I wasn't sure what was going to happen when I went to play my bridge hand today, since I was pretty sure I've already played all 60 hands in the competition. It gave me a nice list of all 16 pairs by their percentage of MPs earned with Jack and I finishing on top with 63.33. Second place was only 56.31, so we won by a pretty substantial margin. High five, Jack!
As a reward for winning we got promoted out of Flight D and have moved up to Flight C. It then started up another round of 60 boards against presumably stiffer competition, if that's what I want to do.
I feel like I played reasonably well this time around but mostly it felt like we won because our opponents made some pretty big blunders along the way. I imagine that was part of being in Flight D, where the game forced the opponents to make mistakes every now and then to simulate playing against worse players. And I can't say I disagree with that tact... I played in a fair number of bridge tournaments at a local club with Andrew back before he had kids and I never walked away from a night feeling like we were awesome. But we did pretty well sometimes, and I remember feeling like we scored a lot of points those nights by snookering some poor old ladies with our crazy bidding. I remember one hand where I opened 3 clubs with 6 to the T and they just couldn't comprehend what was going on. Playing weak no trump almost felt like cheating! Other times the opponents would just hang themselves with mistakes and we'd get points by not stopping them from being insane. Of course the same is true in reverse, as there was the hand where Andrew didn't understand my cuebid and decided the best course of action was to pass, letting me play 4 hearts in their 9 card fit instead of making our spade slam.
I didn't get very many comments this time around, certainly not relative to the people commenting on my first match. But I guess a lot of the comments then were about how I was getting screwed by my partner being crazy and random and it's just not as interesting when I'm winning by the opponents being crazy and random. At the end of the day I like playing bridge hands, and I like having something short scheduled on the weekend, so I think I'm going to keep making a bridge post each Sunday. And while I'm tempted to go back to the IMPs format, this current one has a nice feel to it. Only 60 hands (I'll be done by next September!) and a sense of progression if I can play well enough to get promoted again! I may mull it over a bit more in the coming week, but I fully expect to start match 3 next Sunday in Flight C.
Showing posts with label match2. Show all posts
Showing posts with label match2. Show all posts
Sunday, June 29, 2014
Sunday, June 22, 2014
Bridge Match 2 - Board 60
Board 60 - Dealer West - NS Vul
Opponents convention card: Dutch Acol
Opponents playing strength: Intermediate
My hand: ♠ T 8 ♥ Q J T 6 2 ♦ Q 7 ♣ Q 9 5 3
West opens 1 club, partner overcalls 1 spade, and East bids 1 no trump. I don't have spade support but I suspect this hand is a misfit and we have enough points to make things tricky for them. But not enough to feel like I can bid 2 hearts or double, so I pass. So does everyone else, and we play 1 no trump.
I lead the Q of hearts.
Q-5-4-A. Declarer fires back a club. T-3-K-9 of hearts. So partner has a club void and doesn't believe me that hearts is a good suit. Declarer plays another club. 4-9 of spades-8-9.
Decision time. Do I have another entry? If so I should force out the K of hearts to set up 3 tricks. Declarer has J2 of clubs left. So if he gets in his own hand he can finesse clubs by leading the J and I need to rely on Qx of diamonds to get in. But how is he getting to his own hand? Presumably a high diamond. So he would have 2 hearts, a spade, a diamond, and 4 clubs. He has all that on a spade switch too, unless partner has specifically the A of diamonds and 7 spades. I'd hope he'd have bid again with that setup. So I think I need to assume declarer doesn't have a diamond entry so I will get in with my Q. I return a heart. 2-K-7-3.
He plays a diamond to his A. But then he fires out the 2 of clubs! Clubs are blocked as long as I hop. But I guess since he still has the A of spades that also doesn't matter. He takes his 8 tricks and gives up a diamond. My hand is up. Except partner hops with the K to smother my Q. On the plus side partner is up too. Making 2.
6 different results happened this board. 2 tables played 4 clubs down 1. 1 table made 4 clubs. My side went down 1 in 3 hearts once, down 1 in 4 hearts doubled twice, and down 3 in 2 diamonds. So we actually get 8 MPs on the board! And since they sure have 8 top tricks (9 if they play clubs right) there wasn't really a way for us to stop them. Good board!
Jack disagrees with my play on the first club. He wants me to signal an even number by playing the 9. Throwing away the key 9 (when partner has, say, stiff J) is pretty stupid. I can believe I should have played the 5, but the 9 is reckless. He also wants me to play the 5 on the third club. Which fails when partner somehow has 9 clubs and never gains. So, I disagree again, Jack.
Ranking after board 60/60: 1/16 with 63.33%
Opponents convention card: Dutch Acol
Opponents playing strength: Intermediate
My hand: ♠ T 8 ♥ Q J T 6 2 ♦ Q 7 ♣ Q 9 5 3
West opens 1 club, partner overcalls 1 spade, and East bids 1 no trump. I don't have spade support but I suspect this hand is a misfit and we have enough points to make things tricky for them. But not enough to feel like I can bid 2 hearts or double, so I pass. So does everyone else, and we play 1 no trump.
I lead the Q of hearts.
| WEST ♠ A 5 ♥ K 5 ♦ 8 6 3 2 ♣ A K 7 6 4 | ||
| SOUTH ♠ T 8 ♥ Q J T 6 2 ♦ Q 7 ♣ Q 9 5 3 |
| West | North | East | South |
| 1♣ | 1♠ | 1NT | Pass |
| Pass | Pass |
Q-5-4-A. Declarer fires back a club. T-3-K-9 of hearts. So partner has a club void and doesn't believe me that hearts is a good suit. Declarer plays another club. 4-9 of spades-8-9.
