tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-65397690098089170532024-03-13T15:28:43.527-05:00Mishaps at the Bridge TableThese are real hands where I wish I could have a do-over. See the <a href="http://bridgemishaps.blogspot.com/2011/09/whats-this-blog-about.html"> first post </a> for what this blog is about.Lakhttp://www.blogger.com/profile/16177723973206020679noreply@blogger.comBlogger216125tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-6539769009808917053.post-77435039328418544592019-10-02T21:28:00.001-05:002019-10-02T21:28:35.351-05:00Idiot coupedAt matchpoints in a robot tournament, we had a normal auction to reach 4H. East leads the Jack of diamonds. Dummy (south) covers and West takes the Ace and returns a small diamond. Plan the play.<br />
<br />
<iframe height="300" src="https://www.bridgebase.com/tools/handviewer.html?sn=lakshmanok&s=SAK2HJT7DKQ854C64&wn=Robot&nn=Robot&n=SQ864HAK842D9CQJ7&en=Robot&d=s&v=e&b=3&a=1D(Minor%20suit%20opening%20--%203+%20%21D%3B%2011-21%20HCP%3B%2012-22%20total%20points)P1H(One%20over%20one%20--%204+%20%21H%3B%206+%20total%20points)P1N(2-5%20%21C%3B%204-5%20%21D%3B%202-3%20%21H%3B%202-3%20%21S%3B%2012-14%20HCP)P2S(Responder%20reverse%20--%205+%20%21H%3B%204+%20%21S%3B%2012+%20HCP%3B%2013+%20total%20points%3B%20forcing%20to%203N)P4H(2-5%20%21C%3B%204-5%20%21D%3B%203%20%21H%3B%202-3%20%21S%3B%2012+%20HCP%3B%2014-%20total%20points)PPP&"></iframe>
<br />
At the table, I expected to see a ruff, a club return, another diamond ruff and another club, so down 2. I didn't want to go down 3 if the spades were 4-2, so I discarded a spade. I expected to be able to ruff north's club loser in dummy.<br />
<br />
East did ruff, but didn't return a club! East returned a spade ... and now I took the winning finesse and went down 1 (two clubs, one diamond, one ruff). Had I discarded a club, I'd have made it because I can discard one more club on the queen of diamonds.<br />
<br />
The full hand:<br />
<br />
<iframe height="300" src="https://www.bridgebase.com/tools/handviewer.html?sn=lakshmanok&s=SAK2HJT7DKQ854C64&wn=Robot&w=SJT9HQDAT7632CAT8&nn=Robot&n=SQ864HAK842D9CQJ7&en=Robot&e=S753H9653DJCK9532&d=s&v=e&b=3&a=1D(Minor%20suit%20opening%20--%203+%20%21D%3B%2011-21%20HCP%3B%2012-22%20total%20points)P1H(One%20over%20one%20--%204+%20%21H%3B%206+%20total%20points)P1N(2-5%20%21C%3B%204-5%20%21D%3B%202-3%20%21H%3B%202-3%20%21S%3B%2012-14%20HCP)P2S(Responder%20reverse%20--%205+%20%21H%3B%204+%20%21S%3B%2012+%20HCP%3B%2013+%20total%20points%3B%20forcing%20to%203N)P4H(2-5%20%21C%3B%204-5%20%21D%3B%203%20%21H%3B%202-3%20%21S%3B%2012+%20HCP%3B%2014-%20total%20points)PPP&p=DJDKDAD9D3S4H3D4S5SASJS6HJHQHAH6H2H5HTD7H7C8HKH9S8S7SKSTDQD2C7C2D8DTH4C5H8C3D5CTSQS3S2S9CQCKC4CAD6CJC9C6"></iframe>
<br />
<br />
Funnily enough, had it been IMPs, I would have gotten it right, since playing for a defender error is the only way to win. But other than a robot, would anyone return a spade after ruffing the 3 of diamonds?<br />
<br />
Sigh.<br />
<br />Lakhttp://www.blogger.com/profile/16177723973206020679noreply@blogger.com1tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-6539769009808917053.post-75327777963713908382016-08-23T15:22:00.001-05:002016-08-23T15:27:01.560-05:00Good defenders can help you place the cardsAll non-vulnerable, in a robot tournament, my partner (North) opens 2H and this gets passed out:<br />
<div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;">
<a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEhXfMn2gxnO-3pm3WS4PIWPhSldzKR_jccVJpGqH06yoSC0ECAGhqvZN0fpylBjTjYBJrZScvNpbcP0q8Jf9DDuvg5WEpiskI64_w_GaXU2eq5ScJ4yS8JWUKKbCbRx47ysIr-zJTePOcA/s1600/Screenshot+2016-08-23+at+1.12.34+PM.png" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" height="320" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEhXfMn2gxnO-3pm3WS4PIWPhSldzKR_jccVJpGqH06yoSC0ECAGhqvZN0fpylBjTjYBJrZScvNpbcP0q8Jf9DDuvg5WEpiskI64_w_GaXU2eq5ScJ4yS8JWUKKbCbRx47ysIr-zJTePOcA/s320/Screenshot+2016-08-23+at+1.12.34+PM.png" width="160" /></a></div>
<br />
Do you agree with my pass? The 2H at equal vulnerability ostensibly promises to go down 3. I can see that I cover 3 of partner's losers, so I should probably bid 4H.<br />
<br />
East leads the 10 of diamonds. I cover and West plays the Ace of diamonds and returns a spade. East cashes the AQ of spades and returns a diamond to the 9, queen and king. At that point, I lead the Queen of hearts and East covers. These are the cards that have gone so far:<br />
<div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;">
<a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEg_X0znp_ST_zPtrcZhANoyAZ5qJu6i-yaEqLWdYXtjBEKzPjpVwBIIBFQsAydBVO5POuOMbEesBCJAe2g_sX3_vf7LAfultrQatUHqAftW8aVb3dAgI9NXah6eSUxBPUkMb4jxM36vsFM/s1600/Screenshot+2016-08-23+at+1.17.06+PM.png" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" height="320" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEg_X0znp_ST_zPtrcZhANoyAZ5qJu6i-yaEqLWdYXtjBEKzPjpVwBIIBFQsAydBVO5POuOMbEesBCJAe2g_sX3_vf7LAfultrQatUHqAftW8aVb3dAgI9NXah6eSUxBPUkMb4jxM36vsFM/s320/Screenshot+2016-08-23+at+1.17.06+PM.png" width="157" /></a></div>
<br />
Now what? I lead the 8 of hearts. West plays low. Finesse or not? Think about it before reading further.<br />
<br />
East and West are good defenders, so it is worthwhile to consider their play to the hearts. With 3 hearts to the King, East would never cover. (well, perhaps if he had KTx, he would cover because it makes no difference). Ergo, East started with 1 or 2 hearts. If East had King singleton, West will always get a trick. So, the only case to consider is that East started 2 hearts.<br />
<br />
If that is the case, West now has 2 hearts and East now has one. The odds are 2:1 that West has the 10 of hearts. Take the finesse.<br />
<br />
At the table, I didn't bid 4H, and I didn't take 10 tricks. The full hand is <a href="http://www.bridgebase.com/tools/handviewer.html?bbo=y&lin=ZZ%7C%7Cpn%7Clakshmanok%2CRobot%2CRobot%2CRobot%7Cst%7C%7Cmd%7C2S852HA8DJ982CAK82%2CST63HT53DAQ53CQT6%2CSK7HQJ9742DK64CJ9%2CSAQJ94HK6DT7C7543%7Csv%7C0%7Cah%7CBoard+8%7Cmb%7CP%7Cmb%7C2H%7Can%7CWeak+two+bid+--+6%2B+%21H%3B+10-+HCP%3B+9%2B+total+points%7Cmb%7CP%7Cmb%7CP%7Cmb%7CP%7Cpc%7CDT%7Cpc%7CDJ%7Cpc%7CDA%7Cpc%7CD4%7Cpc%7CST%7Cpc%7CSK%7Cpc%7CSA%7Cpc%7CS2%7Cpc%7CSQ%7Cpc%7CS5%7Cpc%7CS6%7Cpc%7CS7%7Cpc%7CD7%7Cpc%7CD8%7Cpc%7CDQ%7Cpc%7CDK%7Cpc%7CHQ%7Cpc%7CHK%7Cpc%7CHA%7Cpc%7CH3%7Cpc%7CH8%7Cpc%7CH5%7Cpc%7CHJ%7Cpc%7CH6%7Cpc%7CH9%7Cpc%7CC5%7Cpc%7CS8%7Cpc%7CHT%7Cpc%7CS3%7Cpc%7CH2%7Cpc%7CSJ%7Cpc%7CC2%7Cpc%7CD6%7Cpc%7CC3%7Cpc%7CD9%7Cpc%7CD5%7Cpc%7CCA%7Cpc%7CC6%7Cpc%7CC9%7Cpc%7CC7%7Cpc%7CCK%7Cpc%7CCT%7Cpc%7CCJ%7Cpc%7CC4%7Cpc%7CC8%7Cpc%7CCQ%7Cpc%7CH4%7Cpc%7CS9%7Cpc%7CH7%7Cpc%7CS4%7Cpc%7CD2%7Cpc%7CD3%7C">here</a> (click Next to see the play).Lakhttp://www.blogger.com/profile/16177723973206020679noreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-6539769009808917053.post-24826472401662173682016-07-23T12:14:00.002-05:002016-07-23T12:14:28.057-05:00Get partner inNow that BBO runs free daily MP tournaments, I try to catch them when I can. Time constraints man that I've pretty much stopped playing the bridgez/wbridge5 one.<br />
<br />
Here's a hand from yesterday's:<br />
<div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;">
<a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEg6zLkwiHwYqXlYOPXjw_NHdVPSTLBimryn9lH-iU6vIG8H0q19qyKesIpKnd44Wlj6UiZ44eMyZXXx2QHamW3f6do-1uB6ouCV4HhwS4cocqUywVJrfmL_Tkh91tSF4QQKoyYEF1_MgTE/s1600/Screen+Shot+2016-07-23+at+10.03.47+AM.png" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" height="222" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEg6zLkwiHwYqXlYOPXjw_NHdVPSTLBimryn9lH-iU6vIG8H0q19qyKesIpKnd44Wlj6UiZ44eMyZXXx2QHamW3f6do-1uB6ouCV4HhwS4cocqUywVJrfmL_Tkh91tSF4QQKoyYEF1_MgTE/s320/Screen+Shot+2016-07-23+at+10.03.47+AM.png" width="320" /></a></div>
<br />
I started off with the Queen of spades lead and declarer (East) immediately led a heart. I ducked and the robot guessed right to go up with the King of hearts.<br />
<br />
Next, three low clubs to my singleton King. Nice playing by the robot ... I continued spades and after the robot ruffed in hand, the four of hearts was led.<br />
<br />
What should I play?<br />
<br />
I desperately need to get partner in to lead diamonds through. I need to duck this trick. If declarer has the queen of hearts, I can't lose my Ace-of-hearts trick, but if partner has it, then he can lead a diamond through.<br />
<br />
Beating 3C by two tricks (instead of one) was the difference between 68% and 38%.Lakhttp://www.blogger.com/profile/16177723973206020679noreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-6539769009808917053.post-25420843567482675042016-05-31T00:25:00.004-05:002016-05-31T14:32:43.284-05:00Tactics gotta changeWe played just team events in a local sectional. Before the event, I asked my teammates:<br />
<blockquote class="tr_bq">
<br />
Which event? The open KO or the 0-2000 one? i.e. do you want to play a few good teams and leave early or do you want to play a bunch of bad matches and possibly win?</blockquote>
<br />
Everyone voted emphatically to play in the open knockout. The Seattle board has decided to play the open KO with no brackets, so we were playing very strong teams. You know the old poker saying about looking around you, and if you don't know who the sucker is, it's you? In this field, we could look at every team, and realize that we were the suckers.<br />
<br />
The first round was a three-way with two of the strongest teams even in the extremely strong field; we ended up winning both those matches (one of them on a blitz, the other by a couple of imps) and that's when I thought we might have a chance. At the end of two-days, this was the scoreboard:<br />
<div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;">
<a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEg9OApitigp3B_MfItpKRv6rXN9taTGmzTJ4S_dsX8QkGwVf9q0TYCOLPoMD9L1KHEFpc7Lt7FhHicxkImJ7sz1T1V31d5KzwdvjMF8JA-Hjp5ZzSQYcCTqMMTB8mjmQD6DBNnzGkb5c10/s1600/IMG_20160529_211733.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" height="320" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEg9OApitigp3B_MfItpKRv6rXN9taTGmzTJ4S_dsX8QkGwVf9q0TYCOLPoMD9L1KHEFpc7Lt7FhHicxkImJ7sz1T1V31d5KzwdvjMF8JA-Hjp5ZzSQYcCTqMMTB8mjmQD6DBNnzGkb5c10/s320/IMG_20160529_211733.jpg" width="239" /></a></div>
<br />
We were team Sieg. We were lucky of course, winning the semi-final match by just two imps and benefiting from the opponents in all our matches guessing wrong more often than not on high-level contracts.<br />
<br />
Each of the pairs in the teams we beat in the knockout would normally own us in club games. But knockouts is different, and bidding our hands to the maximum (but below game) and keeping them guessing worked out well. We also went about manufacturing swings from board 1 so that we (the weaker team) could prevail. This won't always work, but it's the only chance.<br />
<br />
After winning the two-day knockout event, partner and I returned for an open board-a-match (BAM) event and promptly proceeded to gift away the first dozen boards.<br />
<br />
Scoring matters, and it is best to take a deep breath before an event and think about how aggressively to compete and when to double to protect one's plus score. The tactics that work in a 24-board knockout or 12-table club game do not work well at BAM. We knew this, of course, but this was our first BAM, and we were playing as if it were matchpoints.<br />
<br />
BAM, however, is different from matchpoints in one crucial way. A slightly-below par option will have plenty of company at matchpoints and end up with a 40% board, but it is disaster in a strong BAM field. Time and again, we found ourselves too high and doubled on distributional part-score hands. It took us some time to figure out the change in strategy -- of careful precise bidding, risky declarer play, and passive defense. Our afternoon session showed improvement (55%) but the poor (46%) morning score could not be made up and we didn't scratch.<br />
<br />Lakhttp://www.blogger.com/profile/16177723973206020679noreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-6539769009808917053.post-82115341924846349492016-05-22T13:41:00.003-05:002016-05-22T20:52:10.209-05:00Cunning with a bad Trump splitI flew into London today (Sunday) morning, and since I have whole-day meetings for the next few days, I knew that I needed to get over my jet lag by being out-and-about on Sunday.<br />
<br />
The Acol Bridge Club puts out quite a nice lunch spread on Sundays -- the bridge is managed by former restauranteur Noorul Malik and partners are guaranteed. Insisting on playing 2/1 in the land of Acol usually ensures a decent partner (how many bad bridge players will bother to learn a second bidding convention?)<br />
<br />
I walked along the Thames from my hotel to Westminster and took the Jubilee Line to North London:<br />
<br />
<div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;">
<a href="https://3.bp.blogspot.com/-ILjkUnV9jXo/V0H2zpfIi8I/AAAAAAABNQc/_Yjyq-0CbJklztgKthQMfxwS4_9H2xOEgCKgB/s1600/IMG_20160522_110238.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" height="240" src="https://3.bp.blogspot.com/-ILjkUnV9jXo/V0H2zpfIi8I/AAAAAAABNQc/_Yjyq-0CbJklztgKthQMfxwS4_9H2xOEgCKgB/s320/IMG_20160522_110238.jpg" width="320" /></a></div>
<br />
<div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;">
