Satuday morning May 31, 2008
Board 25
North Deals E-W Vul | ♠ A 10 4 ♥ A K Q 10 9 6 ♦ — ♣ A K J 3 | ||||||||||
♠ 3 2
♥ 5 3 ♦ 10 8 6 5 4 3 ♣ 9 6 5 |
| ♠ K J 9 8 7
♥ 8 ♦ A Q 2 ♣ Q 10 7 4 | |||||||||
| ♠ Q 6 5 ♥ J 7 4 2 ♦ K J 9 7 ♣ 8 2 |
| West | North | East | South |
| 6 ♥ | All pass |
| 6 ♥ by North |
| Made 6 — +1430 |
Lead: eight of hearts
East is stuck for a lead. Holding the A-Q of diamonds, K-J of spades and Q-10 of clubs; all combinations that could win tricks. This is one of those when-in-doubt-lead-trumps situation. As the cards lie, the lead of the ace of diamonds gives declarer an extra trick, as does the lead of a low spade or a low club. Declarer has no choice but to draw trump and lead a low spade toward the board. Either the queen wins a trick or it doesn't. East must win the trick and declarer claims. In duplicate, stopping declarer from that extra trick means the difference between a low board and an average plus.
Saturday morning May 31, 2008
Board 7
South Deals Both Vul | ♠ A 6 2 ♥ Q 8 4 ♦ 9 8 3 2 ♣ 10 8 4 | ||||||||||
♠ K J 9 4 3
♥ K 10 9 3 ♦ K Q J 4 ♣ — |
| ♠ Q 8 5
♥ — ♦ A 6 5 ♣ A K Q 7 6 3 2 | |||||||||
| ♠ 10 7 ♥ A J 7 6 5 2 ♦ 10 7 ♣ J 9 5 |
| West | North | East | South |
| John Lusco | Mac LaCasse | ||
| Pass | |||
| 1 ♠ | Pass | 3 ♣ | Pass |
| 3 NT | Pass | 6 ♣ | All pass |
| 6 ♣ by East |
| Made 6 — +1370 |
Lead: ace of hearts
The only convention our favorite Indian Springs School friends, Latin teacher John Lusco and math teacher Mac LaCasse, use is regular Blackwood. While Mac took a chance, it was reasonable for him to expect partner to have SOMETHING in clubs. After the ace of hearts was trumped, Mac's only play was to hope for a 3-3 split in clubs. Sometimes good things do happen to good people. Notice that 6NT also makes.
Saturday morning May 31, 2008
South Deals
N-S Vul | ♠ K 6 ♥ A K 5 ♦ Q 10 5 2 ♣ K Q J 2 | ||||||||||
♠ A 5 3
♥ Q 10 3 ♦ A J 8 7 ♣ 10 8 7 |
| ♠ Q J 10 8 7
♥ 9 8 6 2 ♦ 9 ♣ 9 6 4 | |||||||||
| ♠ 9 4 2 ♥ J 7 4 ♦ K 6 4 3 ♣ A 5 3 |
| West | North | East | South |
| Pass | |||
| Pass | 1 ♣ | Pass | 1 ♦ |
| Pass | 2 ♦ | All pass |
| 2 ♦ by South |
| Made 4 — +130 |
Lead: ten of clubs
West's lead of the ten shows either two above it or the top of nothing; which given the board is top of nothing. I would bid 1NT with North's hand all day long, as did four other Norths, all ending in 3NT in a 1NT-2NT-3NT auction; ALL GOING DOWN ONE! This North plays 15-17 no trumps and had too many points, instead opening 1C, then raised partner's 1D to 2D instead of jumping to 2NT to show a strong hand. This is an example of the meek inheriting the Earth; declarer only loses two diamonds and a spade for +4. With North playing NT he gets the queen of spades lead, takes his king but loses four spades and the ace of diamonds. North sees 7 tricks but must knock out the ace of diamonds first. Down one.
Saturday morning May 31, 2008
Board 14
East Deals None Vul | ♠ A 4 ♥ 10 8 7 5 ♦ 9 6 3 2 ♣ Q 7 3 | ||||||||||
♠ Q 10 7
♥ K 4 3 ♦ J 5 ♣ A 8 6 4 2 |
| ♠ J 5 3 2
♥ A J ♦ A 10 8 4 ♣ K 9 5 | |||||||||
| ♠ K 9 8 6 ♥ Q 9 6 2 ♦ K Q 7 ♣ J 10 |
| West | North | East | South |
| 1 ♦ | Pass | ||
| 2 ♣ | Pass | 2 NT | Pass |
| 3 NT | All pass |
| 3 NT by East |
| Made 3 — +400 |
Lead: 6 of spades
Declarer plays low from dummy, North's ace winning; who then dutifully returns the lead. Instead of possibly squeezing three spade tricks out of the combination, by initiating the suit, the defense gives declarer two spade tricks. South gets in with the spade and returns a diamond, but it's too late. Declarer drops the A-K of clubs and loses a club to North, who finally returns a heart. Declarer has two spades, four clubs, two hearts and a diamond for winners.
Played from West, it's a different story. Declarer gets a heart lead, J-Q-K. After playing the A-K of clubs and losing a club, North forces out the ace of hearts. The defense gets two spades, two hearts, a diamond and a club for down 2.