Opponents convention card: Dutch Acol.
Opponents playing strength: Intermediate.
My hand: ♠ K 6 5 4 ♥ 7 6 3 2 ♦ 8 5 ♣ K Q J
East opens 1NT. I pass. West bids 2 hearts as a transfer to spades. East bids 2 spades. West bids 3 hearts showing a game forcing hand with 5+ spades and 4+ hearts. East bids 4 hearts. West asks for aces, East shows 2, and they settle into 6 hearts. I can hope the heart split is bad for them, but I don't actually see any tricks available and partner is likely broke so I can't double.
Partner leads the 3 of diamonds
| NORTH ♦ 3 | ||
| EAST ♠ 9 8 ♥ J 5 4 ♦ A K Q J T ♣ A T 5 | ||
| SOUTH ♠ K 6 5 4 ♥ 7 6 3 2 ♦ 8 5 ♣ K Q J |
| West | North | East | South |
| 1NT | Pass | ||
| 2♥1 | Pass | 2♠ | Pass |
| 3♥ | Pass | 4♥ | Pass |
| 4NT2 | Pass | 5♥3 | Pass |
| 6♥ | Pass | Pass | Pass |
| 1Transfer | |||
| 2Ace asking | |||
| 32 aces | |||
Interesting. The tooltips indicated East had 4 hearts for his 4 heart bid. It's entirely possible they are in a 4-3 split here. Of course that diamond suit is a good source of tricks for them. I have a sinking suspicion that a club lead here may have been very bad for them. Oh well. 3-T-5-7.
Declarer decides to draw trump. 4-2-8-Q. Oh my. Partner goes right back to diamonds. 6-J-8-6 of clubs.
Declarer goes to spades now. 8-4-3-7. Huh. Guess his spade suit is pretty darn solid. Now that he got that out of the way he draws more trump. 5-3-T-K. Juh? Not only did partner have at least 5 points he had two of the top three trump? I wonder if declarer could make by playing for KQ tight opposite 4 small?
Partner really likes diamonds, and I guess now I might as well ruff to keep declarer from pitching. 9-Q-6 of hearts-9 of hearts. Draw trump, lead up to the A of clubs, cash diamonds, and finesse me out of my K of spades. Down 1.
| NORTH ♠ 7 2 ♥ K Q ♦ 9 6 4 3 2 ♣ 9 8 4 3 | ||
| WEST ♠ A Q J T 3 ♥ A T 9 8 ♦ 7 ♣ 7 6 2 | EAST ♠ 9 8 ♥ J 5 4 ♦ A K Q J T ♣ A T 5 | |
| SOUTH ♠ K 6 5 4 ♥ 7 6 3 2 ♦ 8 5 ♣ K Q J |
Professor Jack disagrees with my first spade play. I played low when I had an even number and should have played higher. 6 instead of 4. You are right Jack. I will try to get better.
I can't help but notice that a club lead the first time partner gets in instead of insisting on playing diamonds is crushing to declarer. With no board entries at all once the A of clubs is gone he's boned. He can pitch one club before I can ruff in but he can't stop be from getting a club and the K of spades. Of course he can also avoid a second heart loser but he should still be down 2. Not that we forced them to bid up to 6 hearts... These MPs were a complete gift from our intermediate opponents who chose to play a 26 point slam with no fit. It's just a little annoying to leave 1 of those gifted MPs on the table with bad defense.
1 pair played 4 spades down 1 to tie us for a top. Other scores include 4 hearts just in, 4 spades up one, 3NT up 2, and 3NT up 3. So we get 13 MPs on this hand.
Ranking after board 6/60: 9/16 with 45.24%
I also think you should play your diamond 8 at trick one. Your signal can't possibly show attitude given board's holding so you should play high from your doubleton. By not doing so, I would certainly assume you to have a stiff when I get back in as your partner. I mean you totally could have a singleton had you played the 8 and declarer has 2, but I think the 8 at trick one has more potential upside.
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