Saturday afternoon August 2, 2008
Board 10
East Deals None Vul | ♠ J 9 7 2 ♥ A J 9 6 ♦ J 7 ♣ J 7 4 | ||||||||||
♠ 8 3
♥ K Q 10 2 ♦ K Q 9 3 ♣ A 9 3 |
| ♠ 6 5 4
♥ 8 7 4 ♦ 8 6 4 2 ♣ Q 10 8 | |||||||||
| ♠ A K Q 10 ♥ 5 3 ♦ A 10 5 ♣ K 6 5 2 |
| West | North | East | South |
| Pass | 1 ♣ | ||
| 1 ♦ | 1 ♥ | Pass | 1 NT |
| 2 NT | All pass |
| 2 NT by West |
| Made 2 — +120 |
Lead: jack of clubs
Of the most improbable possibilities, this is the best. Four times this hand was played; 1NT twice by South making 2, once making 5, once 2NT by West (!).
The jack is covered by the queen, king and ace. Declarer goes back to the board with a club and leads a diamond: five-queen-seven; then back to the board with another club for a second diamond lead, this time grabbed by South with his ace. Instead of cashing his good two of clubs or his A-K-Q of spades, he leads a heart, king captured by the ace. North in turn figures South to have some hearts and returns a low one, allowing declarer to steal two heart tricks in addition to three diamonds and three clubs.
Grand Theft Bridge!
Saturday afternoon August 2, 2008
Board 26
East Deals Both Vul | ♠ 8 2 ♥ K Q 9 7 6 5 4 ♦ — ♣ 8 6 3 2 | ||||||||||
♠ 5 4
♥ A J 10 2 ♦ K Q 10 4 ♣ Q 7 5 |
| ♠ A K Q J
♥ 8 3 ♦ A 7 2 ♣ A J 10 9 | |||||||||
| ♠ 10 9 7 6 3 ♥ — ♦ J 9 8 6 5 3 ♣ K 4 |
| West | North | East | South |
| 1 ♣ | 2 ♣ | ||
| 2 ♦ | 4 ♥ | 4 ♠ | Dbl |
| Pass | 5 ♥ | Pass | 5 ♠ |
| Dbl | 6 ♥ | Dbl | All pass |
| 6 ♥ x by North |
| Down 7 — -2000 |
Lead: ace of spades
The train came off the tracks when South bid 2C, forgetting that this bid meant 5-5 in hearts and spades instead of 5-5 in a major/minor, which is 1H-2H or 1S-2S depending on the hand. This hand sets a new Shelby County Bridge Club record for a minus score; down 7, doubled and vulnerable. North figured South had spades and hearts. When South corrected to spades, North had no option but to re-correct to hearts, expecting five support trumps. Oh, my.
The defense was merciless, allowing declarer to piddle away with her trumps, all the while getting three clubs, two spades and three more hearts for down 7. Fortunately, bridge being a game where no matter what happens the slate is cleared after each hand, declarer was able after seven minutes to play another hand as if nothing had happened (!).
Monday evening August 4, 2008
Board 25
North Deals E-W Vul | ♠ K 9 3 2 ♥ 4 ♦ A Q 10 4 ♣ J 10 9 8 | ||||||||||
♠ A Q J 8 6 5
♥ K 10 5 ♦ J 7 5 ♣ A |
| ♠ —
♥ A Q J 8 6 3 2 ♦ K 8 6 ♣ K 5 4 | |||||||||
| ♠ 10 7 4 ♥ 9 7 ♦ 9 3 2 ♣ Q 7 6 3 2 |
| West | North | East | South |
| Pass | 1 ♥ | Pass | |
| 2 ♠ | Pass | 3 ♥ | Pass |
| 4 ♣ | Pass | 4 ♥ | Pass |
| 4 NT | Pass | 5 ♦ | Pass |
| 6 ♥ | Dbl | All pass |
| 6 ♥ x by East |
| Made 6 — +1660 |
Lead: jack of clubs
After the ace of clubs(1) declarer leads a low spade through doubler, who must have doubled on points not on hearts, and ruffs in hand (2). A club is ruffed on the board (3) and another spade ruffed low in hand. With the king not falling, declarer has to go to Plan B by drawing trumps, ending on the board. On the ace of spades declarer pitches a low diamond and with a high degree of confidence leads a low diamond toward his king. North takes his ace but can't do any further damage.