<a href="https://2.bp.blogspot.com/-7S91TmsRXuQ/V0H2zquG43I/AAAAAAABNQc/xqIQMNaAyAM5d9NXtkeBxoiVWCvPOT2OACKgB/s1600/IMG_20160522_111323.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" height="240" src="https://2.bp.blogspot.com/-7S91TmsRXuQ/V0H2zquG43I/AAAAAAABNQc/xqIQMNaAyAM5d9NXtkeBxoiVWCvPOT2OACKgB/s320/IMG_20160522_111323.jpg" width="320" /></a></div>
<br />
<div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;">
<a href="https://2.bp.blogspot.com/-WaP2i_M7rDY/V0H2zvSVjSI/AAAAAAABNQc/BD1-aQcf7dwEOF9YKypXqxUwhXlnDOqNgCKgB/s1600/IMG_20160522_122637.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" height="320" src="https://2.bp.blogspot.com/-WaP2i_M7rDY/V0H2zvSVjSI/AAAAAAABNQc/BD1-aQcf7dwEOF9YKypXqxUwhXlnDOqNgCKgB/s320/IMG_20160522_122637.jpg" width="239" /></a></div>
<br />
There were the usual questions one gets ... Really, you play strong no-trumps? How long are you in London? Will you come back later this week? What is it with Donald Trump anyway?<br />
<br />
I tried my best to answer the questions, trying tactfully to point out that the approval rating for Donald Trump is no crazier than the approval rating for "<a href="https://ig.ft.com/sites/brexit-polling/">Brexit</a>" -- the numbers are very similar and the type of person supporting Trump in the US is the same type of person who'd be supporting Brexit in the UK.<br />
<br />
I don't know if it's a weakness of Acol, but our opponents were dying over themselves to rescue their partners whenever they held a singleton in their partner's suit (maybe it's bad memories of playing 4-1 fits?). The rescues never ended well. I'm surprised the practice was so widespread. Even my partner would occasionally forget that we were playing 2/1 and rescue me ... She was, however, good at reading spot cards so our defense was tight. We finished with 59%, good for fourth place.<br />
<br />
As with the bridge bidding, there were subtle differences in the language between the USA and the UK. Slightly different connotations for the same words. For example, after I brought home this 4H contract for 27/30 masterpoints, the opponents said that I had played the hand "cunningly." Turns out that this was not a slur -- they were being very appreciative of my skill.<br />
<br />
The hand itself would probably be an average board in a strong field (click Next to see the play), but few declarers could change course and handle the 4-1 trump split:<br />
<br />
<iframe height="400" src="https://www.bridgebase.com/tools/handviewer.html?s=SJ962H6D9CT976532&w=SKT5HAQT5DAT765CA&n=SQ7H7432DKQJ4CKQ8&e=SA843HKJ98D832CJ4&d=e&v=o&b=14&a=PP1N(15-17)P2CP2HP4HPPP&p=DKD2D9DAHAH2H8H6HQH3H9C2CAC8C4C3D5DQD3C5H4HKC6H5D8C7D6DJCKCJC9HTDTD4S3CTD7H7HJS2S4S6SKS7S5SQSAS9S8SJSTCQ" width="400"></iframe>
<br />
In fact, looking at the hand, now, after the King of diamond lead, I can make 5H! Can you see how? Leave a comment if you figure it out.<br />
<br />
The bridge game ended at 4, and with a couple of hours to kill, I wandered around the National Gallery. A few of the paintings that caught my eye today:<br />
<br />
<table align="center" cellpadding="0" cellspacing="0" class="tr-caption-container" style="margin-left: auto; margin-right: auto; text-align: center;"><tbody>
<tr><td style="text-align: center;"><a href="https://2.bp.blogspot.com/-zxiXUf4D8j0/V0H2zmfPk7I/AAAAAAABNQw/BxisD6h-4289aq8bxTctbFwKFVB4GEiUACKgB/s1600/IMG_20160522_170204.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: auto; margin-right: auto;"><img border="0" height="239" src="https://2.bp.blogspot.com/-zxiXUf4D8j0/V0H2zmfPk7I/AAAAAAABNQw/BxisD6h-4289aq8bxTctbFwKFVB4GEiUACKgB/s320/IMG_20160522_170204.jpg" width="320" /></a></td></tr>
<tr><td class="tr-caption" style="text-align: center;"><span style="font-size: small;"><i>The Grand Canal of Venice is often painted, but this is the first time I'm seeing it with a regatta. The colors add drama to the scene and in person, the boats shimmer with energy.</i></span></td></tr>
</tbody></table>
<div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;">
<br /></div>
<br />
<table align="center" cellpadding="0" cellspacing="0" class="tr-caption-container" style="margin-left: auto; margin-right: auto; text-align: center;"><tbody>
<tr><td style="text-align: center;"><a href="https://4.bp.blogspot.com/-Ox1o0aGj9q8/V0H2zocBTzI/AAAAAAABNQw/5oM6sGoawP4W7sb_HrT8vrYENu5uJHiqQCKgB/s1600/IMG_20160522_171548.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: auto; margin-right: auto;"><img border="0" height="320" src="https://4.bp.blogspot.com/-Ox1o0aGj9q8/V0H2zocBTzI/AAAAAAABNQw/5oM6sGoawP4W7sb_HrT8vrYENu5uJHiqQCKgB/s320/IMG_20160522_171548.jpg" width="239" /></a></td></tr>
<tr><td class="tr-caption" style="text-align: center;"><span style="font-size: small;"><i>This is the standard pyramid shape of many portraits (including the Mona Lisa), but the hat adds a second geometric interest to the composition. Your eye is drawn to a diagonal formed by her right elbow and left shoulder. I'm surprised more painters don't do this.</i></span></td></tr>
</tbody></table>
<div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;">
<br /></div>
<br />
<table align="center" cellpadding="0" cellspacing="0" class="tr-caption-container" style="margin-left: auto; margin-right: auto; text-align: center;"><tbody>
<tr><td style="text-align: center;"><a href="https://3.bp.blogspot.com/-rH6roB7iv5o/V0H2zgMm2XI/AAAAAAABNQo/0_X0vnJVUbchShsm_LB-7Lu4TSrKkfjlwCKgB/s1600/IMG_20160522_172400.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: auto; margin-right: auto;"><img border="0" height="320" src="https://3.bp.blogspot.com/-rH6roB7iv5o/V0H2zgMm2XI/AAAAAAABNQo/0_X0vnJVUbchShsm_LB-7Lu4TSrKkfjlwCKgB/s320/IMG_20160522_172400.jpg" width="239" /></a></td></tr>
<tr><td class="tr-caption" style="text-align: center;"><span style="font-size: small;"><i>The scene here is supposed to be of an angel coming to Joseph in a dream, pointing to Mary, and saying that she will bear a child while still a virgin. In person, though, Joseph's slumber is quite comatose and the angel's arm is in the same position it would be if she had slapped him into that coma. Meanwhile, Mary looks on with a wry smile. Is the painter an atheist having fun?</i></span></td></tr>
</tbody></table>
<div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;">
<br /></div>
<br />
Walking out of the gallery and back to the hotel, I got to capture the framing afforded by the half-open gate and the rainy evening sky of Big Ben:<br />
<br />
<div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;">
<a href="https://3.bp.blogspot.com/-ImG74XwSPBU/V0H2ziXj7aI/AAAAAAABNQo/7EwmiMwwDWwksRU2paYpELi0Z1q6tqLIQCKgB/s1600/IMG_20160522_175753.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" height="320" src="https://3.bp.blogspot.com/-ImG74XwSPBU/V0H2ziXj7aI/AAAAAAABNQo/7EwmiMwwDWwksRU2paYpELi0Z1q6tqLIQCKgB/s320/IMG_20160522_175753.jpg" width="240" /></a></div>
<br />
And that is how I bridged over jet lag. Tomorrow, I'll know if I've been successful.Lakhttp://www.blogger.com/profile/16177723973206020679noreply@blogger.com3tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-6539769009808917053.post-67360531648576470942016-05-11T15:23:00.003-05:002016-05-11T15:26:40.482-05:00Undiscussed bids in the slam zonePlaying with an occasional partner in a strong club game, we have already had a couple of misunderstandings. In spite of that, we are doing well (we'd finish with 54%).<br />
<br />
As East, I picked up:<br />
<div style="font-family: "trebuchet ms" , "arial" , "helvetica" , sans-serif; font-size: 1em; margin-top: 12px; width: 100%;">
<div style="background-color: #e0ffe0; border-collapse: collapse; border: 1px solid black; display: table; margin-bottom: 10px; margin-left: auto; margin-right: auto; margin-top: 10px;">
<div style="display: table-row;">
<div style="border: 1px solid black; display: table-cell; height: 122px;">
<div style="background-color: #efefef; height: 122px; position: relative; width: 122px;">
<div style="background-color: #dbfbf8; font-weight: bold; height: 24px; position: relative; width: 122px;">
<div style="background-color: white; border-bottom: 1px solid #b0b0b0; border-right: 1px solid #b0b0b0; float: left; height: 21px; padding-top: 2px; text-align: center; width: 21px;">
E</div>
<div style="border-bottom: 1px solid #b0b0b0; height: 21px; margin-left: 21px; padding-top: 2px; text-align: center; width: 100px;" title="North">
North</div>
</div>
<div style="height: 23px; position: relative; width: 122px;">
<div style="float: left; height: 21px; padding-top: 2px; text-align: center; width: 20px;">
<span style="color: black; font-size: 1.2em;">♠</span></div>
<div style="letter-spacing: 1px; margin-left: 21px; width: 102px;">
A</div>
</div>
<div style="height: 23px; position: relative; width: 122px;">
<div style="float: left; height: 21px; padding-top: 2px; text-align: center; width: 20px;">
<span style="color: red; font-size: 1.2em;">♥</span></div>
<div style="letter-spacing: 1px; margin-left: 21px; width: 102px;">
AQJ63</div>
</div>
<div style="height: 23px; position: relative; width: 122px;">
<div style="float: left; height: 21px; padding-top: 2px; text-align: center; width: 20px;">
<span style="color: red; font-size: 1.2em;">♦</span></div>
<div style="letter-spacing: 1px; margin-left: 21px; width: 102px;">
953</div>
</div>
<div style="height: 23px; position: relative; width: 122px;">
<div style="float: left; height: 21px; padding-top: 2px; text-align: center; width: 20px;">
<span style="color: black; font-size: 1.2em;">♣</span></div>
<div style="letter-spacing: 1px; margin-left: 21px; width: 102px;">
QJ103</div>
</div>
</div>
</div>
</div>
</div>
<br /></div>
South dealt and passed and the bidding goes:<br />
<div style="font-family: "trebuchet ms" , "arial" , "helvetica" , sans-serif; font-size: 1em; margin-top: 12px; width: 100%;">
<div style="background-color: #efefef; border-collapse: collapse; border: 1px solid black; display: table; margin-left: auto; margin-right: auto; margin-top: 14px; table-layout: fixed;">
<div style="border-bottom: 1px solid black; display: table-row;">
<div style="background-color: #dbfbf8; display: table-cell; font-weight: bold; text-align: center; width: 120px;" title="West">
West</div>
<div style="background-color: #dbfbf8; border-left: 1px solid #a0a0a0; display: table-cell; font-weight: bold; text-align: center; width: 120px;" title="East">
East</div>
</div>
<div style="display: table-row;">
<div style="display: table-cell; padding-left: 22px;">
2NT<sup>1</sup></div>
<div style="display: table-cell; padding-left: 22px;">
3<span style="color: red; font-size: 1.2em;">♦</span><sup>2</sup></div>
</div>
<div style="display: table-row;">
<div style="display: table-cell; padding-left: 22px;">
3<span style="color: red; font-size: 1.2em;">♥</span></div>
<div style="display: table-cell; padding-left: 22px;">
?</div>
</div>
</div>
<div style="background-color: #ffffe8; border: 1px solid black; margin-left: auto; margin-right: auto; margin-top: 10px; width: 467px;">
<div style="margin: 4px 4px 4px 8px;">
(1) 20-21</div>
<div style="margin: 4px 4px 4px 8px;">
(2) transfer to hearts</div>
</div>
</div>
<br />
What's your rebid holding my cards?<br />
<br />
I decided to pattern out, and bid 4C. Partner, unsure what this was (cue-bid self-agreeing hearts?) kept the bidding open with 4H and that's how we ended up in 6H for this result:<br />
<br />
<div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;">
<a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEjxOo14AkvyxI_L1NhZTYcUjKcCvG61hX88sAABandX2oQvrDflcg173LpCGbZo57p0LrrfBaDpwOOkLaZmFs5zwwA3ym5pZ4pQwPIJvl0l7C6SwB7P2qnANf1WZrPqICkcPvK4Nt_8jYM/s1600/Screen+Shot+2016-05-11+at+1.09.52+PM.png" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" height="166" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEjxOo14AkvyxI_L1NhZTYcUjKcCvG61hX88sAABandX2oQvrDflcg173LpCGbZo57p0LrrfBaDpwOOkLaZmFs5zwwA3ym5pZ4pQwPIJvl0l7C6SwB7P2qnANf1WZrPqICkcPvK4Nt_8jYM/s640/Screen+Shot+2016-05-11+at+1.09.52+PM.png" width="640" /></a></div>
<br />
I should have kept it simple. Knowing that we were going to slam anyway, I should have simply bid 5NT over 3H. Partner could bid 6H with 3 of them, bid 6NT with his actual holding. If partner decides to scramble to 6C or 6D, I can pass 6C or correct 6D to 6NT.<br />
<br />
4C, undiscussed, was simply too risky.<br />
<br />
<br />
<b>p.s.</b> Thanks to John Goold for putting his <a href="https://st-johns-bridge.ca/bridgetools/bridgetools.html">Bridge Blogging Tools</a> on the cloud. The hand diagrams in this post were formatted using his tools.Lakhttp://www.blogger.com/profile/16177723973206020679noreply@blogger.com1tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-6539769009808917053.post-28954671905631355792016-05-03T18:20:00.002-05:002016-05-03T18:20:28.146-05:00Sticking to a planPlaying matchpoints, West has opened 1S over which partner (North) overcalled 2D. They land up in 4S and partner leads the Ace of diamonds and I see:<br />
<br />
<!-- Begin Hand created by http://cimms.ou.edu/~lakshman/bridge/handlayout.htm -->
<center>
<table align="center" cellpadding="10" frame="border" style="font-size: 120%; width: 400px;">
<!-- row 1 -->
<tbody>
<tr>
<!-- (1,1): dealer, vulnerability -->
<td>Dealer: W<br />
Vul: None</td>
<!-- (1,2): North hand -->
<td><i>North</i> <br />
<span style="color: black; font-weight: bold;">♠ </span> <br />
<span style="color: red; font-weight: bold;">♥ </span> <br />
<span style="color: brown; font-weight: bold;">♦ </span> <br />
<span style="color: green; font-weight: bold;">♣ </span> </td>
<!-- (1,3) empty -->
<td></td>
</tr>
<!-- row 2 -->
<tr>
<!-- (2,1): west hand -->
<td><i>West</i> <br />
