Friday evening July 11, 2008

Lead: queen of clubs (!)

If the opponents want to help you make your contract, be happy! I fell in love with my hearts on this hand, especially since North hadn't had any cards all evening, and overbid a bit thinking we might have a shot at slam. I expected 10 points from my partner's 2D overcall, not the seven that were tabled, but then, it was my fault I went roaring onward and upward.

Instead of a natural 10 of spades lead (the top of nothing or two higher) I got the queen of clubs and fully expected West to overtake with the ace. What a present! First I had to deal with the spades before drawing trumps, otherwise I'd be stuck at the end with losers in my hand if the diamond finesse lost. I plunked the queen down which was taken by West, who in turn returned his partner's club, which I ruffed, not pleasing East. A spade was ruffed on the board which was followed by the ace of diamonds and a low diamond toward the jack, taken by West's king. At this point I have five trumps and West has four, and the diamonds are cleared. Even though it won't matter at this point, West should lead a trump; in fact, a trump lead from East to start the defense is the best of all possible leads; it sets four hearts, much less five as bid.

Friday evening July 11, 2008

Lead: seven of diamonds

Declarer wins with the jack on the board and immediately leads a spade to dislodge the ace. East dutifully returns a diamond to the ace. Declarer must guard against a 4-0 split in hearts, which means he should not lead the king from the board but rather the seven, winning with the queen; now returning to the king and West is toast. This is even more important if the 4-0 split is held by East. After winning the queen and discovering West out of hearts, declarer leads the ten from his hand. When it wins he crosses to the king of hearts, then back to the king of clubs in order to clear the suit.

Friday evening July 11, 2008

Lead: low diamond

EW's bidding indicates they have all the horses, so a trump lead isn't out of the question. No sense in trapping a finessable card of partner's. This hand was played by six different teams Friday night, none getting to slam; all stopping at 4S or 5D. East should be persistent on getting to slam, realizing spades might not be magic.

The play is routine against any lead; in fact, declarer has nearly 20 tricks!

Monday afternoon July 14, 2008

Lead: queen of diamonds

What an interesting hand. West's queen was overtaken on the board and trumped by East, much to South's surprise; which shouldn't have been a surprise because she had her own void in hearts. Back came a heart--which was trumped by South! Take that! South led the king of clubs, taken by East, who in turn came back with another club, South going up quickly with the queen--only to have it ruffed by the queen of spades! Whack, whack, re-whack! Another diamond is ruffed by East, who then shifted to a spade. Nasty player! South won in hand and ruffed a club high with the jack, followed by a heart ruff in hand. Having nothing in his hand but ruffable cards, South finally clears the spades with the remaining high trump, but is forced to lose two more clubs for -100. What a horrible hand!

Monday evening July 14, 2008

Lead: seven of diamonds

This wonderful little hand was played in 1NT by South and 1NT by West; each making one! In the above bidding North paused before bidding 1NT, seriously tempted to leave South's takeout double in play. He should have; the defense against 1D doubled takes three diamonds, two clubs and two spades for down one doubled, +100 verses 1NT making for +90. At the other table South didn't double or overcall; the bidding going 1D(p)1NT(all pass), with the five of diamonds the lead card.

Above, I covered the seven of diamonds lead with the nine and won the trick, then tried to tackle hearts the wrong way; ending up losing three heart tricks. I should have come back in diamonds to the king and (ace perhaps). If East lets me have the king, I now have the Q-10-5 to her A-J and two diamond tricks in hand. Now I can lead the ten of hearts, hoping for a cover. If I don't get it I let the ten ride to the king, then placing the jack in East's hand. West returns a spade which rides to the jack and queen. A low spade back to my ace is followed by the nine of hearts to which East plays the jack, the queen winning. East now has the A-J of diamonds and the ace of hearts. The ten of spades is led from the board, West winning with the King, who then must lead a club. The A-K of clubs are played followed by a third club. East, who opened, figures to have the remaining high club. East takes the club and his two aces but is forced to give declarer another diamond in the end.

Monday afternoon July 14, 2008

Lead: two of diamonds

North can count. East always leads fourth-from. The lead of the two indicates he has four cards in the suit, meaning West's card is a singleton. Using the Rule of Eleven; two from eleven is nine, meaning there are 9 cards higher than the two between North, South and West; still declarer can't take the risk and inserts the jack, which wins. To hand with a heart, declarer returns another diamond through East, which wins. Declarer plays the ace of diamonds and loses a diamond, clearing the suit. With two good diamonds on the board, declarer shouldn't risk a finesse in spades, but rather concentrate on the clubs.

Monday afternoon July 14, 2008

Lead: ace of spades

With no way to ask North anything but 4NT, declarer decided to cuebid his spade control.
With eleven HCP North will be happy to pass a spade game, thus slam interest needs to be controlled by South. After the cuebid North's response in clubs shows the ace, which is all South needs to jump to slam. South trumps the first spade and leads to the ace of clubs. East is pickled with the queen of hearts return and ducks to no avail, the second heart capturing his king.

Monday afternoon July 14, 2008

Lead: eight of spades

Both clubs and diamonds will make six or seven depending upon the play of the diamond suit, although a club slam is more difficult to play because declarer needs to both ruff a heart and get back to his hand to draw trumps.

A spade lead by North captures the K by the ace. Declarer carefully leads a club to the board and leads a small diamond. All is well when the king falls. If it doesn't fall declarer should insert the ten to avoid losing two diamond tricks.

In this game none of the three teams got to slam, leaving both minor suit 940s for a later time.

Friday evening July 11, 2008

Lead: king of spades

Declarer takes the ace and ponders. One of the finesses have to work, but both have to be taken. There aren't enough good diamonds to sluff off remaining clubs. A low diamond to the ace which is followed by the ten of clubs. Yes! Then the nine of hearts. Yes! And another heart finesse, leaving only the king outstanding, declarer in hand. The queen of diamonds is played, followed by a ruff of another club. The ace of diamonds is cashed, sluffing the jack of clubs. A spade is ruffed high in hand and the ace of hearts captures the king. This is the perfect scenario for all 13 tricks, seeing all hands. That the Saeger's bid and made their slam--congratulations!