Monday afternoon May 21, 2007

This risky slam should have been played by South instead of North, risky in that the K of clubs is out there hanging on the first lead. I'd probably lead the heart or the ace of clubs. A low spade or a trump lead gives declarer the opportunity to sweep everything but one round of clubs off the table. Unfortunately, this bidding sequence didn't occur. As you can see, it's cold regardless of whether it's played in North or South. Six hearts should go down 1 because the "normal" play is to run the AK, leaving West with a trump winner and an old-dog-finds-the-bone of a club back for the setting trick.

Monday afternoon May 21, 2007

While everyone bid 4S making 6, the obvious slam was in clubs, which no one attempted. If you were North, wouldn't you bid 2C with that hand? If you were South wouldn't you be thrilled with a free bid of 2C? Partner has 5+ clubs and 10+ points. As Marty Bergen says, Points Schmoints. Once North cuebids the ace of hearts, 6 clubs is a lock. Of course, the way the cards fall out 6 spades is also cold--but the bidding should lead to a club laydown. In our case all the teams ended up in a pedestrian 4S making six.

Monday afternoon May 21, 2007

Nobody came close on this one; everyone stopping at 3NT and 4S. East has no really good bid to encourage West on to slam other than to underbid the hand with a forcing 2NT. The diamond rebid shows a nice hand and good diamonds. Six NT also works. Regardless, with 19 points and a positive response, East should continue to pursue slam.

Thursday evening May 24, 2007

In order to properly show this hand, South must jump-shift to show 15-18 points. A 2NT isn't sufficient to show the power. North shows the second suit; South shows support. It's only after the 3H bid that North can count to at least 33 and slam is in the works. Six spades is a laydown and makes 7 with anything but a club lead.

Thursday evening May 24, 2007

Would you open 1S with South's hand? If you didn't, you'll never get to four spades and a top board. West will surely bid 3 or 4 hearts (going down at least 2 doubled). North will counter with 5C and the hand will be passed out. A heart lead is trumped in hand; North then forces out the ace of trump on the third lead and it's all over. Once back in, North pulls the last trump, loses a spade and claims.

Friday evening May 25, 2007

This hand isn't so much on the bidding or the resulting play; the queen of clubs lead draws out the ace and 7, leaving West with a stopper and two tricks in clubs. He immediately attacks spades, knocking out the ace. When the opponents shift to hearts, West also makes his king and ten tricks for +430. What's curious, is why did pairs stop at 2D-West, 2S-West, and 2NT-West? West's 1NT overcall promises a real 1NT opener. East should bid 2C Stayman asking for a 4-card major. West denies and bids 2NT. Remember, bridge is all about the search for 3NT. In duplicate, it's the magic contract; 3NT making 4 (430/630), 1NT making 2 (120), down two vulnerable (200); these are the killer scores.

Friday evening May 25, 2007

In a very spirited contest, most Norths stopped short of going to 5, deciding discretion was the better part of valor. Too bad! Poor North! Stuck between a rock and a hard place for a lead. Which suit would you lead? I don't like to lead away from aces, so I'd lead a trump; in this case, killing partner's queen. But it's not all bad. West might decide to float a club finesse from the start--RUFF big time. Instead, the correct play is to float the 5D toward the king. Take a look at the NS side. Four hearts makes and goes down 1. It looks like it should lose a diamond and two spades, no more. These are the hands that make bridge such a wonderful game. OK, how did North end up playing 3D making 4?

Friday May 25, 2007

Didn't ANYBODY HEAR IT? The sound from Jaws and Halloween Part 8. Get out! Get out! Get out! You can't hear that? While spades is clearly the best contract IN THIS ACELESS SET OF HANDS it's obviously going to go down the tube. Anytime you don't have an ace, you can't be considering anything higher than one something. Marty Bergen would barf on South's cards. THREE KING-JACKS. Are you kidding me? That and the jack of diamonds makes 13 points? ARE YOU KIDDING ME? Points schmoints as they say. South should pass this hand quickly and say several hail marys that he's not playing it. You must subtract points from an "opening" hand when you have 0 aces. In this case one EW team ended up in 2 diamonds making 5--they should only make 4; however the ended up with a tie for bottom because all of the NS teams were going down 3 and 4 in clubs and spades. Remember: when you have an aceless hand, bid down big time.

Friday evening May 25, 2007

The king of diamonds lead makes this hand a bit dicey. If they get in, you're down 7. Play the ace perforce first, then run the five hearts. The defense rests, forcing North to play the spades. Oops the queen falls; five spades five hearts, and the two minor aces. Isn't bridge fun?

Saturday morning May 25, 2007

Nice catch, West! Partner if you're going to have two trumps, the Ace-King are decent. After drawing trump, West will pick up one of the heart honors, losing a heart, two diamonds and a club, down 1. But--five diamonds by NS makes five; losing only a heart and a spade. In fact, it will make 6 if East forgets to cash his heart ace and leads a club instead after the spade ace. North clears the trumps, cashes the clubs and returns to dummy to discard his two hearts on the remaining clubs.

Saturday morning May 25, 2007

I would have a hard time not bidding to 3 with South's hand, regardless of vulnerability. As partner would lay down his cards I'd ask "Do you have ANYTHING for me, partner?" Partner's response would be "I got trash." or similar; down 1. Nut'n honey. Congrats to Geri and Macie who persisted, aided by vulnerability (so what if they go down 1 not vulnerable if NS is making 2 spades) and made three clubs with no brain cells actually hurt in the operation.

Saturday morning May 25, 2007

I'd like to say someone bid this, but alas, none of our six EW teams could find it, although two managed to make 4+ spades. Two other EW found diamonds, both contracts making 4. One EW team allowed South to play 1H (!) making 3. How is it that West couldn't find 2D or East 2S? I think it's a Points Schmoints thing, although it's hard to believe West wouldn't bid 2D with that terrific hand. The key bid is West's support of spades, although holding just the 4-3-2 (chanting a soft prayer that East wasn't bidding a 4-card suit).