Monday @ Riverchase Presbyterian Church
Board 12
West Deals None Vul | ♠ Q 9 6 4 ♥ A 3 2 ♦ J 9 3 ♣ 4 3 2 | ||||||||||
♠ 7 5 3
♥ 7 5 ♦ A Q 10 7 5 4 ♣ 7 5 |
| ♠ A K J 10
♥ K Q ♦ 2 ♣ A K Q 10 8 6 | |||||||||
| ♠ 8 2 ♥ J 10 9 8 6 4 ♦ K 8 6 ♣ J 9 |
| West | North | East | South |
| Betty | Lyn | ||
| 2 ♦ | Pass | 4 NT | Pass |
| 5 ♦ | Pass | 6 NT | All pass |
| 6 NT by East |
| Made 6 — +990 |
Betty opened a weak 2D; Lyn went ace-asking and quickly settled in a 28-point
small slam. After a heart opening lead, followed by a heart return, Lyn
looks at down a bunch if they get back in! She first tested the waters by
running off 6 club winners, discarding two spades and two diamonds. North
found herself in a pickle on the last club and tried to protect both spades
and
diamonds, discarding down to three spades.
It was time for prayer. Diamond to the ace, followed by dummy's last spade,
finessing with the
10. The AK fells the Q, making the jack the 12th trick. Well done!
Board 18
East Deals N-S Vul | ♠ 8 4 ♥ K 9 7 4 ♦ Q 7 2 ♣ A 6 3 2 | ||||||||||
♠ Q 9 7 6 3 2
♥ 8 3 2 ♦ — ♣ 9 8 7 4 |
| ♠ A 10
♥ A J 6 ♦ A K 10 9 4 3 ♣ Q 10 | |||||||||
| ♠ K J 5 ♥ Q 10 5 ♦ J 8 6 5 ♣ K J 5 |
| West | North | East | South |
| 1 ♦ | Pass | ||
| 1 ♠ | Pass | 2 ♦ | Pass |
| 2 ♠ | Pass | 4 ♠ | All pass |
| 4 ♠ by West |
| Down 1 — -50 |
Now, imagine yourself as poor West after the first round of bidding, now sorry
as heck she
opened her mouth to mention her six-card spade suit. Unfortunately, I would
have done
the same thing! One of those old adages is "When you have a misfit, bail out
NOW!" West should have passed 2D. One contract ended up in 3D, another in
2NT.
Against 3D, 2NT and 4S, opponents are going to lead "something else".
By refusing to pass with a void, our team ended up in 4S, in this case only down 1 due to good play. Assume North leads a heart, not leading away from the ace of clubs. Ace of hearts on the board, two top diamonds, sluffing the remaining hearts. A third diamond is carefully ruffed low. Lose two clubs, assume South is in the lead. What to lead? The last defensive diamond, ruffed by West with the 9. Club ruff to the 10 of spades followed by the ace of spades. West makes her queen of spades but loses the the last high trumps. Too bad, down 1. It was closer than it should have been. Well done. Next time, stop bidding before your partner pushes you over the cliff!