Would I? Of course I would. C. is one of the best players in the area.
We got together a few minutes before the game to go over the card. "No inverted minors," he told me. And no Michaels. Over a preempt, double was penalty and a cue-bid was takeout. This was going to be interesting.
As it turned out, our bidding was fine although partner was unhappy about a couple of light openings in 3rd seat (I posted one of them on Bridge Winners just to see how egregious it is). For the most part, I remembered the new system, and our contracts (the two light openings aside) were reasonable. My play on the other hand ... On pretty much every hand I played, I was one trick behind the field. Defensively, I let them make a couple of contracts that would have been easily down had I counted out the hand. And partner noticed every single mistake. I wanted to hide under the table.
Take this hand for example. Partner opens 1C ("could be as short as 2"). I respond 1D and he bids 1H. I am not sure what would be forcing now, so I bid what I think I can make: 3NT.
W
Dummy
♠
AKx
♥
AQJx
♦
Q
♣
K10xxx
Lead: ♣Q
E
Me
♠
J10x
♥
xxx
♦
AKxxx
♣
Ax
Well, we know who has the Jack of clubs. But I can take only one of three finesses: clubs, hearts or spades. Deciding that the opponents would probably lead clubs for me, I decide to set up a heart trick by taking the heart finesse.
That's wrong of course. I need to take the spade finesse, because if it wins, I remain in hand to take another one. And if the Jack gets covered, I have just created an entry in the 10 of spades. Thus, every other declare made 10 tricks in NT while I made just 9.
We ended the night with 43%. My worst club game in ages and probably partner's too. I doubt he's coming back.
Even though you would like to later take a club finesse, aren't you sort of forced to win the CK at Trick 1 so that you can unblock the DQ?
ReplyDeleteAfter that start, I think I am inclined to play HA,HQ. although not with great confidence that that is the best continuation. Maybe I will be lucky and RHO will win HK (although he should probably duck) and be already exhausted of clubs; a pointed suit return (giving me the spade finesse or allowing me to duck a round of diamonds) would be welcomed).
If I take the club king at trick 1, unblock QD and play Ace and queen of hearts, RHO wins the king and returns a club to my stiff Ace. And now, I can cash diamonds and take spade finesse. This works on the lie of the cards, but would cost the contract if the spade finesse loses. By taking the club Ace, I retain a tenace over LHO's clubs and can try for overtricks without costing the contract.
Delete