Monday July 16, 2007

Lead: ace of diamonds.

Momma always said if your partner opens 1NT and you have a 1NT opener yourself, don't diddle around, bid 6NT. No brain cells were harmed on this hand. But, only two teams of the five that played it bid the slam, the rest stopping in 4S. Even if the bidding went 1NT-3S, 4S-? South should bid 4C to show control in the suit, followed by North denying a red suit control 4S. Since North opened 1NT, the missing high cards had to be in his hand, even if the ace of diamonds wasn't. Six spades makes also, but only brings home 980.

Monday afternoon July 16, 2007

Lead: jack of hearts.

What a pretty hand. Trumps had to be drawn post haste; the four rounds causing South some discomfort, as did the discard on the fifth round, then the third round of spades from the board. On the last spade, the three of hearts was tossed. A heart lead from the board traps the ten. West leads a heart back to South who believes the contract is set, only to have her ace of diamonds ruffed and the last heart from West is good.

Monday afternoon July 16, 2007

Lead: jack of clubs

East has to have the finesses to make it, which are there; but our Judy/Judie team was the only one to bid this one today. East drives out all trump, losing the queen; but now East has an entry to the board in order to drop losing red cards on the two good clubs. Piece of cake.

Monday afternoon July 16, 2007

Lead: ace of diamonds.

A club lead can make it moderately interesting, forcing East to take the ace, draw trumps then hope that hearts break 3-3, which they do. As it stands, it's OK in bridge to get lucky once in a while. I'd play the A-K of spades as declarer did, a high heart, then overtake the other one and see if the hearts broke. They did. Congrats to Charlotte Estill and Judy Funk for bidding and making the slam! Well done.

Thursday evening July 19, 2007

Lead: ace of spades.

Like a thief in the night, Charlotte magically produces 5Cx making 5 out of thin air. Let's see, now; the ace is followed by a high heart, taken by the ace. A heart trumped on the board, then a trump back--oops, the king fell. Trumps are gone, let's lead a diamond....oops, the ace singleton falls, all the rest of the diamonds fall, everything is roses and honey-baked possum. Your directors took a whoopin'. (!)

Thursday evening July 19, 2007

Lead: 4 of clubs.

If it had been the 10 of clubs 1NT goes down. As it was the lucky declarer (!) won two clubs, three spades a diamond and a heart. Sometimes things just aren't fair! Two clubs makes EW.