<span style="color: black; font-weight: bold;">♠ </span> <br />
<span style="color: red; font-weight: bold;">♥ </span> <br />
<span style="color: brown; font-weight: bold;">♦ </span> <br />
<span style="color: green; font-weight: bold;">♣ </span> </td>
<!-- (2,2) empty -->
<td></td>
<!-- (2,3) east hand -->
<td><i>East</i> <br />
<span style="color: black; font-weight: bold;">♠ AKxx</span> <br />
<span style="color: red; font-weight: bold;">♥ xxxx</span> <br />
<span style="color: brown; font-weight: bold;">♦ x</span> <br />
<span style="color: green; font-weight: bold;">♣ xxxx</span> </td>
</tr>
<!-- row 3 -->
<tr>
<!-- (3,1): empty -->
<td></td>
<!-- (3,2): south hand -->
<td><i>South</i> <br />
<span style="color: black; font-weight: bold;">♠ x</span> <br />
<span style="color: red; font-weight: bold;">♥ Axxxx</span> <br />
<span style="color: brown; font-weight: bold;">♦ Jxxxx</span> <br />
<span style="color: green; font-weight: bold;">♣ xx</span> </td>
<!-- (3,3) empty -->
<td></td>
</tr>
<!-- row 4: Bidding in center of table -->
<tr><td colspan="3"><hr />
</td></tr>
<tr><td>Bidding:</td> <td><pre> 1S - 2D - 4S</pre>
</td><td align="right"><a href="http://cimms.ou.edu/~lakshman/bridge/handlayout.htm"><span style="font-size: 40%;">HTML Bridge Hand Layout Creator</span></a></td></tr>
</tbody></table>
</center>
<!-- End Hand -->
<br />
<br />
<br />
With a singleton on the board and declarer having a singleton, I pretty much have to show suit preference. So I played the Jack of diamonds to tell partner about my heart honor.<br />
<br />
Partner duly switched to the ten of hearts and I won with the Ace. Now what?<br />
<br />
Partner needs a club through, I thought, and led a club. This was horribly wrong. Can you see why?<br />
<br />
The answer is in the card that partner led -- he led the 10 of hearts. That denies KQJ of hearts. Declarer must have those 3 hearts. So, the ten must be a singleton! I needed to give partner a ruff.<br />
<br />Lakhttp://www.blogger.com/profile/16177723973206020679noreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-6539769009808917053.post-86042519446994291952016-04-15T20:25:00.000-05:002016-04-15T20:25:00.182-05:00Rectifying the countAt matchpoints in a strong club game, I was West and playing in 3NT after an auction that went 1NT-3NT. North led the 3 of spades (3rd and 5th leads at NT):<br />
<br />
<div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;">
<a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEjUWWSsXBaECTllCv0-_klcDzQ5JzbFsObx17aMkJLfWSebOCXH4K6H1Ar8MxC8gqE_ZVRNgwWhzDdrGIyr9qQjJcO0RIKVWVg8uyv8fXqWIT4XUlOPjG5asofruEYfOhnXe7ysGDdYif8/s1600/Screen+Shot+2016-04-15+at+5.56.51+PM.png" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" height="320" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEjUWWSsXBaECTllCv0-_klcDzQ5JzbFsObx17aMkJLfWSebOCXH4K6H1Ar8MxC8gqE_ZVRNgwWhzDdrGIyr9qQjJcO0RIKVWVg8uyv8fXqWIT4XUlOPjG5asofruEYfOhnXe7ysGDdYif8/s320/Screen+Shot+2016-04-15+at+5.56.51+PM.png" width="287" /></a></div>
<br />
<br />
Questions (at the table, I got this wrong):<br />
<br />
<ol>
<li>Do you go up with Jack of spades, or duck?</li>
<li>What's your line?</li>
</ol>
<div>
Who has the 5-card spade suit? Assuming that North had a choice of major leads if he had 3 cards in each, it is more likely that he has the 5-card suit, and that the 3 is his 5th highest card.</div>
<div>
<br /></div>
<div>
Given that North has the 5-card suit, he would have led the King from KQ10 (internal sequence). So, South has one of these three honors.</div>
<div>
<br /></div>
<div>
Who has the 10? The odds are 4-2 that North has any specific card. So, let's put the 10 of spades with North. Now, do you go up with Jack of spades?</div>
<div>
<br /></div>
<div>
Interestingly, it doesn't matter because you are going to duck this trick and win the spade continuation. <i>Otherwise, you have no safe way of rectifying the count.</i></div>
<div>
<br /></div>
<div>
Having thus rectified the count, can you win all the remaining tricks on a squeeze? I'll leave it as a puzzle for you -- you can try to <a href="http://www.bridgebase.com/tools/handviewer.html?n=sKT753hJT64d98cT7&s=sQ8hQ2dKJT532cJ32&e=sJ2hK75d74cAQ9865&w=sA964hA983dAQ6cK4&d=w&a=6nppp">play out the hand on BBO</a>. Post your answer as a comment.</div>
Lakhttp://www.blogger.com/profile/16177723973206020679noreply@blogger.com1tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-6539769009808917053.post-14067550661914083982016-04-08T22:21:00.002-05:002016-04-08T22:21:46.962-05:00Sloppiness at IMPsOne of the nicest events in the Seattle bridge scene is the <a href="http://www.bridgeinseattle.org/2016-round-robin/">Yarington Round Robin</a>. It takes place over several months at peoples' houses. Essentially, eight people get together in someone's home, and play 28 boards of bridge. This year, there are 7 teams, so six matches to be played over six months.<br />
<br />
It's heaps of fun, because we are essentially hanging out, eating dinner, drinking wine, and playing cards. There are no masterpoints at stake, and winning any of the matches is unlikely -- we are the weakest team in the A-bracket, a bracket where a couple of teams have made it deep into the Reisinger and other national events.<br />
<br />
Yesterday was my team's first match, and we lost 30 imps due to sloppiness on my part.<br />
<br />
On this hand, South opened 1H, North bid 1S and partner (East) bid 2D. N-S ended up in 3NT and I was on lead:<br />
<br />
<div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;">
<a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEgwEgKATvxbVkqHOykCU3iotUgJYpZNpNA6hHh1eDQmIxBYTk6lD79AexF_zoZevixxxMll9iGZkaybEI8dlAO997YcL52GR-xhZ-rycssdSNi93sO_8TB9afQP-rMObJIl2A9nk6CTSIM/s1600/Screen+Shot+2016-04-08+at+7.54.23+PM.png" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" height="240" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEgwEgKATvxbVkqHOykCU3iotUgJYpZNpNA6hHh1eDQmIxBYTk6lD79AexF_zoZevixxxMll9iGZkaybEI8dlAO997YcL52GR-xhZ-rycssdSNi93sO_8TB9afQP-rMObJIl2A9nk6CTSIM/s320/Screen+Shot+2016-04-08+at+7.54.23+PM.png" width="320" /></a></div>
I lead the 4 of diamonds, of course. Declarer inserted the Jack. Partner ducked this. Declarer then finessed the Jack of hearts, dropped the queen and cashed the Ace of hearts. Partner discarded the 7 of clubs (upside-down carding). Then, a heart to me on which partner discarded another club.<br />
<br />
This is when I got sloppy. I cashed a top club to let partner know to lead me back a spade and then lead a diamond. Partner won with the 10, cashed the Ace of diamonds and had no club to lead back to me! I of course had the complete count of the hand -- partner must have 2 spades since they are playing 3NT and not 4S, and so he must have 3 clubs. He discarded two of those -- he had to be careful to not give away the position of the King of spades in case I had it. So, cashing that club honor was poor form. Once I'd decided to cash it, not cashing the second club also was beyond the pale.<br />
<br />
The second hand was a case of bad judgement. I was West on this hand:<br />
<div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;">
<a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEiQTh6vZWZq9F4sBr-8L2G4xaD2q5rVKuYFIQjiZ3PX43DUwtsAHAQCqZI1KFn-hpxPzQ7hRuLEw9J0urBjPzHO_iP9dvHDyqt0V3CVCIvWlXO-xAybkc1KpnFkd53hlsobEvgUQ7h5CuI/s1600/Screen+Shot+2016-04-08+at+8.09.28+PM.png" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" height="241" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEiQTh6vZWZq9F4sBr-8L2G4xaD2q5rVKuYFIQjiZ3PX43DUwtsAHAQCqZI1KFn-hpxPzQ7hRuLEw9J0urBjPzHO_iP9dvHDyqt0V3CVCIvWlXO-xAybkc1KpnFkd53hlsobEvgUQ7h5CuI/s320/Screen+Shot+2016-04-08+at+8.09.28+PM.png" width="320" /></a></div>
<div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;">
<br /></div>
South opened 1C, I passed and North replied 1D (no, they are not playing Precision; North was simply being frisky). Partner bid 1S. South doubled, North replied 2D over which partner bid 2S and South bid 3NT. Sitting West, what do you lead?<br />
<br />
I believed South, and believed that he had two stoppers in spades. I also believed that North had his 1D bid. So, with 7 points in my hand, partners spades didn't rate to be that solid (given the vulnerability, he'd have 7 or so points and 6 spades), I thought -- I put declarer with something like KJ9 of spades and partner with perhaps the J8 of clubs to go with his AQ of spades. So, I led a club, and continued clubs when declarer immediately played the King of hearts. Declarer then proceeded to drop my Jack of diamonds, and partner's solid spade suit vanished into thin air.<br />
<br />
The third sloppy hand was a much simpler mistake. When partner asked for keycards in hearts, I was West and replied 5D, showing zero. The King of hearts is a keycard, and I had it. We missed the slam, for another 10 imp loss:<br />
<br />
<div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;">
<a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEiHAHpqbZJQl1CSZ9c14DVSK3Jv3N7liz77wRJgAehFOa2qeZLjF0fB_4FnMmUgS53aqTquLLeY6iv7wuBylT3AFPF_eGvo6hzkN8jxkw7ZbDw_VUyUjzhEXSsRqpS8uqYiFCc9VhQy8gc/s1600/Screen+Shot+2016-04-08+at+7.54.55+PM.png" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" height="238" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEiHAHpqbZJQl1CSZ9c14DVSK3Jv3N7liz77wRJgAehFOa2qeZLjF0fB_4FnMmUgS53aqTquLLeY6iv7wuBylT3AFPF_eGvo6hzkN8jxkw7ZbDw_VUyUjzhEXSsRqpS8uqYiFCc9VhQy8gc/s320/Screen+Shot+2016-04-08+at+7.54.55+PM.png" width="320" /></a></div>
<br />
Sloppiness on game-and-slam hands at IMPs is very costly. In spite of these disasters, we somehow managed to hold on to win the match 79-76. We'll take it!Lakhttp://www.blogger.com/profile/16177723973206020679noreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-6539769009808917053.post-57552352060040320792016-03-12T12:15:00.002-06:002016-03-12T12:22:33.946-06:00Unblocking on defenseWith many of the good players in Reno for the nationals, the field at a monthly Swiss club game was rather weak. We lost imps on only two boards the entire night and since these were in separate matches, it didn't hurt our cakewalk.<br />
<div>
<br /></div>
<div>
See if you would get the defense right on this hand. North deals and opens:</div>
<div>
<br /></div>
<div>
N E S W</div>
<div>
1D P 1S P</div>
<div>
2H P 2NT P</div>
<div>
3NT</div>
<div>
<br /></div>
<div>
I was sitting West, and held:</div>
<div>
<br /></div>
<div>
<i>West (me)</i><br />
<span style="font-weight: bold;">♠ Q954</span><br />
<span style="color: red; font-weight: bold;">♥ AJ82</span><br />
<span style="color: brown; font-weight: bold;">♦ AQ</span><br />
<span style="color: green; font-weight: bold;">♣ J75</span></div>
<div>
<br /></div>
<div>
Do you agree with my bidding? I debated doubling 1S (negative, showing hearts and clubs), but my flat hand was not very appealing and so I decided to sit out the auction. After North reversed with 2H, I was glad I hadn't gotten involved.</div>
<div>
<br /></div>
<div>
So, now it's my lead. What would you lead? The choices (in my mind) were between a low heart and a club. The problem with a heart is that it could blow a trick if their heart honors are split -- declarer can run it to the honor in his hand, and then finesse towards the honor in dummy. So, I lead the five of clubs.</div>
<div>
<br /></div>
<div>
Dummy came down, and this what I saw:</div>
<div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;">
<a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEiXVkHUaHhRHYzqRaf343Vvop3IRlDzoI01nXuuiPrJoA3psmQiXbALYI5cLuOxy0qA9qAMD1gsoSVHKIhQZB5BFnotY0m6rApp6v8p2aXCSEBzpzCnZgiMV_j5noiSbRIC4clOH__lZQE/s1600/Screen+Shot+2016-03-12+at+10.01.16+AM.png" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" height="200" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEiXVkHUaHhRHYzqRaf343Vvop3IRlDzoI01nXuuiPrJoA3psmQiXbALYI5cLuOxy0qA9qAMD1gsoSVHKIhQZB5BFnotY0m6rApp6v8p2aXCSEBzpzCnZgiMV_j5noiSbRIC4clOH__lZQE/s200/Screen+Shot+2016-03-12+at+10.01.16+AM.png" width="173" /></a></div>
<div>
Initially, I thought partner would have nothing, but it appears that they may have overbid this thing. Partner might have a king somewhere.<br />
<br />
On the 5 of clubs, declarer played the 9 of clubs from dummy and partner contributed the 8 of clubs. Because neither attitude nor count is useful in clubs, I took that as suit preference. So, when declarer led a diamond to the board, I hopped up with the Ace of diamonds and led a spade. Declarer now took four club tricks, with both partner and me discarding an encouraging heart on the fourth club.<br />
<br />
King of diamond, felling my queen and then a diamond to partner's Jack on which I discarded a low (encouraging) spade. I was down to:<br />
<br />
<i>West (me)</i><br />
<span style="font-weight: bold;">♠ Q9</span><br />
<span style="color: red; font-weight: bold;">♥ AJ8</span><br />
<span style="color: brown; font-weight: bold;">♦ </span><br />
<span style="color: green; font-weight: bold;">♣ </span><br />
<br />
Partner now led the Jack of spades through declarer. Declarer played the King. What do you do?<br />
<br />
I played the 9 of spades and was promptly endplayed when declarer exited to my queen after cashing a diamond (on which I threw the 8 of hearts). He got his heart King to make 3NT. I needed to unblock the Queen (the Jack should promise the 10 of spades) or discard it on the fourth diamond, and then I get partner to push a heart through.<br />
<br />