Decision time. Do I have another entry? If so I should force out the K of hearts to set up 3 tricks. Declarer has J2 of clubs left. So if he gets in his own hand he can finesse clubs by leading the J and I need to rely on Qx of diamonds to get in. But how is he getting to his own hand? Presumably a high diamond. So he would have 2 hearts, a spade, a diamond, and 4 clubs. He has all that on a spade switch too, unless partner has specifically the A of diamonds and 7 spades. I'd hope he'd have bid again with that setup. So I think I need to assume declarer doesn't have a diamond entry so I will get in with my Q. I return a heart. 2-K-7-3.
He plays a diamond to his A. But then he fires out the 2 of clubs! Clubs are blocked as long as I hop. But I guess since he still has the A of spades that also doesn't matter. He takes his 8 tricks and gives up a diamond. My hand is up. Except partner hops with the K to smother my Q. On the plus side partner is up too. Making 2.
| NORTH ♠ K Q J 9 7 ♥ 9 8 7 4 ♦ K J T 5 ♣ | ||
| WEST ♠ A 5 ♥ K 5 ♦ 8 6 3 2 ♣ A K 7 6 4 | EAST ♠ 6 4 3 2 ♥ A 3 ♦ A 9 4 ♣ J T 8 2 | |
| SOUTH ♠ T 8 ♥ Q J T 6 2 ♦ Q 7 ♣ Q 9 5 3 |
Jack disagrees with my play on the first club. He wants me to signal an even number by playing the 9. Throwing away the key 9 (when partner has, say, stiff J) is pretty stupid. I can believe I should have played the 5, but the 9 is reckless. He also wants me to play the 5 on the third club. Which fails when partner somehow has 9 clubs and never gains. So, I disagree again, Jack.
Ranking after board 60/60: 1/16 with 63.33%
Sunday, June 15, 2014
Bridge Match 2 - Board 59
Board 59 - Dealer South - None Vul
Opponents convention card: Dutch Acol
Opponents playing strength: Intermediate
My hand: ♠ J T 7 6 ♥ 4 2 ♦ K T 7 3 ♣ 9 4 3
Partner opens 1 heart in 3rd seat. East overcalls 2 diamonds. My hand is too bad to take an action here so I pass. Partner continues on to 3 clubs and East moves to 3 spades. My hand seems to hit the opponent, not my partner. I understand he's probably got a pretty good hand but I just don't mesh with him at all. I wonder if I should double? I have a trump trick and they've got to be as misfitted as we are. I really don't want partner to bid again. Eh, I also don't want to double them into game. Partner then bids 4 hearts. Fine partner, you win. Everyone passes.
East leads the K of spades.
Well, I sure have 3 losers off the top and I'm missing the K of hearts. Way to bid game all on your own with only 16 points partner. They cash 3 tricks off the top and then lead a 3rd round of spades. I have to ruff it but then I can't even try to finesse hearts. I'm actually going to lose a club, too, unless they split 3-3 because I have no way to get to board and take my K of diamonds. Nothing crazy happens in hearts or clubs and they get those tricks.
Down 2.
One table played 3 spades doubled and set them 2 so apparently that would have been the winning play from my side. 1 table played 3 only hearts, down 1, for second place. 3 of us went down 2 in 4 hearts and 3 went down 3 in 4 hearts. One of those last ones was even doubled. So we do get 8 MPs out of this. Hurray?
Jack disagrees with my third pass. He thinks I should have doubled them. And I guess I was pretty sure to have at least 2 tricks and partner has been bidding like crazy... He might have 3 tricks? The big thing was East only had 4 spades which surprised me. We probably get to tap them in clubs and then run hearts...
Ranking after board 59/60: 1/16 with 63.44%
Opponents convention card: Dutch Acol
Opponents playing strength: Intermediate
My hand: ♠ J T 7 6 ♥ 4 2 ♦ K T 7 3 ♣ 9 4 3
Partner opens 1 heart in 3rd seat. East overcalls 2 diamonds. My hand is too bad to take an action here so I pass. Partner continues on to 3 clubs and East moves to 3 spades. My hand seems to hit the opponent, not my partner. I understand he's probably got a pretty good hand but I just don't mesh with him at all. I wonder if I should double? I have a trump trick and they've got to be as misfitted as we are. I really don't want partner to bid again. Eh, I also don't want to double them into game. Partner then bids 4 hearts. Fine partner, you win. Everyone passes.
East leads the K of spades.
| NORTH ♠ 9 5 ♥ A Q J 8 7 6 ♦ 8 ♣ A K Q 6 | ||
| EAST ♠ K | ||
| SOUTH ♠ J T 7 6 ♥ 4 2 ♦ K T 7 3 ♣ 9 4 3 |
| West | North | East | South |
| Pass | |||
| Pass | 1♥ | 2♦ | Pass |
| Pass | 3♣1 | 3♠ | Pass |
| Pass | 4♥ | Pass | Pass |
| Pass | |||
| 1Forcing | |||
Well, I sure have 3 losers off the top and I'm missing the K of hearts. Way to bid game all on your own with only 16 points partner. They cash 3 tricks off the top and then lead a 3rd round of spades. I have to ruff it but then I can't even try to finesse hearts. I'm actually going to lose a club, too, unless they split 3-3 because I have no way to get to board and take my K of diamonds. Nothing crazy happens in hearts or clubs and they get those tricks.
