two hearts are cashed with two diamonds discarded. A third heart is trumped high in hand followed by the last diamond from South's hand to the eight of trumps. Declarer now has the ten of trumps on the board and the A-K-Q in hand plus the jack of clubs. A heart is ruffed high by South, the last club is ruffed by the ten of spades and declarer lays down her last two cards--the A-K of trumps. Awesome!

Saturday February 23, 2008

Lead: ace of diamonds

With a hand loaded with kings and aces, going ace-asking is a free shot at slam; with the likelihood of making five at minimum very good. A 5C or 5D response allows the team to park it at 5H. The play of the hand takes about 22 seconds after the ace of diamonds is played to the first trick. None of our teams bid this slam today!

You asked how it could be done.

Lead: ace of clubs

The opening lead was followed by a low spade. Take the king, lead a heart and cover your eyes. Yes! Draw the remaining trump, then the ace of spades followed by a diamond to the ace. The odds are just as equal that the remaining two spades are split as it is the king of diamonds is in either hand. The third round of spades brings out the queen and jack. Ruff your remaining club on the board and discard your second diamond.