Partner did well to lead the Jack of spades -- it would be required if I held the King and declarer the Queen in that suit. Because I had the unblock available if I held the Queen instead (as here), the hearts could wait.<br />
<br />
This was the full hand:<br />
<br /></div>
<!-- Begin Hand created by http://cimms.ou.edu/~lakshman/bridge/handlayout.htm -->
<br />
<center>
<table align="center" cellpadding="10" frame="border" style="font-size: 120%; width: 400px;">
<!-- row 1 -->
<tbody>
<tr>
<!-- (1,1): dealer, vulnerability -->
<td>Dealer: N<br />
Vul: EW</td>
<!-- (1,2): North hand -->
<td><i>North (dummy)</i> <br />
<span style="color: black; font-weight: bold;">♠ A</span> <br />
<span style="color: red; font-weight: bold;">♥ T964</span> <br />
<span style="color: brown; font-weight: bold;">♦ K942</span> <br />
<span style="color: green; font-weight: bold;">♣ AKQ9</span> </td>
<!-- (1,3) empty -->
<td></td>
</tr>
<!-- row 2 -->
<tr>
<!-- (2,1): west hand -->
<td><i>West (me)</i> <br />
<span style="color: black; font-weight: bold;">♠ Q954</span> <br />
<span style="color: red; font-weight: bold;">♥ AJ82</span> <br />
<span style="color: brown; font-weight: bold;">♦ AQ</span> <br />
<span style="color: green; font-weight: bold;">♣ J75</span> </td>
<!-- (2,2) empty -->
<td></td>
<!-- (2,3) east hand -->
<td><i>East</i> <br />
<span style="color: black; font-weight: bold;">♠ JT87</span> <br />
<span style="color: red; font-weight: bold;">♥ Q53</span> <br />
<span style="color: brown; font-weight: bold;">♦ JT5</span> <br />
<span style="color: green; font-weight: bold;">♣ 864</span> </td>
</tr>
<!-- row 3 -->
<tr>
<!-- (3,1): empty -->
<td></td>
<!-- (3,2): south hand -->
<td><i>South</i> <br />
<span style="color: black; font-weight: bold;">♠ K632</span> <br />
<span style="color: red; font-weight: bold;">♥ K7</span> <br />
<span style="color: brown; font-weight: bold;">♦ 8763</span> <br />
<span style="color: green; font-weight: bold;">♣ T32</span> </td>
<!-- (3,3) empty -->
<td></td>
</tr>
<!-- row 4: Bidding in center of table -->
<tr><td colspan="3"><hr />
</td></tr>
<tr><td>Bidding:</td> <td><pre> N E S W
1D P 1S P
2H P 2NT P
3NT</pre>
</td><td align="right"><a href="http://cimms.ou.edu/~lakshman/bridge/handlayout.htm"><span style="font-size: 40%;">HTML Bridge Hand Layout Creator</span></a></td></tr>
</tbody></table>
</center>
<!-- End Hand -->
Lakhttp://www.blogger.com/profile/16177723973206020679noreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-6539769009808917053.post-35427302781576718402016-03-08T10:23:00.002-06:002016-03-08T10:23:31.925-06:00The fewer the trumps ...I was in Las Vegas on work, and decided to look up an old friend and catch an evening of bridge. It was nice to see another Oklahoma exile and realize how far I'd come since the last time I'd played with him ...<br />
<br />
We got to one poor 4-2 contract but, surprisingly, it turned out to be an average board because most others in our seats got to a poorer 5-1 one! This was the hand:<br />
<br />
<!-- Begin Hand created by http://cimms.ou.edu/~lakshman/bridge/handlayout.htm -->
<br />
<center>
<table align="center" cellpadding="10" frame="border" style="font-size: 120%; width: 400px;">
<!-- row 1 -->
<tbody>
<tr>
<!-- (1,1): dealer, vulnerability -->
<td>Dealer: W<br />
Vul: EW</td>
<!-- (1,2): North hand -->
<td><i>North</i> <br />
<span style="color: black; font-weight: bold;">♠ A53</span> <br />
<span style="color: red; font-weight: bold;">♥ 9</span> <br />
<span style="color: brown; font-weight: bold;">♦ AK1093</span> <br />
<span style="color: green; font-weight: bold;">♣ A965</span> </td>
<!-- (1,3) empty -->
<td></td>
</tr>
<!-- row 2 -->
<tr>
<!-- (2,1): west hand -->
<td><i>West</i> <br />
<span style="color: black; font-weight: bold;">♠ K2</span> <br />
<span style="color: red; font-weight: bold;">♥ AK54</span> <br />
<span style="color: brown; font-weight: bold;">♦ J875</span> <br />
<span style="color: green; font-weight: bold;">♣ JT3</span> </td>
<!-- (2,2) empty -->
<td></td>
<!-- (2,3) east hand -->
<td><i>East</i> <br />
<span style="color: black; font-weight: bold;">♠ QT76</span> <br />
<span style="color: red; font-weight: bold;">♥ J63</span> <br />
<span style="color: brown; font-weight: bold;">♦ 64</span> <br />
<span style="color: green; font-weight: bold;">♣ KQ74</span> </td>
</tr>
<!-- row 3 -->
<tr>
<!-- (3,1): empty -->
<td></td>
<!-- (3,2): south hand -->
<td><i>South</i> <br />
<span style="color: black; font-weight: bold;">♠ J984</span> <br />
<span style="color: red; font-weight: bold;">♥ QT872</span> <br />
<span style="color: brown; font-weight: bold;">♦ Q2</span> <br />
<span style="color: green; font-weight: bold;">♣ 82</span> </td>
<!-- (3,3) empty -->
<td></td>
</tr>
<!-- row 4: Bidding in center of table -->
<tr><td colspan="3"><hr />
</td></tr>
<tr><td>Bidding:</td> <td><pre> 1D - P - 1S - P
1NT - P - P - X
P - 2C - allpass</pre>
</td><td align="right"><a href="http://cimms.ou.edu/~lakshman/bridge/handlayout.htm"><span style="font-size: 40%;">HTML Bridge Hand Layout Creator</span></a></td></tr>
</tbody></table>
</center>
<!-- End Hand -->
<br />
After West opened 1D, partner (North) had no good bid and passed. East bid 1S and West bid 1NT. This runs around to me (South). What would you do in this situation?<br />
<br />
I decided to double for takeout, and partner played the 4-2 fit in clubs. Surprisingly, this turned out better than other tables' 2H doubled. Their vulnerability argues for me to pass 1NT. At least, I now know enough to not bid 2H in this situation -- West is very likely to have 4 hearts in this auction. Five years ago, I'd have bid 2H. Progress!<br />
<br />
Talking of progress, I was very happy that I was able to make 6H-doubled on this hand. See if you can find the line:<br />
<br />
<!-- Begin Hand created by http://cimms.ou.edu/~lakshman/bridge/handlayout.htm -->
<center>
<table align="center" cellpadding="10" frame="border" style="font-size: 120%; width: 400px;">
<!-- row 1 -->
<tbody>
<tr>
<!-- (1,1): dealer, vulnerability -->
<td>Dealer: N<br />
Vul: NS</td>
<!-- (1,2): North hand -->
<td><i>North</i> <br />
<span style="color: black; font-weight: bold;">♠ AK432</span> <br />
<span style="color: red; font-weight: bold;">♥ KJ54</span> <br />
<span style="color: brown; font-weight: bold;">♦ T874</span> <br />
<span style="color: green; font-weight: bold;">♣ </span> </td>
<!-- (1,3) empty -->
<td></td>
</tr>
<!-- row 2 -->
<tr>
<!-- (2,1): west hand -->
<td><i>West</i> <br />
<span style="color: black; font-weight: bold;">♠ 986</span> <br />
<span style="color: red; font-weight: bold;">♥ T863</span> <br />
<span style="color: brown; font-weight: bold;">♦ K5</span> <br />
<span style="color: green; font-weight: bold;">♣ AKJ6</span> </td>
<!-- (2,2) empty -->
<td></td>
<!-- (2,3) east hand -->
<td><i>East</i> <br />
<span style="color: black; font-weight: bold;">♠ T75</span> <br />
<span style="color: red; font-weight: bold;">♥ </span> <br />
<span style="color: brown; font-weight: bold;">♦ QJ62</span> <br />
<span style="color: green; font-weight: bold;">♣ Q97542</span> </td>
</tr>
<!-- row 3 -->
<tr>
<!-- (3,1): empty -->
<td></td>
<!-- (3,2): south hand -->
<td><i>South</i> <br />
<span style="color: black; font-weight: bold;">♠ QJ</span> <br />
<span style="color: red; font-weight: bold;">♥ AQ972</span> <br />
<span style="color: brown; font-weight: bold;">♦ A93</span> <br />
<span style="color: green; font-weight: bold;">♣ T83</span> </td>
<!-- (3,3) empty -->
<td></td>
</tr>
<!-- row 4: Bidding in center of table -->
<tr><td colspan="3"><hr />
</td></tr>
<tr><td>Bidding:</td> <td><pre>1S - P - 2H - P
4C - P - 4NT - P
5H - P - 6H - X
allpass</pre>
</td><td align="right"><a href="http://cimms.ou.edu/~lakshman/bridge/handlayout.htm"><span style="font-size: 40%;">HTML Bridge Hand Layout Creator</span></a></td></tr>
</tbody></table>
</center>
<!-- End Hand -->
<br />
Partner's 4C was a splinter. With my poor holding in clubs, I got excited and propelled towards 6H, which West doubled. She then laid down the Ace of clubs.<br />
<br />
What's your line? This is what I did:<br />
<br />
<ul>
<li>Ruff the club in dummy</li>
<li>Low spade to Queen</li>
<li>Ruff another club in dummy</li>
<li>Jack of hearts, learning of the 4-0 break</li>
<li>Low spade to Jack</li>
<li>Ace of diamonds</li>
<li>Ruff final club in dummy. At this point, dummy has AKx of spades and three diamonds. I have four hearts and two low diamonds.</li>
<li>Ace of spades, throw a diamond</li>
<li>King of spades, throw another diamond. West ruffs, but that's it.</li>
</ul>
<div>
This depends on West having at least 3 spades. Do you see a better line?</div>
<div>
<br /></div>
Lakhttp://www.blogger.com/profile/16177723973206020679noreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-6539769009808917053.post-44061168331568260982016-03-06T01:18:00.003-06:002016-03-06T01:18:51.206-06:00Forcing themPlaying in a sectional tournament, we had a horrible first session (47%) and a great second session (60%) to average out at an okay 54%. Going back and looking at the near-zeroes in the first session, I notice that I got a couple of defenses wrong, and got suitably punished.<br />
<br />
See if you would do better in the West seat.<br />
<br />
Here is one board:<br />
<br />
<div class="hand" style="box-sizing: border-box; font-family: Lato, sans-serif; font-size: 16px; height: 123px; line-height: 22.8571px; padding-bottom: 10px; padding-left: 100px; padding-top: 10px; position: relative; width: 270px;">
<span class="" style="box-sizing: border-box; display: block;"><span class="spades symbol" style="box-sizing: border-box; display: inline; font-size: 18px;">♠</span> Q J 10 4</span><span class="" style="box-sizing: border-box; display: block;"><span class="hearts symbol" style="box-sizing: border-box; color: red; display: inline; font-size: 18px;">♥</span> 7 2</span><span class="" style="box-sizing: border-box; display: block;"><span class="diams symbol" style="box-sizing: border-box; color: red; display: inline; font-size: 20px;">♦</span> K 9 3</span><span class="" style="box-sizing: border-box; display: block;"><span class="clubs symbol" style="box-sizing: border-box; display: inline; font-size: 18px;">♣</span> Q 10 3 2</span></div>
<div class="hand middle" style="box-sizing: border-box; font-family: Lato, sans-serif; font-size: 16px; height: 123px; line-height: 22.8571px; padding-bottom: 10px; padding-left: 0px; padding-top: 10px; position: relative; width: 270px;">
<div class="inner-slice left" style="box-sizing: border-box; float: left; padding-left: 8px; width: 135px;">
<span class="" style="box-sizing: border-box; display: block;"><span class="spades symbol" style="box-sizing: border-box; display: inline; font-size: 18px;">♠</span> A 8 6 5</span><span class="" style="box-sizing: border-box; display: block;"><span class="hearts symbol" style="box-sizing: border-box; color: red; display: inline; font-size: 18px;">♥</span> A 10 5 3</span><span class="" style="box-sizing: border-box; display: block;"><span class="diams symbol" style="box-sizing: border-box; color: red; display: inline; font-size: 20px;">♦</span> J 7 2</span><span class="" style="box-sizing: border-box; display: block;"><span class="clubs symbol" style="box-sizing: border-box; display: inline; font-size: 18px;">♣</span> 7 6</span></div>
<div class="inner-slice right" style="box-sizing: border-box; float: right; padding-left: 5px; width: 135px;">
<span class="" style="box-sizing: border-box; display: block;"><span class="spades symbol" style="box-sizing: border-box; display: inline; font-size: 18px;">♠</span> 2</span><span class="" style="box-sizing: border-box; display: block;"><span class="hearts symbol" style="box-sizing: border-box; color: red; display: inline; font-size: 18px;">♥</span> K J 9 8 6 4</span><span class="" style="box-sizing: border-box; display: block;"><span class="diams symbol" style="box-sizing: border-box; color: red; display: inline; font-size: 20px;">♦</span> Q 8 6 5 4</span><span class="" style="box-sizing: border-box; display: block;"><span class="clubs symbol" style="box-sizing: border-box; display: inline; font-size: 18px;">♣</span> K</span></div>
</div>
<div class="hand" style="box-sizing: border-box; font-family: Lato, sans-serif; font-size: 16px; height: 123px; line-height: 22.8571px; padding-bottom: 10px; padding-left: 100px; padding-top: 10px; position: relative; width: 270px;">
<span class="" style="box-sizing: border-box; display: block;"><span class="spades symbol" style="box-sizing: border-box; display: inline; font-size: 18px;">♠</span> K 9 7 3</span><span class="" style="box-sizing: border-box; display: block;"><span class="hearts symbol" style="box-sizing: border-box; color: red; display: inline; font-size: 18px;">♥</span> Q</span><span class="" style="box-sizing: border-box; display: block;"><span class="diams symbol" style="box-sizing: border-box; color: red; display: inline; font-size: 20px;">♦</span> A 10</span><span class="" style="box-sizing: border-box; display: block;"><span class="clubs symbol" style="box-sizing: border-box; display: inline; font-size: 18px;">♣</span> A J 9 8 5 4</span></div>
<br />
North is declaring 4S after partner (East) opened 2H and South doubled for takeout. I furthered the preempt by bidding 3H and North bid 4S.<br />
<br />
East leads the 8 of hearts and after taking the Ace of hearts, what do you do?<br />
<br />