Down 2.
| NORTH ♠ 9 5 ♥ A Q J 8 7 6 ♦ 8 ♣ A K Q 6 | ||
| WEST ♠ A 3 2 ♥ T 5 ♦ 6 5 2 ♣ J T 8 7 5 | EAST ♠ K Q 8 4 ♥ K 9 3 ♦ A Q J 9 4 ♣ 2 | |
| SOUTH ♠ J T 7 6 ♥ 4 2 ♦ K T 7 3 ♣ 9 4 3 |
Jack disagrees with my third pass. He thinks I should have doubled them. And I guess I was pretty sure to have at least 2 tricks and partner has been bidding like crazy... He might have 3 tricks? The big thing was East only had 4 spades which surprised me. We probably get to tap them in clubs and then run hearts...
Ranking after board 59/60: 1/16 with 63.44%
Sunday, June 08, 2014
Bridge Match 2 - Board 58
Board 58 - Dealer East - All Vul
Opponents convention card: Dutch Acol
Opponents playing strength: Intermediate
My hand: ♠ J 9 4 3 ♥ K T 8 6 ♦ A Q 9 ♣ J 3
I open a weak NT in second seat. Partner responds 2 clubs, Stayman. I bid 2 hearts and partner jumps to 4. Easy as pie.
West leads the J of diamonds.
Well hello there double fit. And partner has a 17 count? Shouldn't we be considering slam? Anyway I have a club, 3 diamonds, and 5 spades. They didn't lead a club so I don't have to worry about that loser for a while, either. So all I need to do is deal with the trump suit and I'm up.
I feel like I should know how to properly handly this suit, but I don't. Am I supposed to float the J of hearts? If I had the 9 that's probably right, but as is there's a very good chance I lose a trick to the 9 if I do that and East covers with the Q. So probably I should win on board and just lead up to the T. Then lead up to the K? Sure. I win the diamond on board and lead a low heart. 3-9-T-2. Interesting. Now am I supposed to go back to board (risking a spade ruff in a 4-0 split) to repeat the finesse against the Q? Or just give up 2 heart tricks now and be done with it. The problem with giving up 2 heart tricks now is they can set up a club at the same time. Maybe the right play is going to be ruffing a diamond to get back to board? That's only a problem on a 7-1 diamond split which sure feels like it should be less likely than a 4-0 spade split. Ok, run it.
Blargh. East shows out of hearts after I do that so there's no finessing him anyway. But he doesn't fire back a club when he gets in so they only get the 2 heart tricks anyway. Making 5.
All 7 other tables played in 4 spades, not 4 hearts. 2 of them made 5, 4 made 4, and 1 went down 1. So we get 12 MPs.
Jack disagrees with my opening bid. I only have 11 points and we're playing 12-14. Sure, but I like bidding! Later on he disagrees with my play of ruffing a diamond. He'd rather I pitch a club. Ruffing high only makes sense when East has the remaining hearts and only 2 diamonds which isn't very likely but was what I was playing against. Pitching is better in all other situations. Because then I can safely use the A of clubs as a board entry without risk. Yeah, that sure would have been better. Even if East ruffs with a little heart I'm only in trouble if he then leads a spade to his partner's void. Which is possible, so my play wasn't strictly inferior, but it's really not very likely.
Ranking after board 58/60: 1/16 with 63.55%
Opponents convention card: Dutch Acol
Opponents playing strength: Intermediate
My hand: ♠ J 9 4 3 ♥ K T 8 6 ♦ A Q 9 ♣ J 3
I open a weak NT in second seat. Partner responds 2 clubs, Stayman. I bid 2 hearts and partner jumps to 4. Easy as pie.
West leads the J of diamonds.
| NORTH ♠ A K Q T 5 ♥ J 7 4 3 ♦ K 4 ♣ A 5 | ||
| WEST ♦ J | ||
| SOUTH ♠ J 9 4 3 ♥ K T 8 6 ♦ A Q 9 ♣ J 3 |
| West | North | East | South |
| Pass | 1NT | ||
| Pass | 2♣1 | Pass | 2♥ |
| Pass | 4♥ | Pass | Pass |
| Pass | |||
| 1Stayman | |||
Well hello there double fit. And partner has a 17 count? Shouldn't we be considering slam? Anyway I have a club, 3 diamonds, and 5 spades. They didn't lead a club so I don't have to worry about that loser for a while, either. So all I need to do is deal with the trump suit and I'm up.
I feel like I should know how to properly handly this suit, but I don't. Am I supposed to float the J of hearts? If I had the 9 that's probably right, but as is there's a very good chance I lose a trick to the 9 if I do that and East covers with the Q. So probably I should win on board and just lead up to the T. Then lead up to the K? Sure. I win the diamond on board and lead a low heart. 3-9-T-2. Interesting. Now am I supposed to go back to board (risking a spade ruff in a 4-0 split) to repeat the finesse against the Q? Or just give up 2 heart tricks now and be done with it. The problem with giving up 2 heart tricks now is they can set up a club at the same time. Maybe the right play is going to be ruffing a diamond to get back to board? That's only a problem on a 7-1 diamond split which sure feels like it should be less likely than a 4-0 spade split. Ok, run it.
