Monday afternoon November 12, 2007
Board 16
West Deals E-W Vul | ♠ J 7 2 ♥ J 9 3 2 ♦ J 2 ♣ 10 8 5 2 | ||||||||||
♠ K Q 3
♥ 6 5 ♦ K Q 8 7 6 3 ♣ 9 6 |
| ♠ A 5 4
♥ A K 10 8 ♦ — ♣ A K Q J 7 3 | |||||||||
| ♠ 10 9 8 6 ♥ Q 7 4 ♦ A 10 9 5 4 ♣ 4 |
| West | North | East | South |
| 2 ♦ | Pass | 7 ♣ | Dbl |
| All pass |
| 7 ♣ x by East |
Lead: ace of diamonds.
| Down 1 — +2330 |
What would you lead as South in 7C doubled? First of all, I probably wouldn't double seven clubs. South holds five diamonds, West's bidding indicates a 6-card suit; it's quite possible East is out of diamonds. Trump the ace of diamonds, draw trump, to the board with a spade, toss the hearts on the diamond K-Q and claim. Without the ace lead declarer has to hope for a good break in hearts, taking the A-K then ruffing the third round, back to the hand with a spade, then hope that the fourth round of hearts finds the last heart in the same hand as the ten of clubs!
Monday afternoon November 12, 2007
Board 17
North Deals None Vul | ♠ 6 ♥ 7 6 5 2 ♦ K Q J 6 ♣ 9 5 4 2 | ||||||||||
♠ J 7
♥ A K J 10 ♦ 7 4 3 2 ♣ A Q 10 |
| ♠ A K Q 9 8 5 3
♥ 8 4 ♦ A 10 8 ♣ 3 | |||||||||
| ♠ 10 4 2 ♥ Q 9 3 ♦ 9 5 ♣ K J 8 7 6 |
| West | North | East | South |
| Pass | 1 ♠ | Pass | |
| 2 ♥ | Pass | 3 ♠ | Pass |
| 4 ♣ | Pass | 4 NT | Pass |
| 5 ♥ | Pass | 7 ♠ | All pass |
| 7 ♠ by East |
Lead: nine of diamonds.
| Made 7 — +1510 |
This wasn't bid Monday afternoon. One person bid six spades making six, another six spades making seven. Six is obviously much more comfortable, and of course a diamond lead makes it extra edgy. I'd play one round of hearts, draw trumps, the ace of clubs, ruff both clubs, back to hand and and play another trump; just see what discards they do. A smart north is going to pitch clubs and save the worthless hearts, just to make it difficult. Fortunately or unfortunately, East needs both hearts in order to discard the remaining diamonds, so hearts is the suit to finesse--which works. Seven is a tough bid.
Monday afternoon November 12, 2007
Board 22
East Deals E-W Vul | ♠ J 5 ♥ A Q J 10 8 5 ♦ A Q 9 ♣ 7 4 | ||||||||||
♠ 6 4
♥ 9 6 3 2 ♦ J 10 7 6 2 ♣ 10 9 |
| ♠ 9 8 7 2
♥ 7 ♦ K 8 4 ♣ K Q 5 3 2 | |||||||||
| ♠ A K Q 10 3 ♥ K 4 ♦ 5 3 ♣ A J 8 6 |
| West | North | East | South |
| Pass | 1 ♠ | ||
| Pass | 2 ♥ | Pass | 2 NT |
| Pass | 3 ♥ | Pass | 3 ♠ |
| Pass | 4 ♦ | Pass | 4 NT |
| Pass | 5 ♥ | Pass | 7 NT |
| All pass |
| 7 NT by South |
Lead: jack of diamonds.
| Made 7 — +1520 |
It's a laydown; five spade tricks, six hearts and two outside aces. North's rebid of hearts shows a solid six. South has the king which should fit nicely. South's gamble is on the spades, hoping North has enough so the jack will fall--but it doesn't need to!
Monday afternoon November 12, 2007
Board 25
North Deals E-W Vul | ♠ 10 ♥ J 5 ♦ A Q J 6 5 3 2 ♣ J 7 3 | ||||||||||
♠ 8 4 2
♥ K Q 10 9 7 2 ♦ 9 4 ♣ 9 4 |
| ♠ Q J
♥ A 8 4 ♦ 7 ♣ K Q 10 8 6 5 2 | |||||||||
| ♠ A K 9 7 6 5 3 ♥ 6 3 ♦ K 10 8 ♣ A |
| West | North | East | South |
| 3 ♦ | 4 ♣ | 4 ♠ | |
| Pass | 5 ♦ | Pass | 6 ♦ |
| All pass |
| 6 ♦ by North |
Lead: ??
| Made 7 — +940 |
No one bid this "unmakeable" slam, although all but one made 6 or 7. Given the interference, there was no time to poke for a two-trick losing suit. South's slam bid was pure guess. East leads the king of clubs hoping to get in with a heart later. But, no go. Diamonds are drawn quickly and declarer has 15 tricks, EW goes to sleep with two heart losers.
Monday afternoon November 12, 2007
Board 26
East Deals Both Vul | ♠ 9 4 ♥ 10 8 6 4 ♦ J 6 ♣ 10 6 4 3 2 | ||||||||||
♠ J 6 3 2
♥ K ♦ A K 9 7 4 ♣ A Q J |
| ♠ A Q 10
♥ A 9 7 5 2 ♦ Q 10 5 ♣ K 7 | |||||||||
| ♠ K 8 7 5 ♥ Q J 3 ♦ 8 3 2 ♣ 9 8 5 |
| West | North | East | South |
| 1 NT | Pass | ||
| 4 NT | Pass | 6 NT | All pass |
| 6 NT by East |
Lead: queen of hearts.
| Made 6 — +1440 |
Take the king, lose the finesse and claim your six.