At the table, I led back a club and N-S wrapped up 11 tricks. Holding 4 spades, I needed to be thinking about a forcing defense. I should lead back a heart (!) making South ruff once. Then, when declarer is pulling trumps, I should duck twice, take the third spade and lead another heart, forcing North to ruff. At that point then, South will have give me another spade trick.<br />
<br />
Most of the field was not in 4S, so holding them to 4S would still have been below average, but as it was, letting them make 5S was a bottom.<br />
<br />
This was the second defensive board I didn't get right:<br />
<br />
<div class="hand" style="box-sizing: border-box; font-family: Lato, sans-serif; font-size: 16px; height: 123px; line-height: 22.8571px; padding-bottom: 10px; padding-left: 100px; padding-top: 10px; position: relative; width: 270px;">
<span class="" style="box-sizing: border-box; display: block;"><span class="spades symbol" style="box-sizing: border-box; display: inline; font-size: 18px;">♠</span> Q 4 2</span><span class="" style="box-sizing: border-box; display: block;"><span class="hearts symbol" style="box-sizing: border-box; color: red; display: inline; font-size: 18px;">♥</span> K 8 3</span><span class="" style="box-sizing: border-box; display: block;"><span class="diams symbol" style="box-sizing: border-box; color: red; display: inline; font-size: 20px;">♦</span> J 8</span><span class="" style="box-sizing: border-box; display: block;"><span class="clubs symbol" style="box-sizing: border-box; display: inline; font-size: 18px;">♣</span> A Q 10 9 2</span></div>
<div class="hand middle" style="box-sizing: border-box; font-family: Lato, sans-serif; font-size: 16px; height: 123px; line-height: 22.8571px; padding-bottom: 10px; padding-left: 0px; padding-top: 10px; position: relative; width: 270px;">
<div class="inner-slice left" style="box-sizing: border-box; float: left; padding-left: 8px; width: 135px;">
<span class="" style="box-sizing: border-box; display: block;"><span class="spades symbol" style="box-sizing: border-box; display: inline; font-size: 18px;">♠</span> 9 8</span><span class="" style="box-sizing: border-box; display: block;"><span class="hearts symbol" style="box-sizing: border-box; color: red; display: inline; font-size: 18px;">♥</span> 10 9 4</span><span class="" style="box-sizing: border-box; display: block;"><span class="diams symbol" style="box-sizing: border-box; color: red; display: inline; font-size: 20px;">♦</span> 10 9 2</span><span class="" style="box-sizing: border-box; display: block;"><span class="clubs symbol" style="box-sizing: border-box; display: inline; font-size: 18px;">♣</span> K J 7 6 3</span></div>
<div class="inner-slice right" style="box-sizing: border-box; float: right; padding-left: 5px; width: 135px;">
<span class="" style="box-sizing: border-box; display: block;"><span class="spades symbol" style="box-sizing: border-box; display: inline; font-size: 18px;">♠</span> K 10 5 3</span><span class="" style="box-sizing: border-box; display: block;"><span class="hearts symbol" style="box-sizing: border-box; color: red; display: inline; font-size: 18px;">♥</span> A Q J 6</span><span class="" style="box-sizing: border-box; display: block;"><span class="diams symbol" style="box-sizing: border-box; color: red; display: inline; font-size: 20px;">♦</span> Q 6 5</span><span class="" style="box-sizing: border-box; display: block;"><span class="clubs symbol" style="box-sizing: border-box; display: inline; font-size: 18px;">♣</span> 8 4</span></div>
</div>
<div class="hand" style="box-sizing: border-box; font-family: Lato, sans-serif; font-size: 16px; height: 123px; line-height: 22.8571px; padding-bottom: 10px; padding-left: 100px; padding-top: 10px; position: relative; width: 270px;">
<span class="" style="box-sizing: border-box; display: block;"><span class="spades symbol" style="box-sizing: border-box; display: inline; font-size: 18px;">♠</span> A J 7 6</span><span class="" style="box-sizing: border-box; display: block;"><span class="hearts symbol" style="box-sizing: border-box; color: red; display: inline; font-size: 18px;">♥</span> 7 5 2</span><span class="" style="box-sizing: border-box; display: block;"><span class="diams symbol" style="box-sizing: border-box; color: red; display: inline; font-size: 20px;">♦</span> A K 7 4 3</span><span class="" style="box-sizing: border-box; display: block;"><span class="clubs symbol" style="box-sizing: border-box; display: inline; font-size: 18px;">♣</span> 5</span></div>
North opened 1C, partner doubled for takeout and N-S had a tortured auction to 2S (North bid 1C, East doubled, South bid 1S, North bid 2C, South bid 2D and North bid 2S, all-pass).<br />
<br />
Sitting West, what do you lead?<br />
<br />
At the table, I thought I needed to cut down on ruffs and led a spade.<br />
<br />
This is bad for several reasons: one is that my clubs and partner's diamonds are in finessing positions, so declarer doesn't need ruffs. Second, the auction implies a 4-3 fit, and so partner has 4 spades. I need to lead the 10 of hearts so we can take our tricks, and let declarer navigate the bad split with no throw-in suit.<br />
<br />
Both of these hard to defend, but I had the clues in the auction to make the right lead at the table.Lakhttp://www.blogger.com/profile/16177723973206020679noreply@blogger.com1tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-6539769009808917053.post-74746112157572846912016-01-28T16:56:00.001-06:002016-01-28T16:56:47.200-06:00Genetic DiversityMy opponent on one of the hands I played at the club game on Tuesday emailed:<br />
<br />
<blockquote class="tr_bq">
<i>Great to play against you last night, including board 25 where you opened<br />1 NT on void, Ax, Axxxx, AKJxxx and wound up in 5D. It's so great that you<br />have children, because otherwise society would have to put you in some<br />sort of captive breeding program in order to preserve the genetic<br />diversity that you bring to the world. There simply aren't that many<br />humans who would bid the hand that way!</i></blockquote>
<br />
This is the hand that got him so snarky:<br />
<div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;">
<a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEiPYRUTRCHUKv4TYyNWdkliwMQu5DziQGTtXQ2duilMeFGU94H1e8WHJK0XeI9GFWFKy96aaLMmGMwOayu_WqKdlAUyO1weN1YE15oC0zyQxPY2IxEjHmRzMWWGKZrgot1ea8ugBoR1gMw/s1600/Screen+Shot+2016-01-28+at+2.04.32+PM.png" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" height="311" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEiPYRUTRCHUKv4TYyNWdkliwMQu5DziQGTtXQ2duilMeFGU94H1e8WHJK0XeI9GFWFKy96aaLMmGMwOayu_WqKdlAUyO1weN1YE15oC0zyQxPY2IxEjHmRzMWWGKZrgot1ea8ugBoR1gMw/s320/Screen+Shot+2016-01-28+at+2.04.32+PM.png" width="320" /></a></div>
<br />
Partner (N) passed as did East. Having sorted the South hand as follows:<br />
<table style="color: black; font-family: Arial, Helvetica, sans-serif; font-size: 14.6667px; text-align: left;"><tbody>
<tr><td><blockquote class="tr_bq" style="text-align: left;">
<span style="font-size: 14.6667px;">♠ AKJ </span><span style="color: red; font-size: 14.6667px;">♥ </span><span style="color: black; font-size: 14.6667px;">A2 </span><span style="color: red; font-size: 14.6667px;">♦ </span><span style="color: black; font-size: 14.6667px;">A7632 </span><span style="font-size: 14.6667px;">♣ 754</span></blockquote>
</td></tr>
</tbody></table>
I opened the hand 1NT (15-17). West overcalled 2S and partner passed. East, with remarkable restraint, passed! At this point, I looked down at my hand and realized that I actually held:<br />
<blockquote class="tr_bq">
<span style="font-family: "arial" , "helvetica" , sans-serif; font-size: 14.6667px;">♠ - </span><span style="color: red; font-family: "arial" , "helvetica" , sans-serif; font-size: 14.6667px;">♥ </span><span style="font-family: "arial" , "helvetica" , sans-serif; font-size: 14.6667px;">A2 </span><span style="color: red; font-family: "arial" , "helvetica" , sans-serif; font-size: 14.6667px;">♦ </span><span style="font-family: "arial" , "helvetica" , sans-serif; font-size: 14.6667px;">A7632 </span><span style="font-family: "arial" , "helvetica" , sans-serif; font-size: 14.6667px;">♣ AKJ754</span></blockquote>
The rest of the bidding went:<br />
<table align="center" style="width: 60%;">
<tbody>
<tr> <td>North</td> <td>E</td> <td>South (me)</td> <td>W</td> </tr>
<tr> <td>P</td> <td>P</td> <td>1NT</td> <td>2S</td> </tr>
<tr> <td>P</td> <td>P</td> <td>3C</td> <td>P</td> </tr>
<tr> <td>3H</td> <td>3S</td> <td>4D</td> <td>P</td> </tr>
<tr> <td>P</td> <td>4S</td> <td>5C</td> <td>P</td> </tr>
<tr> <td>5D</td> <td>P</td> <td>P</td> <td>P</td> </tr>
</tbody></table>
<br />
Seems quite normal to me.<br />
<br />Lakhttp://www.blogger.com/profile/16177723973206020679noreply@blogger.com1tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-6539769009808917053.post-39284856189464058382016-01-20T16:41:00.001-06:002016-01-20T16:45:25.047-06:00Support with supportPartner and I had a <a href="http://thecommongame.com/PHPPOSTCGS.php?options=LookupClioPlayer&date=2016-01-19&acblno=3306682&gamemode=Nite">nice 57% game</a> last night, good enough for second at the club and almost good enough to break the top-25 nationwide in the Common Game. This was one of the hands that I wish I could take back.<br />
<div>
<br /></div>
<div>
I was West and passed. After North opened 1D, partner (East) overcalled 1S. South doubled, showing hearts. What's your bid?</div>
<div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;">
<a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEhGiHeWID8vJRBiNjTcogiP0IvaYPl_c8O_WzKvorJQUkxWOx8-DfpyqrMOciBB0y5X14h_bEJgbpSlVnTIQvHC_XSUXtkJhROqW2uMC2k-ei5qZF-vC-8cqRyZ5Zmk1Qttd2NsWAiiGS8/s1600/Screen+Shot+2016-01-20+at+2.35.05+PM.png" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" height="292" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEhGiHeWID8vJRBiNjTcogiP0IvaYPl_c8O_WzKvorJQUkxWOx8-DfpyqrMOciBB0y5X14h_bEJgbpSlVnTIQvHC_XSUXtkJhROqW2uMC2k-ei5qZF-vC-8cqRyZ5Zmk1Qttd2NsWAiiGS8/s320/Screen+Shot+2016-01-20+at+2.35.05+PM.png" width="320" /></a></div>
<div>
Here are some options:<br />
<br />
<ol>
<li>2S -- support with support. A simple raise showing 3 spades and 4-10 points in competition.</li>
<li>2D -- cue-bid showing 3 spades and 9-11 points.</li>
<li>1NT -- showing 8-10 points, diamond and heart stoppers. Tends to be 2 spades</li>
</ol>
<div>
I fell from grace. Reasoning that my diamonds were likely to be worthless in a suit contract (they'd be ruffed by South), I decided to bid 1NT. This was disastrous because North bid 2H over the 1NT, partner bid 3C reasoning that I must have minors and we ended up in 3S doubled and down 2.</div>
<div>
<br /></div>
<div>
For a nationwide bottom.</div>
</div>
Lakhttp://www.blogger.com/profile/16177723973206020679noreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-6539769009808917053.post-55630104402741760762016-01-09T14:48:00.001-06:002016-01-09T14:52:29.438-06:00Pointy-headedPlaying in a 25c matchpoints tournament on BBO, I picked up:<br />
<div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;">
<a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEjNICjEVsimt7CItPpqvIf2WLAVPPv7_dGt8qhPmoPhnC3Ef5aAMPjuL6WxCDnYzzh5X9nT3cvIfSrVSvUNqKWYrv3UNtRRYKlytcNjI2mLAB84huWXltGHJZve-Fa36zYo-xktWbtyLBw/s1600/hand1.PNG" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEjNICjEVsimt7CItPpqvIf2WLAVPPv7_dGt8qhPmoPhnC3Ef5aAMPjuL6WxCDnYzzh5X9nT3cvIfSrVSvUNqKWYrv3UNtRRYKlytcNjI2mLAB84huWXltGHJZve-Fa36zYo-xktWbtyLBw/s320/hand1.PNG" /></a></div>
What would you open? 17 points, two aces and the spade suit. I decided to upgrade this to a 18-count, and open it 1S planning to rebid 2NT. Partner surprised me by bidding Jacoby 2NT and we landed up in the no-chance slam:<br /><br />
<div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;">
<a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEjlT5_LGWueDi8ceThqzsDkQ8lR-Qqmcvf9DziuBaEO1XoIUJ_IK4xbf2GWvNj1VDLj1_NdylMVPHCBbarUuTMXbmO2fxAkBjoriWQrnVhSKAKjZDaydWbPykz02LDcPUrvINCg3N05IcQ/s1600/hand1full.PNG" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEjlT5_LGWueDi8ceThqzsDkQ8lR-Qqmcvf9DziuBaEO1XoIUJ_IK4xbf2GWvNj1VDLj1_NdylMVPHCBbarUuTMXbmO2fxAkBjoriWQrnVhSKAKjZDaydWbPykz02LDcPUrvINCg3N05IcQ/s1600/hand1full.PNG" /></a></div>
<br />
My soft diamonds should have dissuaded me and partner's 3 Jacks should have dissuaded him.<br />
<div>
<br /></div>
Two hands later, I was third hand and held:<br />
<br />
<div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;">
<a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEgO6GTvFEiJYoYZCcULtNmS7HWgvxxaQhQ-HZDVnYOPLuixk4qx_hrsoY-0lFhz2q5GIbU9yft8eYOrzAyD6KhmDKXaSFEMa0P4I9hwWwIFQMM98f-5FHn5iytuLYdhGK08yUtIuDXS-84/s1600/hand2.PNG" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEgO6GTvFEiJYoYZCcULtNmS7HWgvxxaQhQ-HZDVnYOPLuixk4qx_hrsoY-0lFhz2q5GIbU9yft8eYOrzAyD6KhmDKXaSFEMa0P4I9hwWwIFQMM98f-5FHn5iytuLYdhGK08yUtIuDXS-84/s1600/hand2.PNG" /></a></div>
<br />
Partner opened 1S. What would you do? I decided to mastermind a little, knowing that in robot tournaments I would hold the best hand. So, knowing that partner had opened a 11-count, I passed! Unfortunately, this was the full deal:<br />
<br />
<div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;">
<a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEh_bRUU4sSUTeKy7Xx3m5okGle6xgIf5uZADOUpKQgwRyLjMV8WuT92dMCaOkOTJMBqaIuyALN6JpKdjymZCc_m9dZf8qQYHXjVD4fXCBCvLEMppQgl8yDs7rG_xGI-2uIcT3ffTwTclvE/s1600/hand2full.PNG" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEh_bRUU4sSUTeKy7Xx3m5okGle6xgIf5uZADOUpKQgwRyLjMV8WuT92dMCaOkOTJMBqaIuyALN6JpKdjymZCc_m9dZf8qQYHXjVD4fXCBCvLEMppQgl8yDs7rG_xGI-2uIcT3ffTwTclvE/s1600/hand2full.PNG" /></a></div>