Blargh. East shows out of hearts after I do that so there's no finessing him anyway. But he doesn't fire back a club when he gets in so they only get the 2 heart tricks anyway. Making 5.
| NORTH ♠ A K Q T 5 ♥ J 7 4 3 ♦ K 4 ♣ A 5 | ||
| WEST ♠ 8 6 ♥ A Q 5 2 ♦ J T 8 2 ♣ 7 6 2 | EAST ♠ 7 2 ♥ 9 ♦ 7 6 5 3 ♣ K Q T 9 8 4 | |
| SOUTH ♠ J 9 4 3 ♥ K T 8 6 ♦ A Q 9 ♣ J 3 |
All 7 other tables played in 4 spades, not 4 hearts. 2 of them made 5, 4 made 4, and 1 went down 1. So we get 12 MPs.
Jack disagrees with my opening bid. I only have 11 points and we're playing 12-14. Sure, but I like bidding! Later on he disagrees with my play of ruffing a diamond. He'd rather I pitch a club. Ruffing high only makes sense when East has the remaining hearts and only 2 diamonds which isn't very likely but was what I was playing against. Pitching is better in all other situations. Because then I can safely use the A of clubs as a board entry without risk. Yeah, that sure would have been better. Even if East ruffs with a little heart I'm only in trouble if he then leads a spade to his partner's void. Which is possible, so my play wasn't strictly inferior, but it's really not very likely.
Ranking after board 58/60: 1/16 with 63.55%
Sunday, June 01, 2014
Bridge Match 2 - Board 57
Board 57 - Dealer North - EW Vul
Opponents convention card: Dutch Acol
Opponents playing strength: Intermediate
My hand: ♠ J 9 5 2 ♥ J 7 6 ♦ K Q 9 ♣ T 8 2
Partner opens 1 diamond in first chair. East passes. My hand is pretty bad, but I do have 7 points and a 4 card major so I have to bid a spade. West passes and partner bids 1NT, strong. Even opposite a strong NT opener my hand isn't very good. It isn't worth even an invite, so I pass.
East leads the 9 of hearts.
I have 3 diamonds off the top and that is it. I can almost certainly get a 4th diamond and might even get a 5th. I can brute force a club and might get a second one. I can eventually set up 2 spades after losing 2 tricks. And I have a heart for sure off the opening lead. As far as losers go I have stoppers all over the place but only one heart stopper. But the weird 9 of hearts lead makes me think they're probably split 4-3. So I probably only have 3 heart losers, a club, 2 spades, and a diamond. I need to find a way to not lose one of those.
Anyway, I think I need to cover the lead. 9-J-2-3. Well, that was unexpected. Now ideally I want to lose a trick to East if at all so I can't be finessed in hearts. But since I'm mostly losing aces I don't have much choice in the matter. I want to start by setting up spades and I can try finessing the Q into East. 2-4-T-8. Well, that makes setting up spades harder, actually. But I got a trick out of it, so that's fine. Let's see what's up in diamonds. 3-6-K-2. Good stuff. I have a 4th diamond for sure, but I might have to lose a diamond to get it. I do think it's time to establish a club trick. 2-3-Q-A. East fires back a club. 7-8-9-K.
Urg, I feel like I've probably played this badly and am mostly just setting up tricks for the opponents. Well. I get to make if diamonds are 3-2, so let's see if that's going to happen. 4-J-Q-7. Hurray! I cash out and they are up. Making 2.
Everyone was in 1NT. Someone made 3, 3 of us made 2, someone made 1, and 3 people went down 1. So we score up 10 more MPs. Woo!
Jack disagrees with my spade play. He wants to investigate diamonds first, which probably makes more sense. Even if they split badly you can force someone to make some pitches and maybe pull off an accidental squeeze of some kind. He then later disagrees with my playing a club. He still wants me to play diamonds, and he's still probably right. Oops.
Ranking after board 57/60: 1/16 with 63.16%
Opponents convention card: Dutch Acol
Opponents playing strength: Intermediate
My hand: ♠ J 9 5 2 ♥ J 7 6 ♦ K Q 9 ♣ T 8 2
Partner opens 1 diamond in first chair. East passes. My hand is pretty bad, but I do have 7 points and a 4 card major so I have to bid a spade. West passes and partner bids 1NT, strong. Even opposite a strong NT opener my hand isn't very good. It isn't worth even an invite, so I pass.
East leads the 9 of hearts.
| NORTH ♠ K T ♥ K 8 3 ♦ A 8 5 4 3 ♣ K Q 5 | ||
| EAST ♥ 9 | ||
| SOUTH ♠ J 9 5 2 ♥ J 7 6 ♦ K Q 9 ♣ T 8 2 |
| West | North | East | South |
| 1♦ | Pass | 1♠ | |
| Pass | 1NT | Pass | Pass |
| Pass |
I have 3 diamonds off the top and that is it. I can almost certainly get a 4th diamond and might even get a 5th. I can brute force a club and might get a second one. I can eventually set up 2 spades after losing 2 tricks. And I have a heart for sure off the opening lead. As far as losers go I have stoppers all over the place but only one heart stopper. But the weird 9 of hearts lead makes me think they're probably split 4-3. So I probably only have 3 heart losers, a club, 2 spades, and a diamond. I need to find a way to not lose one of those.
Anyway, I think I need to cover the lead. 9-J-2-3. Well, that was unexpected. Now ideally I want to lose a trick to East if at all so I can't be finessed in hearts. But since I'm mostly losing aces I don't have much choice in the matter. I want to start by setting up spades and I can try finessing the Q into East. 2-4-T-8. Well, that makes setting up spades harder, actually. But I got a trick out of it, so that's fine. Let's see what's up in diamonds. 3-6-K-2. Good stuff. I have a 4th diamond for sure, but I might have to lose a diamond to get it. I do think it's time to establish a club trick. 2-3-Q-A. East fires back a club. 7-8-9-K.