<br />
I averted total disaster by making 5 when I took a diamond finesse and East decided to cash the Ace of clubs and led a second club.<br />
<br />
I should have masterminded a little more. Knowing that 1NT is 100% forcing, I should have bid it and passed partner's response. If the robot opened a 11-point hand, it would have been shapely and even a 2C response would shown real clubs.<br />
<br />
Looking at the other tables, though, it appears that <a href="http://www.bridgebase.com/myhands/hands.php?traveller=9203-1452369721-36684204">North rebids 2S</a> (not 3S as I initially thought) and the Souths find ways to raise to 4S on that motley collection! What did those people know that I didn't?Lakhttp://www.blogger.com/profile/16177723973206020679noreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-6539769009808917053.post-12057740032134515332015-12-29T04:02:00.002-06:002015-12-29T04:02:25.395-06:00Ruffed outPlaying a 25c IMPS robot tourney on BBO, I picked up:<br />
<br />
<div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;">
<a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEgDvaKl831qKCqFwke7lsLBWf9AzV1deK20APa3tBlqUVDNpjnrHc1_ViQpEA_D9aODC4MTaANj-oxtdpYnV9rYIOsHKSb1YwoYIyTX5bLPSCAHtnwUsMTHl1cG7AoIcjnj4QYiXyZShck/s1600/hand.PNG" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEgDvaKl831qKCqFwke7lsLBWf9AzV1deK20APa3tBlqUVDNpjnrHc1_ViQpEA_D9aODC4MTaANj-oxtdpYnV9rYIOsHKSb1YwoYIyTX5bLPSCAHtnwUsMTHl1cG7AoIcjnj4QYiXyZShck/s1600/hand.PNG" /></a></div>
<br />
The bidding went:<br />
<div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;">
<a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEgf9ooIVRq5UdM7IJvfEfmP2CjOUZKiYntU-x4kg-VT-JzZTl7-Jv0o5F955snWc4Mu8555scINIqaio-M76_QcDs-Ozv3DDLq-EJjipLONhufvQGhNrq9-NRpcOvKwdZ04DOz5a3rLiMc/s1600/bidding.PNG" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEgf9ooIVRq5UdM7IJvfEfmP2CjOUZKiYntU-x4kg-VT-JzZTl7-Jv0o5F955snWc4Mu8555scINIqaio-M76_QcDs-Ozv3DDLq-EJjipLONhufvQGhNrq9-NRpcOvKwdZ04DOz5a3rLiMc/s1600/bidding.PNG" /></a></div>
<br />
Partner opened it 1C, RHO overcalled 1D and I bid 1H (forcing). Partner now bid 1S and I bid 2D (fourth suit forcing).<br />
<br />
At this point, North bid 2H showing 3 hearts. What is your bid? Essentially, I have diamonds well stopped and the danger is that if North has several diamonds, West will get a few ruffs.<br />
<br />
At the table, I could not think of a way to get North to tell me how many diamonds he had, so I shrugged and bid 4H. It went down because this was the full deal:<br />
<br />
<iframe src="http://www.bridgebase.com/tools/handviewer.html?sn=lakshmanok&s=SJ7HAKQJ62DKJ64C7&wn=Robot&w=S9632H74D3CJT9842&nn=Robot&n=SAKT4HT85DQT7CK63&en=Robot&e=SQ85H93DA9852CAQ5&d=n&v=o&b=1&a=1C(Minor%20suit%20opening%20--%203+%20%21C%3B%2011-21%20HCP%3B%2012-22%20total%20points)1D(One-level%20overcall%20--%205+%20%21D%3B%208-17%20HCP%3B%209-19%20total%20points)1H(Free%20bid%20--%204+%20%21H%3B%206+%20total%20points%3B%20forc)P1S(3+%20%21C%3B%203-%20%21H%3B%204+%20%21S%3B%2011+%20HCP%3B%2012-18%20total%20points)P2D(Fourth%20suit%20forcing%20--%204+%20%21H%3B%2013+%20total)P2H(3+%20%21C%3B%203%20%21H%3B%204+%20%21S%3B%2011-14%20HCP%3B%2012+%20total%20points)P4H(5+%20%21H%3B%2012+%20HCP%3B%2013-16%20total%20points)PPP&p=D3D7DADJD8D4H7DTC4C6CQC7D9D6H4DQC2C3CAH2HAS3H5H3HKS2H8H9DKS6HTD5CKC5S7CJSAS5SJS9S4S8H6C8HQC9STD2HJCTSKSQ" width="400" height="400"></iframe>
<br />
As anticipated, West got two ruffs to scupper 4H. 3NT was the right spot to be in. How could I could have gotten there? By bidding 3D over the 2H. Now, North with 3 diamonds and the queen would have bid 3NT.<br />
<br />Lakhttp://www.blogger.com/profile/16177723973206020679noreply@blogger.com2tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-6539769009808917053.post-78028890486968371932015-11-04T18:28:00.002-06:002015-11-04T18:28:45.672-06:00Find a familiar counterpartPlaying in a strong club game, everyone vulnerable, I'm West on this deal:<br />
<br class="Apple-interchange-newline" />
<table><tbody>
<tr><td></td><td>♠K<br /><span style="color: red;">♥</span>T972<br /><span style="color: red;">♦</span>J94<br />♣AKQ98</td><td></td></tr>
<tr><td>♠T9863<br /><span style="color: red;">♥</span>AK6<br /><span style="color: red;">♦</span>KT<br />♣J52</td><td></td><td>♠5<br /><span style="color: red;">♥</span>QJ85<br /><span style="color: red;">♦</span>A7652<br />♣T73</td></tr>
<tr><td style="font-family: Arial, Helvetica, sans-serif; font-size: 14.6667px;"></td><td style="font-family: Arial, Helvetica, sans-serif; font-size: 14.6667px;">♠AQJ742<br /><span style="color: red;">♥</span>43<br /><span style="color: red;">♦</span>Q83<br />♣64</td></tr>
</tbody></table>
<br />
North opens 2C which is alerted and explained as showing 8-12 points and long clubs. This is passed by East and South. What do you do with the West hand?<br />
<br />
At the table, I got flustered and thought I needed to balance in. To compound the error, I balanced back in spades. Although the 2C bid was unfamiliar, a 2D preempt in first seat vulnerable probably shows exactly the same range. With my diamonds and clubs swapped, I would have happily passed 2D. I should have done the same thing against the 2C opener.<br />
<br />
As you can see, 2C goes down a trick or two. My inability to find a comparable familiar bid caused us to exchange a top for a bottom.Lakhttp://www.blogger.com/profile/16177723973206020679noreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-6539769009808917053.post-25631407624290583122015-10-15T00:24:00.000-05:002015-10-15T00:24:51.659-05:00Forgotten agreementsPlaying against an irregular partnership, I was East on this hand:<br />
<br />
<iframe height="500" src="http://www.bridgebase.com/tools/handviewer.html?b=8&v=-&d=W&nn=dummy&n=SJ74HKQ752DKQ3C76&en=pard&e=SAQ82HT83DT98CJ95&sn=decl&s=ST6HAJ94DAJ64CAQ2&wn=me&w=SK953H6D752CKT843&tbt=y&a=ppp1n2c2dp2hp3nppp" width="500"></iframe>
After 3 passes, South opened a 15-17 1NT. Since partner hadn't opened in 3rd seat, I felt that the opponets had a game, and so, I threw in a 2C overcall. Against a strong NT, we play DONT, so that shows clubs and a higher suit. Partner, though, alerted and said that it promised the majors.<br />
<br />
North now bid 2D, meant (and announced) as a transfer. South bid 2H, but when North went to 3NT, he hemmed and hawed. He'd forgotten what they played over interference and wasn't sure whether 2D was indeed a transfer. So, he decided to pass!<br />
<br />
Now, to me. What do I lead? With all the unauthorized information (partner's misexplanation) and forgotten agreements, I decided to do the "normal" thing and lead fourth from my longest suit. Disaster, of course. Leading a spade would have beat 3NT, but against the club lead, declarer had the first 11 tricks. The whole room was in 4H making 5 (the losing club goes away on a diamond). So that was a bottom.<br />
<br />
To put it mildly, my "Disturb Opponents' No Trump" overcall didn't work out.<br />
<br />Lakhttp://www.blogger.com/profile/16177723973206020679noreply@blogger.com2tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-6539769009808917053.post-33422212823792598962015-09-23T01:39:00.001-05:002015-09-23T01:39:23.136-05:00When you've got themPlaying in a strong club game, we're facing a pair of opponents who finish high in national events. I <i>always</i> seem to get bad results against this pair. I was West on this deal:<br />
<br />
<table><tbody>
<tr><td></td><td>♠Q95<br />
<span style="color: red;">♥</span>Q4<br />
<span style="color: red;">♦</span>AT964<br />
♣T87</td><td></td></tr>
<tr><td>♠72<br />
<span style="color: red;">♥</span>AT9862<br />
<span style="color: red;">♦</span>K52<br />
♣92</td><td></td><td>♠KJ3<br />
<span style="color: red;">♥</span>J7<br />
<span style="color: red;">♦</span>J87<br />
♣KQJ43</td></tr>
<tr><td style="font-family: Arial, Helvetica, sans-serif; font-size: 14.6667px;"></td><td style="font-family: Arial, Helvetica, sans-serif; font-size: 14.6667px;">♠AT864<br />
<span style="color: red;">♥</span>K53<br />
<span style="color: red;">♦</span>Q3<br />
♣A65</td></tr>
</tbody></table>
<br />
North deals and passes. Partner opens 1C and South overcalls 1S. What's my call sitting West?<br />
<br />
I'm not strong enough to bid 2H over the 1S overcall, but I have hearts, so I double (this is negative). North bids 2S. Two passes and it's back to me.<br />
<br />
Well, I do have six hearts, so I venture a 3H bid confident that my failure to bid 2H will keep us from going overboard. South, after a lot of thought, decides to compete to 3S. This, then, is the bidding:<br />
<br />
P - 1C - 1S - X<br />
2S - P - P - 3H<br />
P - P - 3S - allpass<br />
<br />
Had this happened at the table, what would you think of the situation? I didn't think 3H was making and it looked as if they were one too high. Would I finally get a good board against this pair?<br />
<br />
I led the 9 of clubs and declarer won and led back a club. Partner cashed two clubs and led the Jack of hearts. Declarer ducked. What's my play?<br />
<br />
Partner's plays have given me the count of his hand. He has 3 spades (from the bidding), 2 hearts (from the switch) and 5 clubs (from his cash-out). So, declarer is 5-3-2-3.<br />
<br />
I can duck the heart after which declarer has to lose a heart, a spade, two clubs and a diamond for a one-trick set. Unfortunately, I failed to count out his hand. I went up with the Ace of hearts and compounded the mistake by leading a small diamond. Declarer guessed right, ducking to his hand. Letting 3S make was a bottom of course.<br />
<br />
Going up with the Ace of hearts was not a critical mistake -- we could have still survived had I simply returned a heart, and the heart return is obvious if I had counted out declarer's hand.<br />
<br />
When you've got them on the bidding, play tight on the defense.Lakhttp://www.blogger.com/profile/16177723973206020679noreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-6539769009808917053.post-15603170838089231392015-08-25T01:58:00.000-05:002015-08-30T23:54:48.533-05:00Book knowledgeSomething that always astonishes non-bridge players is the number of bridge books out there. Seeing me reading bridge books has put off quite a few of my friends and family from learning bridge. I try to tell them that reading books is optional, and that it is just a game.<br />
<br />
No serious player of the game really believes this, of course. Reading books can really accelerate your game, and give you the benefit of decades of insights.<br />
<br />
I had been waiting for a regional tournament in the Seattle area because I needed 3 gold points to make life master, and it's only at regionals that you can get those. As it turns out, the Lynwood regional comes pretty much at the turn of the fiscal year. It's a busy time at work with lots of travel, so there was just one two-session event that I could play in.<br />
<br />
Three gold points needed, and two sessions to get them in. What's the best way to get those? My first choice was the A-X Swiss, but all our preferred teammates were paired up. So, we decided to play the Open Pairs. (Gold-rush pairs? Perish the thought!)<br />
<br />
I was South on this deal:<br />
<br />
<div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;">
<a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEgvZkH6MNedP1O4lkUaAl59IR_WdiOL4nI67W8AEagjP376q8dLKxalkov3LDW0EojeJgQoliLMRy1KpvtQVHw566lQAETvBT40jlRlfTPyYfG-wOg_DzblIKrh2t534c9nbl6xAErmzG8/s1600/Screen+Shot+2015-08-24+at+10.58.58+PM.png" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" height="320" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEgvZkH6MNedP1O4lkUaAl59IR_WdiOL4nI67W8AEagjP376q8dLKxalkov3LDW0EojeJgQoliLMRy1KpvtQVHw566lQAETvBT40jlRlfTPyYfG-wOg_DzblIKrh2t534c9nbl6xAErmzG8/s320/Screen+Shot+2015-08-24+at+10.58.58+PM.png" width="250" /></a></div>
<br />
<div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;">
<br /></div>
<br />
East passed, and I opened 1NT (15-17). What would you do with the North hand? If you have read Kit Woolsey's <a href="http://www.amazon.com/gp/product/0990522954/ref=as_li_tl?ie=UTF8&camp=1789&creative=390957&creativeASIN=0990522954&linkCode=as2&tag=notthatsane0d-20&linkId=T5ZN4ZXF2JQA4JDO">Matchpoints</a><img alt="" border="0" src="http://ir-na.amazon-adsystem.com/e/ir?t=notthatsane0d-20&l=as2&o=1&a=0990522954" height="1" style="border: none !important; margin: 0px !important;" width="1" />, then you are going through a rapid checklist. The North hand is balanced, there are lots of soft points in short suits, and you have more than a minimum -- all these factors argue for a simple raise to 3NT without going through a transfer. On the other hand, the heart spots are piss-poor. In case of doubt, go with what the field would do ... so, partner bid 2D (transfer), and in response to my 2H, bid 3NT.<br />
<br />
Now, back to the South hand. The bidding has gone: 1NT-2D-2H-3NT. What is your bid? My hand is quite balanced, and I have a stronger than usual hand (two aces, and the jack of hearts is in partner's suit, not to mention the ten of clubs). Partner's sequence indicates a hand with 10+ points, and I can see cases where we make the same number of tricks in hearts and no-trump. It's matchpoints, and so I passed.<br />
<br />
This turned out to be winning decision as 3NT rolls home with 11 tricks, and was worth 94%. This is a choice-of-games that Mr. Woolsey taught us to assess.<br />
<br />
Here's another hand from the same session:<br />
<br />
<div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;">