Urg, I feel like I've probably played this badly and am mostly just setting up tricks for the opponents. Well. I get to make if diamonds are 3-2, so let's see if that's going to happen. 4-J-Q-7. Hurray! I cash out and they are up. Making 2.
| NORTH ♠ K T ♥ K 8 3 ♦ A 8 5 4 3 ♣ K Q 5 | ||
| WEST ♠ A Q 4 ♥ 5 4 2 ♦ T 7 2 ♣ J 9 6 3 | EAST ♠ 8 7 6 3 ♥ A Q T 9 ♦ J 6 ♣ A 7 4 | |
| SOUTH ♠ J 9 5 2 ♥ J 7 6 ♦ K Q 9 ♣ T 8 2 |
Jack disagrees with my spade play. He wants to investigate diamonds first, which probably makes more sense. Even if they split badly you can force someone to make some pitches and maybe pull off an accidental squeeze of some kind. He then later disagrees with my playing a club. He still wants me to play diamonds, and he's still probably right. Oops.
Ranking after board 57/60: 1/16 with 63.16%
Sunday, May 25, 2014
Bridge Match 2 - Board 56
Board 56 - Dealer West - None Vul
Opponents convention card: Bridge World Standard
Opponents playing strength: Fair
My hand: ♠ K T ♥ A Q J 9 ♦ J 4 ♣ T 7 6 3 2
East opens a strong 1NT in 3rd chair. I guess I have a pretty decent hand to interfere a little bit, especially black on black. We're playing Cappelletti and I think I have a pretty typical 2 hearts bid. I'd rather my black king was in clubs but you can't have everything. West jumps to 4 spades which gets passed out.
Partner leads the 2 of hearts.
Hmm. The 1NT opener had 5 cards in my suit. They cap out at the 7 though! I was hoping that a heart lead would be great because dummy was going to have the missing hearts and I'd be able to finesse them but that doesn't look to be the case. 2-3-A-T. Well, either declarer has the K or he's out. But leading any other suit seems pretty sketchy too, so I fire back a heart. Q-3 of spades-8-4. Declarer draws trump. 4-2-J-K.
Do I have a good aggressive play? At this point I don't see one, so I just make declarer ruff another heart. J-8 of spades-K-5. Declarer draws my last trump with partner showing out. So he has 4 more trump tricks to go with his 3 taken tricks and 2 aces on board. And he can establish his 5th heart with another ruff, which he does. Then he pitches it away because he's got all the high diamonds too. Making 5.
All 8 tables played 4 spades. 7 of them made 5, the other made 6. So we eek out 8 MPs by virtue of one table giving away a trick.
Jack disagrees with my Capp bid because he says my suit is just too bad. He may be right. And then he also disagrees with the way I signalled once I knew declarer had all the tricks. Sorry Jack. Maybe if your AI could claim that wouldn't have happened.
Ranking after board 56/60: 1/16 with 63.01%
Opponents convention card: Bridge World Standard
Opponents playing strength: Fair
My hand: ♠ K T ♥ A Q J 9 ♦ J 4 ♣ T 7 6 3 2
East opens a strong 1NT in 3rd chair. I guess I have a pretty decent hand to interfere a little bit, especially black on black. We're playing Cappelletti and I think I have a pretty typical 2 hearts bid. I'd rather my black king was in clubs but you can't have everything. West jumps to 4 spades which gets passed out.
Partner leads the 2 of hearts.
| NORTH ♥ 2 | ||
| EAST ♠ A J ♥ 7 6 5 4 3 ♦ A Q T ♣ A J 9 | ||
| SOUTH ♠ K T ♥ A Q J 9 ♦ J 4 ♣ T 7 6 3 2 |
| West | North | East | South |
| Pass | Pass | 1NT | 2♥1 |
| 4♠ | Pass | Pass | Pass |
| 1Cappelletti | |||
Hmm. The 1NT opener had 5 cards in my suit. They cap out at the 7 though! I was hoping that a heart lead would be great because dummy was going to have the missing hearts and I'd be able to finesse them but that doesn't look to be the case. 2-3-A-T. Well, either declarer has the K or he's out. But leading any other suit seems pretty sketchy too, so I fire back a heart. Q-3 of spades-8-4. Declarer draws trump. 4-2-J-K.
Do I have a good aggressive play? At this point I don't see one, so I just make declarer ruff another heart. J-8 of spades-K-5. Declarer draws my last trump with partner showing out. So he has 4 more trump tricks to go with his 3 taken tricks and 2 aces on board. And he can establish his 5th heart with another ruff, which he does. Then he pitches it away because he's got all the high diamonds too. Making 5.
| NORTH ♠ 2 ♥ K 8 2 ♦ 9 8 6 3 2 ♣ K Q 8 5 | ||
| WEST ♠ Q 9 8 7 6 5 4 3 ♥ T ♦ K 7 5 ♣ 4 | EAST ♠ A J ♥ 7 6 5 4 3 ♦ A Q T ♣ A J 9 | |
| SOUTH ♠ K T ♥ A Q J 9 ♦ J 4 ♣ T 7 6 3 2 |
Jack disagrees with my Capp bid because he says my suit is just too bad. He may be right. And then he also disagrees with the way I signalled once I knew declarer had all the tricks. Sorry Jack. Maybe if your AI could claim that wouldn't have happened.
Ranking after board 56/60: 1/16 with 63.01%
Sunday, May 18, 2014
Bridge Match 2 - Board 55
Board 55 - Dealer South - All Vul
Opponents convention card: Bridge World Standard
Opponents playing strength: Fair
My hand: ♠ A Q 9 3 ♥ J 9 6 3 ♦ 7 6 ♣ A Q J
I open a weak no trump. Partner jumps to 3NT. Simple and easy.
West leads the 2 of clubs.
2-7-K-A. Why does partner only have a 10 count? Why does he have a 6 card suit? Why is that suit a major? On the plus side I have incredible support for his 6 card suit and the opponents didn't run diamonds off the top. I have 10 top tricks and no reason to let the opponents in to play diamonds. So I do that. Making 4.
The other 7 tables all played spades. 1 made 3 spades, 2 went down in 4 spades, and 4 made 4 spades. Playing in NT got us 10 extra points which is enough for a solo top. So, uh, good bidding partner? Though we really should have had a bottom board...
Jack agrees with me all the way! (It may have something to do with making approximately no decisions this hand.)
Ranking after board 55/60: 1/16 with 63.12%
Opponents convention card: Bridge World Standard
Opponents playing strength: Fair
My hand: ♠ A Q 9 3 ♥ J 9 6 3 ♦ 7 6 ♣ A Q J
I open a weak no trump. Partner jumps to 3NT. Simple and easy.
West leads the 2 of clubs.
| NORTH ♠ K J 8 7 5 4 ♥ A 8 2 ♦ Q 5 2 ♣ 7 | ||
| WEST ♣ 2 | ||
| SOUTH ♠ A Q 9 3 ♥ J 9 6 3 ♦ 7 6 ♣ A Q J |
| West | North | East | South |
| 1NT | |||
| Pass | 3NT | Pass | Pass |
| Pass |
2-7-K-A. Why does partner only have a 10 count? Why does he have a 6 card suit? Why is that suit a major? On the plus side I have incredible support for his 6 card suit and the opponents didn't run diamonds off the top. I have 10 top tricks and no reason to let the opponents in to play diamonds. So I do that. Making 4.
| NORTH ♠ K J 8 7 5 4 ♥ A 8 2 ♦ Q 5 2 ♣ 7 | ||
| WEST ♠ T 6 ♥ Q T 5 4 ♦ A T 4 ♣ 8 5 3 2 | EAST ♠ 2 ♥ K 7 ♦ K J 9 8 3 ♣ K T 9 6 4 | |
| SOUTH ♠ A Q 9 3 ♥ J 9 6 3 ♦ 7 6 ♣ A Q J |
The other 7 tables all played spades. 1 made 3 spades, 2 went down in 4 spades, and 4 made 4 spades. Playing in NT got us 10 extra points which is enough for a solo top. So, uh, good bidding partner? Though we really should have had a bottom board...
Jack agrees with me all the way! (It may have something to do with making approximately no decisions this hand.)
Ranking after board 55/60: 1/16 with 63.12%
Sunday, May 11, 2014
Bridge Match 2 - Board 54
Board 54 - Dealer East - EW Vul
Opponents convention card: Bridge World Standard
Opponents playing strength: Fair
My hand: ♠ 6 5 4 ♥ Q 9 6 5 4 ♦ K J 7 ♣ 7 3
East opens 2 diamonds, weak. My hand sucks so I have no reason to bid. West jumps to 4 spades so I guess East preempted his partner. I again see no reason to bid.
Partner leads the Q of clubs.
Q-4-3-A. Declarer shifts to a diamond. T-2-Q-K. I may be able to get a club ruff if partner led from KQx so I return a club. 7-4 of diamonds-J-5. Turns out partner lead a club from KQJxx and declarer decided to pitch a diamond loser rather than ruff. Partner shifts to a heart which feels like a big mistake when dummy has 1 heart and 1 spade. 2-3-Q-T. I won? What?
Ok, so partner for some reason underled his AK of hearts to get me on lead. Why would he do that? I really want to draw trump here to stick declarer with a heart loser but it feels like partner is trying to get me in to lead something through declarer. A diamond? Does partner want a ruff? I don't think I believe him enough to let declarer ruff a heart though, so I draw trump. 6-K-3-9. Declarer draws more trump. A-Q-3 of diamonds-5. 7-8 of hearts-6 of clubs-4. Declarer draws lots of trump, takes his A of diamonds, and then has to lose a heart at the end. Down 1.
Four tables played in 4 spades, with three of them going down 1. The other four tables all played hearts from our side going down a ton. So we split a top board with 2 other tables for 12 MPs.
Jack disagrees with my spade return at trick 5. He wants me to return a diamond. It turns out my play is a loser when declarer has an 8 card spade suit, but if declarer had an 8 card spade suit he had 10 top tricks and didn't need to finesse the diamond. If he only has 7 spades then he has to have a loser somewhere (I know partner has the high club and heart and I have the high diamond) unless he gets to ruff it. So taking away dummy's trump should guarantee down 1.
Ranking after board 54/60: 1/16 with 62.43%
Opponents convention card: Bridge World Standard
Opponents playing strength: Fair
My hand: ♠ 6 5 4 ♥ Q 9 6 5 4 ♦ K J 7 ♣ 7 3
East opens 2 diamonds, weak. My hand sucks so I have no reason to bid. West jumps to 4 spades so I guess East preempted his partner. I again see no reason to bid.