<a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEieQb40OPZrzXV82bWsGE2PvqazozmC64ci_XBJRxUzfgK7PMzQGs_T9ACgVH_BTVg5f3Nam07I9e3IxQQIm-21g8Qk_lXRaFphAhX4BmDkeufBK-8Q3pHWmbZWkYS0TxQsxkAjKhq7Xzw/s1600/Screen+Shot+2015-08-24+at+10.59.14+PM.png" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" height="320" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEieQb40OPZrzXV82bWsGE2PvqazozmC64ci_XBJRxUzfgK7PMzQGs_T9ACgVH_BTVg5f3Nam07I9e3IxQQIm-21g8Qk_lXRaFphAhX4BmDkeufBK-8Q3pHWmbZWkYS0TxQsxkAjKhq7Xzw/s320/Screen+Shot+2015-08-24+at+10.59.14+PM.png" width="244" /></a></div>
<br />
As South, I opened 1H. What would you bid with the North hand?<br />
<br />
Partner had read <a href="http://www.amazon.com/gp/product/0974471488/ref=as_li_tl?ie=UTF8&camp=1789&creative=390957&creativeASIN=0974471488&linkCode=as2&tag=notthatsane0d-20&linkId=V3HZG6JIHCJNF4GT">Better Slam Bidding with Bergen</a><img alt="" border="0" src="http://ir-na.amazon-adsystem.com/e/ir?t=notthatsane0d-20&l=as2&o=1&a=0974471488" height="1" style="border: none !important; margin: 0px !important;" width="1" />, and knew that an intermediate hand (12-14 points) with four trumps and a singleton called for a splinter bid just in case I had the perfect counterpart. He bid 4D.<br />
<br />
What do you do as South? My hand is easy to dismiss because I have lousy hearts, but remember that partner has four of them. He rates to have two of the missing three honors. Put him with KQ of hearts. He has nothing in diamonds (well, he could have the singleton king, but he won't have the queen). Where are his remaining six points? He could have Ace of spades and Queen of clubs, and that 11-point hand makes the slam cold. <br />
<br />
Jeff Rubens (quoting Culbertson) says in <a href="http://www.amazon.com/gp/product/0486240762/ref=as_li_tl?ie=UTF8&camp=1789&creative=390957&creativeASIN=0486240762&linkCode=as2&tag=notthatsane0d-20&linkId=OPZKNIQ7HU72VU54">The Secrets of Winning Bridge</a><img alt="" border="0" src="http://ir-na.amazon-adsystem.com/e/ir?t=notthatsane0d-20&l=as2&o=1&a=0486240762" height="1" style="border: none !important; margin: 0px !important;" width="1" />
that if you can visualize a minimum hand with partner making the slam cold, you have got to investigate. I bid 4NT to check to make sure we were not out two key cards (easy enough when you are bidding slam on 25 or so high-card points). Partner bid 5S showing 2 key cards with the queen and I bid 6H.<br />
<br />
West got off to a Jack-spade lead. I went up and cross-ruffed my way to 12 tricks, setting up my 10 of diamonds along the way. The slam was worth 86%. This is a slam that Mr. Bergen taught us to visualize.<br />
<br />
Thanks to these boards and a few more like these, we ended up in the overalls and walked off with 3.68 gold points. Not bad for two sessions' work! Four more points (any color), and I'll finally make life master. Book knowledge got me here faster than I would have otherwise.<br />
<br />Lakhttp://www.blogger.com/profile/16177723973206020679noreply@blogger.com3tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-6539769009808917053.post-44565423013664380082015-07-30T00:39:00.002-05:002015-07-30T00:39:35.898-05:002C BluesOur 13-year old was one of the kids in the <a href="http://b4youth.org/">Bridge 4 Youth</a> program put together by a bunch of Seattle bridge players. This was a week-long camp, and was followed on Saturday by a club game. Bridge-playing parents and grandparents were encouraged to play, and so we played as a partnership.<br />
<br />
Playing with my 13-year old, I was South on this deal:<br />
<div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;">
<a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEj3_rO68rPZ2uB7chYCV-bng5eC6eAG34p05BsugPXXRYqwlAAAUkq6L5GjL0frUPt14CfwsCS8k14xLIyCNaSswH3kJmGCM1R8FLeE1YE4cUYt9N6Wg3Smqssu5h0smJ9zROaObvPeKe4/s1600/secondnegative.PNG" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" height="212" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEj3_rO68rPZ2uB7chYCV-bng5eC6eAG34p05BsugPXXRYqwlAAAUkq6L5GjL0frUPt14CfwsCS8k14xLIyCNaSswH3kJmGCM1R8FLeE1YE4cUYt9N6Wg3Smqssu5h0smJ9zROaObvPeKe4/s320/secondnegative.PNG" width="320" /></a></div>
With only 4 losers, I opened the hand 2C. West passed and my son bid 2D, waiting. I bid 2S and he replied 3C. At camp, they had taught them a series of responses where the cheaper minor was a second negative, but I didn't know that. At this point, I should have simply bid 3S or 4S. Instead, I tried to bid out my hand with 3H and got a 3-card raise. The contract was hopeless since West happily started tapping me in diamonds. All the other Souths counted their points, opened 1S and either played there or beat E-W in a diamond contract.<br />
<br />
Fast forward two weeks, and I'm playing in the Open Pairs in the local sectional with an occasional partner. The field is quite strong, and we are playing 2 boards per round. The opponents had just bid, and made, 6NT off us when I picked up this hand:<br />
<div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;">
<a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEhkFhgDnViBnQ2yqx5sZL1f80K8ZzFk0w2dfKbYiOt_untr-8veKaeLdLMuYxJklh97SvssiEW3p2E_XTR-XX2bfRK3abWU0i0xAc6zER-kAWnnYLK0cYtilqbB5wzxxCR3D_SvG1Ac9ao/s1600/2hbust.PNG" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" height="210" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEhkFhgDnViBnQ2yqx5sZL1f80K8ZzFk0w2dfKbYiOt_untr-8veKaeLdLMuYxJklh97SvssiEW3p2E_XTR-XX2bfRK3abWU0i0xAc6zER-kAWnnYLK0cYtilqbB5wzxxCR3D_SvG1Ac9ao/s320/2hbust.PNG" width="320" /></a></div>
<br />
I opened my hand with 2C and got 2H from partner. I wasn't completely sure what I was playing with this partner, but I thought 2H was a bust hand, so I alerted it as that, and bid 2NT. Now, partner bid 3H. This is, of course, a transfer, but I wasn't completely sure what system of responses we were playing, What if partner really had hearts and had forgotten? I decided to give him a chance by bidding 4H. Wrong move -- partner, it turns out, wasn't sure what 2NT was -- he mistakenly thought my 2NT showed hearts (actually, 2NT by him would have shown hearts, and my 2NT was natural). So, he passed my 4H bid and essentially conceded 5 down when he couldn't arrange a diamond ruff in his hand or cash the queen of spades.<br />
<br />
2C hands are too rare to have different agreements with different partners. 2D negative or waiting, it is, from now on.<br />
<br />Lakhttp://www.blogger.com/profile/16177723973206020679noreply@blogger.com4tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-6539769009808917053.post-57420092742148042922015-06-01T22:30:00.000-05:002015-06-01T22:32:07.332-05:00Playing without conventionsI was back in Oklahoma on work, and decided to see old friends by catching a bridge game there. I emailed one of my regular partners from way-back-when and asked him to come play with me. My partner had gone from a year where he won the ACBL's masterpoints competition for his point level to a year where he let his membership lapse.<br />
<br />
He was not playing much bridge anymore, he told me, but he came out any way. He did have a condition, however. "No conventions," he told me. I've played three different systems with him -- 2/1, traditional Precision with a 12-14 NT, and a Woolsey-like system with 10-12 NT, and everything these systems imply -- mini-Roman, negative free bids, transfer Lebensohl, etc. -- most of it at his urging. And now, he didn't want to play conventions!<br />
<br />
The lack of system didn't hurt us much. This was not the strongest game in town, and we finished with a 65% game without doing anything too spectacular. But as easily as the matchpoints came, they also went rather easily. Take this hand;<br />
<br />
<table class="table table-border-collapse" style="background-color: white; border-collapse: collapse; border-spacing: 0px; clear: both; color: #333333; font-family: overlock, sans-serif; font-size: 14px; line-height: 20px; margin-bottom: 6px !important; max-width: none !important; width: 353px;"><tbody>
<tr></tr>
<tr><td style="border: 0px; padding: 8px; vertical-align: top;"><div id="board_setup_dealer">
S Deals</div>
<div id="board_setup_vul">
E-W Vul</div>
</td><td class="hands" id="board_1_setup_north" style="border: 0px; padding: 8px 8px 8px 20px; vertical-align: top;"><div>
<span class="spade"></span> KT83</div>
<div>
<span class="heart" style="color: red;"></span> 43</div>
<div>
<span class="diamond" style="color: red;"></span> AQ86</div>
<div>
<span class="club"></span> K85</div>
</td><td style="border: 0px; padding: 8px; vertical-align: top;"><span class="board_number" style="display: block; font-size: 24px; font-weight: bold; line-height: 72px; text-align: center;">3</span></td></tr>
<tr><td class="hands" id="board_1_setup_west" style="border: 0px; padding: 8px 8px 8px 20px; vertical-align: top;"><div>
<span class="spade"></span> 65</div>
<div>
<span class="heart" style="color: red;"></span> QT76</div>
<div>
<span class="diamond" style="color: red;"></span> K9542</div>
<div>
<span class="club"></span> 43</div>
</td><td style="border: 0px; padding: 8px; vertical-align: top;"><table class="table table-condensed table-border-collapse green_square" style="background-color: green; border-collapse: collapse; border-spacing: 0px; clear: both; color: white; margin-bottom: 6px !important; max-width: none !important; width: 107px;"><tbody>
<tr><td style="border: 0px; line-height: 20px; padding: 3px 6px; vertical-align: top;"></td><td style="border: 0px; line-height: 20px; padding: 3px 6px; vertical-align: top;">N</td><td style="border: 0px; line-height: 20px; padding: 3px 6px; vertical-align: top;"></td></tr>
<tr><td style="border: 0px; line-height: 20px; padding: 3px 6px; vertical-align: top;">W</td><td style="border: 0px; line-height: 20px; padding: 3px 6px; vertical-align: top;"></td><td style="border: 0px; line-height: 20px; padding: 3px 6px; vertical-align: top;">E</td></tr>
<tr><td style="border: 0px; line-height: 20px; padding: 3px 6px; vertical-align: top;"></td><td style="border: 0px; line-height: 20px; padding: 3px 6px; vertical-align: top;">S</td><td style="border: 0px; line-height: 20px; padding: 3px 6px; vertical-align: top;"></td></tr>
</tbody></table>
</td><td class="hands" id="board_1_setup_east" style="border: 0px; padding: 8px 8px 8px 20px; vertical-align: top;"><div>
<span class="spade"></span> AQJ42</div>
<div>
<span class="heart" style="color: red;"></span> KJ985</div>
<div>
<span class="diamond" style="color: red;"></span> J</div>
<div>
<span class="club"></span> J6</div>
</td></tr>
<tr><td style="border: 0px; padding: 8px; vertical-align: top;"><table class="table table-condensed table-border-collapse mini_compass" style="border-collapse: collapse; border-spacing: 0px; clear: both; margin-bottom: 6px !important; max-width: none !important; width: 109px;"><tbody style="text-align: center;">
<tr><td style="border: 0px; line-height: 20px; padding: 4px 5px; vertical-align: top;"></td><td style="border: 0px; line-height: 20px; padding: 4px 5px; vertical-align: top;"><strong>12</strong></td><td style="border: 0px; line-height: 20px; padding: 4px 5px; vertical-align: top;"></td></tr>
<tr><td style="border: 0px; line-height: 20px; padding: 4px 5px; vertical-align: top;"><strong>5</strong></td><td class="green_square" style="background-color: green; border: 0px; color: white; line-height: 20px; padding: 4px 5px; vertical-align: top; width: 20px;"></td><td style="border: 0px; line-height: 20px; padding: 4px 5px; vertical-align: top;"><strong>13</strong></td></tr>
<tr><td style="border: 0px; line-height: 20px; padding: 4px 5px; vertical-align: top;"></td><td style="border: 0px; line-height: 20px; padding: 4px 5px; vertical-align: top;"><strong>10</strong></td><td style="border: 0px; line-height: 20px; padding: 4px 5px; vertical-align: top;"></td></tr>
</tbody></table>
</td><td class="hands" id="board_1_setup_south" style="border: 0px; padding: 8px 8px 8px 20px; vertical-align: top;"><div>
<span class="spade"></span> 97</div>
<div>
<span class="heart" style="color: red;"></span> A2</div>
<div>
<span class="diamond" style="color: red;"></span> T73</div>
<div>
<span class="club"></span> AQT972</div>
<div>
<br /></div>
</td></tr>
</tbody></table>
I was South, and naturally, I opened the hand 1C. Two aces, and a nice club rebid. West passed and North bid 1S. Now East doubled! I bid 2C anyway, and partner bid 3NT ending the auction.<br />
<br />
Now to the play. They led two hearts, and so after cashing 6 clubs (on which East threw away hearts and West threw away diamonds), partner was faced with a choice. He could take a diamond finesse or lead towards the spade king. He decided to believe East's supposed negative double and took the spade play. Ooops.<br />
<br />
East-West too had decided to play with no conventions. Not even negative doubles!<br />
<br />Lakhttp://www.blogger.com/profile/16177723973206020679noreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-6539769009808917053.post-88442161219580204172015-05-13T22:38:00.003-05:002015-05-13T22:41:15.059-05:00Don't upgrade to a splinterPlaying with an occassional partner in a strong club game, I was West on this hand:<br />
<br />
<div class="span8 offset2" id="board_1_setup" style="box-sizing: border-box; float: left; margin-left: 105.65625px; min-height: 30px; width: 353.75px;">
<table class="table table-border-collapse" style="border-collapse: collapse; border-spacing: 0px; clear: both; margin-bottom: 6px !important; max-width: none !important; width: 353px;"><tbody>
<tr><td style="border: 0px; line-height: 20px; padding: 8px; vertical-align: top;"><div id="board_setup_dealer">
N Deals</div>
<div id="board_setup_vul">
None Vul</div>
</td><td class="hands" id="board_1_setup_north" style="border: 0px; line-height: 20px; padding: 8px 8px 8px 20px; vertical-align: top;"><div>
<span class="spade"></span> Q87</div>
<div>
<span class="heart" style="color: red;"></span> 983</div>
<div>
<span class="diamond" style="color: red;"></span> A6</div>
<div>
<span class="club"></span> QT743</div>
</td><td style="border: 0px; line-height: 20px; padding: 8px; vertical-align: top;"><span class="board_number" style="display: block; font-size: 24px; font-weight: bold; line-height: 72px; text-align: center;">17</span></td></tr>
<tr><td class="hands" id="board_1_setup_west" style="border: 0px; line-height: 20px; padding: 8px 8px 8px 20px; vertical-align: top;"><div>
<span class="spade"></span> KJ52</div>
<div>
<span class="heart" style="color: red;"></span> AQ64</div>
<div>
<span class="diamond" style="color: red;"></span> J872</div>
<div>
<span class="club"></span> 9</div>
</td><td style="border: 0px; line-height: 20px; padding: 8px; vertical-align: top;"><table class="table table-condensed table-border-collapse green_square" style="background-color: green; border-collapse: collapse; border-spacing: 0px; clear: both; color: white; margin-bottom: 6px !important; max-width: none !important; width: 98px;"><tbody>
<tr><td style="border: 0px; line-height: 20px; padding: 3px 6px; vertical-align: top;"></td><td style="border: 0px; line-height: 20px; padding: 3px 6px; vertical-align: top;">N</td><td style="border: 0px; line-height: 20px; padding: 3px 6px; vertical-align: top;"></td></tr>
<tr><td style="border: 0px; line-height: 20px; padding: 3px 6px; vertical-align: top;">W</td><td style="border: 0px; line-height: 20px; padding: 3px 6px; vertical-align: top;"></td><td style="border: 0px; line-height: 20px; padding: 3px 6px; vertical-align: top;">E</td></tr>
<tr><td style="border: 0px; line-height: 20px; padding: 3px 6px; vertical-align: top;"></td><td style="border: 0px; line-height: 20px; padding: 3px 6px; vertical-align: top;">S</td><td style="border: 0px; line-height: 20px; padding: 3px 6px; vertical-align: top;"></td></tr>
</tbody></table>
</td><td class="hands" id="board_1_setup_east" style="border: 0px; line-height: 20px; padding: 8px 8px 8px 20px; vertical-align: top;"><div>
<span class="spade"></span> AT643</div>
<div>
<span class="heart" style="color: red;"></span> KJ</div>
<div>
<span class="diamond" style="color: red;"></span> KQ</div>
<div>
<span class="club"></span> J862</div>
</td></tr>
<tr><td style="background-color: white; border: 0px; color: #333333; font-family: overlock, sans-serif; font-size: 14px; line-height: 20px; padding: 8px; vertical-align: top;"><table class="table table-condensed table-border-collapse mini_compass" style="border-collapse: collapse; border-spacing: 0px; clear: both; margin-bottom: 6px !important; max-width: none !important; width: 117px;"><tbody style="text-align: center;">
<tr><td style="border: 0px; line-height: 20px; padding: 4px 5px; vertical-align: top;"></td><td style="border: 0px; line-height: 20px; padding: 4px 5px; vertical-align: top;"><strong>8</strong></td><td style="border: 0px; line-height: 20px; padding: 4px 5px; vertical-align: top;"></td></tr>
<tr><td style="border: 0px; line-height: 20px; padding: 4px 5px; vertical-align: top;"><strong>11</strong></td><td class="green_square" style="background-color: green; border: 0px; color: white; line-height: 20px; padding: 4px 5px; vertical-align: top; width: 20px;"></td><td style="border: 0px; line-height: 20px; padding: 4px 5px; vertical-align: top;"><strong>14</strong></td></tr>
<tr><td style="border: 0px; line-height: 20px; padding: 4px 5px; vertical-align: top;"></td><td style="border: 0px; line-height: 20px; padding: 4px 5px; vertical-align: top;"><strong>7</strong></td><td style="border: 0px; line-height: 20px; padding: 4px 5px; vertical-align: top;"></td></tr>
</tbody></table>
</td><td class="hands" id="board_1_setup_south" style="background-color: white; border: 0px; color: #333333; font-family: overlock, sans-serif; font-size: 14px; line-height: 20px; padding: 8px 8px 8px 20px; vertical-align: top;"><div>
<span class="spade"></span> 9</div>
<div>
<span class="heart" style="color: red;"></span> T752</div>
<div>
<span class="diamond" style="color: red;"></span> T9543</div>
<div>
<span class="club"></span> AK5</div>
</td></tr>
</tbody></table>
</div>
<br />
<br />
<br />
<br />
<br />
<br />
<br />
<br />
<br />
<br />
<br />
<br />
<br />
<br />
<br />
<br />
<br />
<br />
<hr />
North passed and partner (East) opened the hand 1S. As West, I had 4 choices:<br />
<br />
<ol>
<li>Jacoby 2NT showing 4 trumps and forcing to game</li>
<li>3S showing 4 spades and an invitational hand</li>
<li>3H (fit-jump) showing good hearts, 3+ spades and an invitational hand</li>
<li>4C showing 4 trumps, club shortness and 12-14 points.</li>
</ol>
<div>
Your call?</div>
<div>
<br /></div>
<div>
At the table, I forgot about option #3.</div>
<div>
<br /></div>
<div>
I decided to upgrade my hand and splinter with 4C. Partner, with no wastage in clubs, got excited and we ended up one level too high, in 5S. When spades turned out to be 3-1, we were down 1. Everyone else in the room was bidding and making 4S.</div>
<div>
<br /></div>
<div>
Splinters are very well-defined bids and are there to help you find slams holding fewer than 30 high card points. Because of this, though, they work only when you stay within the parameters. Just add one point to my hand to make it 12 points (by changing the J of spades to the Q of spades) and note that 5S is totally safe. Add 3 points to my hand (by changing the Jack of diamonds to the Ace of diamonds) and note that 6S is on whenever spades are 2-2 (a 52% slam).</div>
<div>
<br /></div>
<br />
<div>
We would not have had this disaster if I had upgraded my hand and bid Jacoby 2NT. Partner with a semi-balanced minimum would have bid 4S.</div>
<br />
<div>
<br /></div>
<div>
Don't upgrade to a splinter.</div>
<div>
<br /></div>
Lakhttp://www.blogger.com/profile/16177723973206020679noreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-6539769009808917053.post-41695976029852385282015-05-06T01:25:00.002-05:002015-05-06T01:35:01.537-05:00Ian McEwan explains Restricted Choice<a href="http://www.amazon.com/gp/product/0345803450/ref=as_li_tl?ie=UTF8&camp=1789&creative=390957&creativeASIN=0345803450&linkCode=as2&tag=notthatsane0d-20&linkId=5GXDBVQ3TS43SMUC" style="clear: right; float: right; margin-bottom: 1em; margin-left: 1em;"><img border="0" src="http://ws-na.amazon-adsystem.com/widgets/q?_encoding=UTF8&ASIN=0345803450&Format=_SL110_&ID=AsinImage&MarketPlace=US&ServiceVersion=20070822&WS=1&tag=notthatsane0d-20" /></a>The principle of Restricted Choice is probably the best-known bridge maxim that many players don't quite understand. Most bridge players can explain the logic behind finesses, split-honors, and "eight ever, nine never". But restricted choice will throw your average club player for a loop.<br />
<br />
Imagine my surprise then at seeing it laid out extremely nicely as a vignette in Ian McEwan's novel <a href="http://www.nytimes.com/2012/11/25/books/review/sweet-tooth-by-ian-mcewan.html?_r=0">"The Sweet Tooth"</a>.<br />
<br />
The way the principle is usually explained is in terms of an adaptation of the Monty Hall show. You get onto Monty's show and you are shown three doors. Behind one of the doors is a car. Behind the other two doors are goats. The way the show works is this. You get to pick one of the doors. Now, Monty opens one of the other doors and shows you that it has a goat and gives you a choice. You can either go with your original choice or you can switch to the remaining door. Should you switch or not? This question was famously <a href="http://priceonomics.com/the-time-everyone-corrected-the-worlds-smartest/">posed to Marilyn Von Savant </a>who got the answer right, but got pilloried for it by many pompous toffs who couldn't get their heads around the logic.<br />
<br />
So, what's the logic? I find it easiest to explain this assuming that there is a long corridor full of doors. A thousand doors, say. You go in and pick one of the doors. What's the chance that there's a car behind that door? That's right. 1 in a 1000. Now, Monty who knows which door the car is behind comes along and opens 998 of the remaining doors and shows you 998 goats. Do you switch to the door he didn't open or do you stick with your original 1 in a 1000 chance? Of course you switch! Monty's essentially telegraphed to you which door the car is behind because he carefully avoided that door. Monty's choice was <b><i>restricted</i></b> -- you now have a 999 in 1000 choice of getting the car! You are paying off to the remote possibility that you happened to pick the right door on the first try. Reduce the 1000 to 3, and the logic is the same. You had a 1/3 choice of picking the right door, but after Monty opens the door with a goat, your odds go up to 2/3 if you switch.<br />
<br />
In bridge terms, you apply this principle when the QJ of a suit are missing and you hold:<br />
<br />
<div style="text-align: center;">
A1098</div>
<div style="text-align: center;">
<br /></div>
<div style="text-align: center;">
K763</div>
<br />
in your two hands. When you plop down the Ace, your left-hand opponent (LHO) drops the Queen. Should you finesse the 10 on the way back, or should you hope that LHO has the Queen-Jack tight? The principle of restricted choice says that LHO's choice was restricted, and so your percentage play is to finesse.<br />
<br />
With that primer, onto Ian McEwan's inspired vignette. Here's the setup. A jealous husband follows his wife and her lover to a hotel where he sees them vanish around the corridor. He wants to catch them in flagrante, so he waits a little bit and then prepares to break down the door. But there are three rooms: 401, 402 and 403. Behind one of them is his cheating wife, but the odds of picking the right one are only 1 in 3. He waits to see if he can hear any sounds, but he can hear nothing from any of the rooms. As he is debating which door to choose, he sees two housekeepers approaching. "Let's work on one of the two empty rooms," one maid tells another. Thinking quickly, the husband positions himself in front of 401. Now, the maid's choice is restricted -- seeing the guest blocking her way into 401, she will choose to work on either 402 or 403, whichever is empty. She opens the door to 403, and our hero knowing that his odds have increased to 2 in 3 now, breaks down the door to 402. His mathematical savvy is rewarded by the dubious prize of catching his wife in bed with another man.<br />
<br />
A remarkably savvy mathematical vignette in a book of fiction aimed at the masses! <a href="http://www.amazon.com/gp/product/038572179X/ref=as_li_tl?ie=UTF8&camp=1789&creative=390957&creativeASIN=038572179X&linkCode=as2&tag=notthatsane0d-20&linkId=JOWWNBKCTOIRQG46">Atonement</a>, here I come!<br />
<br />Lakhttp://www.blogger.com/profile/16177723973206020679noreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-6539769009808917053.post-87753658866546345792015-04-15T10:48:00.001-05:002015-04-15T10:48:40.934-05:00Are transfers on?Playing with an occasional partner in a strong club game, I ran into questions of what standard 2/1 is.<br />
<br />
Opposite an overcall of 1NT, we play "systems on", so that:<br />
<br />
<div style="text-align: center;">
1C - 1NT - P - 2H</div>
<br />
the 2H is a transfer to spades.<br />
<br />
But how about this situation:<br />
<br class="Apple-interchange-newline" />
<table><tbody>
<tr><td></td><td>♠986<br />
<span style="color: red;">♥</span>-<br />
<span style="color: red;">♦</span>Q86<br />
♣AJ87432</td><td></td></tr>
<tr><td>♠K743<br />
<span style="color: red;">♥</span>A87542<br />
<span style="color: red;">♦</span>42<br />
♣5</td><td></td><td>♠A2<br />
<span style="color: red;">♥</span>JT93<br />
<span style="color: red;">♦</span>AKT3<br />
♣K96</td></tr>
<tr><td style="font-family: Arial, Helvetica, sans-serif; font-size: 14.6666669845581px;"></td><td style="font-family: Arial, Helvetica, sans-serif; font-size: 14.6666669845581px;">♠QJT5<br />
<span style="color: red;">♥</span>KQ6<br />
<span style="color: red;">♦</span>J975<br />
♣QT</td></tr>
</tbody></table>
<br />
North deals and opens 3C. Partner (East) bids 3NT. Now, as West, I had a problem. Are transfers on, or off in this situation? This is the bidding:<br />
<span style="text-align: center;"><br /></span>
<span style="text-align: center;">3C - 3NT - P - 4H</span><br />
<span style="text-align: center;"><br /></span>
<span style="text-align: center;">Is this a sign-off in hearts, or a transfer to spades?</span><br />
<br />
I decided that discretion was the better part of valor, and passed. Partner played 3NT beautifully, squeezing South in diamonds and spades to pick up 10 tricks. But there are 11 tricks in hearts, and so it was not a great board.<br />
<br />
Once you are playing "systems on" after NT overcalls, Stayman and transfers should be on over a 2NT or 3NT overcall as well. On this hand, though, I have an even better bid available -- I could have bid 4C to cater to partner having four spades. Since clubs is North's preempt suit, this would be unmistakably Stayman. I simply was not thinking.<br />
<br />
<br />Lakhttp://www.blogger.com/profile/16177723973206020679noreply@blogger.com2