Partner leads the Q of clubs.
| NORTH ♣ Q | ||
| EAST ♠ 9 ♥ 3 ♦ A Q 9 8 6 3 ♣ T 8 6 5 4 | ||
| SOUTH ♠ 6 5 4 ♥ Q 9 6 5 4 ♦ K J 7 ♣ 7 3 |
| West | North | East | South |
| 2♦1 | Pass | ||
| 4♠ | Pass | Pass | Pass |
| 1Weak | |||
Q-4-3-A. Declarer shifts to a diamond. T-2-Q-K. I may be able to get a club ruff if partner led from KQx so I return a club. 7-4 of diamonds-J-5. Turns out partner lead a club from KQJxx and declarer decided to pitch a diamond loser rather than ruff. Partner shifts to a heart which feels like a big mistake when dummy has 1 heart and 1 spade. 2-3-Q-T. I won? What?
Ok, so partner for some reason underled his AK of hearts to get me on lead. Why would he do that? I really want to draw trump here to stick declarer with a heart loser but it feels like partner is trying to get me in to lead something through declarer. A diamond? Does partner want a ruff? I don't think I believe him enough to let declarer ruff a heart though, so I draw trump. 6-K-3-9. Declarer draws more trump. A-Q-3 of diamonds-5. 7-8 of hearts-6 of clubs-4. Declarer draws lots of trump, takes his A of diamonds, and then has to lose a heart at the end. Down 1.
| NORTH ♠ Q 3 ♥ A K 8 7 2 ♦ 2 ♣ K Q J 9 2 | ||
| WEST ♠ A K J T 8 7 2 ♥ J T ♦ T 5 4 ♣ A | EAST ♠ 9 ♥ 3 ♦ A Q 9 8 6 3 ♣ T 8 6 5 4 | |
| SOUTH ♠ 6 5 4 ♥ Q 9 6 5 4 ♦ K J 7 ♣ 7 3 |
Jack disagrees with my spade return at trick 5. He wants me to return a diamond. It turns out my play is a loser when declarer has an 8 card spade suit, but if declarer had an 8 card spade suit he had 10 top tricks and didn't need to finesse the diamond. If he only has 7 spades then he has to have a loser somewhere (I know partner has the high club and heart and I have the high diamond) unless he gets to ruff it. So taking away dummy's trump should guarantee down 1.
Ranking after board 54/60: 1/16 with 62.43%
Sunday, May 04, 2014
Bridge Match 2 - Board 53
Board 53 - Dealer North - NS Vul
Opponents convention card: Bridge World Standard
Opponents playing strength: Fair
My hand: ♠ 8 5 3 ♥ Q 7 4 ♦ Q 7 6 4 ♣ J 9 6
Partner opens 1 spade in first chair. I have a flat, terrible 5 count but I do have 3 spades so I can find a 2 spades bid. West interferes with 3 clubs and partner goes crazy and jumps to 4 spades. East and I pass but West is having nothing to do with this and goes to 5 clubs. Partner pulls out the double and I really can't pull it.
Partner leads the Ace of Diamonds.
A-5-7-8. Partner decides to draw trump now after seeing dummy. Q-4-6-A. Declarer cashes a diamond. K-3-J-4. Then he draws trump instead of ruffing a diamond... That seems wrong? K-2 of spades-8-9. Declarer has 5 more trump in hand but hopefully partner has the high cards in the other suits?
Declarer fires out a spade. 6-Q-4-3. Partner shifts back to diamonds. 2-2 of hearts-Q-9. I see no reason to not fire back a diamond. 6-2 of clubs-T-3 of hearts. Another spade to partner. T-A-J-5. Partner tries to cash the A of hearts but declarer ruffs it. Declarer then cashes a spade and fires a club to my J. I have now been endplayed into playing out a heart. But declarer only has trump left so that doesn't much matter.
Down 3, doubled.
Three tables actually play 5 clubs doubled, though one of them only took 4 tricks. The other tables did things like making 4 clubs, or making 4 clubs doubled, or making 4 in 3 clubs. Our side went down 1 in 2 spades or down 2 in 3 spades. So we get 11 MPs.
Jack agrees with me all the way!
Ranking after board 53/60: 1/16 with 61.99%
Opponents convention card: Bridge World Standard
Opponents playing strength: Fair
My hand: ♠ 8 5 3 ♥ Q 7 4 ♦ Q 7 6 4 ♣ J 9 6
Partner opens 1 spade in first chair. I have a flat, terrible 5 count but I do have 3 spades so I can find a 2 spades bid. West interferes with 3 clubs and partner goes crazy and jumps to 4 spades. East and I pass but West is having nothing to do with this and goes to 5 clubs. Partner pulls out the double and I really can't pull it.
Partner leads the Ace of Diamonds.
| NORTH ♦ A | ||
| EAST ♠ J 4 ♥ K T 9 6 5 3 2 ♦ J 5 ♣ 8 4 | ||
| SOUTH ♠ 8 5 3 ♥ Q 7 4 ♦ Q 7 6 4 ♣ J 9 6 |
| West | North | East | South |
| 1♠ | Pass | 2♠ | |
| 3♣ | 4♠ | Pass | Pass |
| 5♣ | Double1 | Pass | Pass |
| Pass | |||
| 1Penalty | |||
A-5-7-8. Partner decides to draw trump now after seeing dummy. Q-4-6-A. Declarer cashes a diamond. K-3-J-4. Then he draws trump instead of ruffing a diamond... That seems wrong? K-2 of spades-8-9. Declarer has 5 more trump in hand but hopefully partner has the high cards in the other suits?
Declarer fires out a spade. 6-Q-4-3. Partner shifts back to diamonds. 2-2 of hearts-Q-9. I see no reason to not fire back a diamond. 6-2 of clubs-T-3 of hearts. Another spade to partner. T-A-J-5. Partner tries to cash the A of hearts but declarer ruffs it. Declarer then cashes a spade and fires a club to my J. I have now been endplayed into playing out a heart. But declarer only has trump left so that doesn't much matter.
Down 3, doubled.
| NORTH ♠ A Q 9 7 2 ♥ A J 8 ♦ A T 3 2 ♣ Q | ||
| WEST ♠ K T 6 ♥ ♦ K 9 8 ♣ A K T 7 5 3 2 | EAST ♠ J 4 ♥ K T 9 6 5 3 2 ♦ J 5 ♣ 8 4 | |
| SOUTH ♠ 8 5 3 ♥ Q 7 4 ♦ Q 7 6 4 ♣ J 9 6 |
Jack agrees with me all the way!
Ranking after board 53/60: 1/16 with 61.99%
Sunday, April 27, 2014
Bridge Match 2 - Board 52
Board 52 - Dealer West - All Vul
Opponents convention card: Majeure cinquième
Opponents playing strength: Intermediate
My hand: ♠ T 9 3 2 ♥ J 6 5 4 ♦ K 9 4 3 ♣ 3
West opens 1 diamond, partner overcalls 1 spade, and East responds 2 hearts. My hand is not very good, but I do have a fit for partner and 4 cards in their suits. Probably they have a club fit and I want to make it harder for them to find it. Partner should have 5 spades for his overcall so 3 spades seems like the place to be! West and partner both pass but East has other ideas and jumps to 4NT which is alerted as ace asking for no trump. I said my piece so I pass. West shows 1 or 4 aces and East settles into 6 diamonds. I don't think I can double, but I sure hope they bid too much and go down!
Partner leads the queen of spades.
Q-A-2-5. Declarer switches to a heart. 2-5-K-9. Now he draws trump. A-2-T-3. This method of drawing trump means I have 2 trump tricks; now I need to hope we have an outside trick too. He plays another round of trump. 5-8-Q-K. Dummy is out of trump so I guess I should play a spade. T-4-7-3 of hearts. Hmm. I don't know what declarer's plan is, but it seems to have backfired. I fire another spade through. 9-8-J-7 of hearts. Partner cashes another spade with declarer pitching a club from hand. Nothing makes any sense.
He does ruff the next spade, after I've pitched a club myself. He fires a club around which I ruff. I return a heart to declarer. Rather than draw my trump he plays another club. I ruff it too. Then I play another heart and it turns out partner has the J of diamonds!
They do finally get the A of clubs on the end. Down 6.
Every other table made a contract from their side. 5 tables made 6 clubs, 1 table made 7 clubs, and one went up 2 in 4 hearts. They definitely had a club fit and I guess my preempt made them miss it? Huzzah! 14 MPs to the good!
Jack disagrees with my signal on the opening trick. He wants me to encourage since I have the T. I feel like my holding in spades is as bad as it can be for my earlier bid and I have no reason to encourage, so I stand by my decision to signal low.
Ranking after board 52/60: 1/16 with 61.4%
Opponents convention card: Majeure cinquième
Opponents playing strength: Intermediate
My hand: ♠ T 9 3 2 ♥ J 6 5 4 ♦ K 9 4 3 ♣ 3
West opens 1 diamond, partner overcalls 1 spade, and East responds 2 hearts. My hand is not very good, but I do have a fit for partner and 4 cards in their suits. Probably they have a club fit and I want to make it harder for them to find it. Partner should have 5 spades for his overcall so 3 spades seems like the place to be! West and partner both pass but East has other ideas and jumps to 4NT which is alerted as ace asking for no trump. I said my piece so I pass. West shows 1 or 4 aces and East settles into 6 diamonds. I don't think I can double, but I sure hope they bid too much and go down!
Partner leads the queen of spades.
| NORTH ♠ Q | ||
| EAST ♠ A ♥ A T 7 3 2 ♦ Q T ♣ A Q J 9 6 | ||
| SOUTH ♠ T 9 3 2 ♥ J 6 5 4 ♦ K 9 4 3 ♣ 3 |
| West | North | East | South |
| 1♦ | 1♠ | 2♥ | 3♠ |
| Pass | Pass | Pass | |
| Pass | 6♦ | Pass | |
| Pass | Pass | ||
| 1Ace asking for no trump | |||
| 21 or 4 aces | |||
Q-A-2-5. Declarer switches to a heart. 2-5-K-9. Now he draws trump. A-2-T-3. This method of drawing trump means I have 2 trump tricks; now I need to hope we have an outside trick too. He plays another round of trump. 5-8-Q-K. Dummy is out of trump so I guess I should play a spade. T-4-7-3 of hearts. Hmm. I don't know what declarer's plan is, but it seems to have backfired. I fire another spade through. 9-8-J-7 of hearts. Partner cashes another spade with declarer pitching a club from hand. Nothing makes any sense.
He does ruff the next spade, after I've pitched a club myself. He fires a club around which I ruff. I return a heart to declarer. Rather than draw my trump he plays another club. I ruff it too. Then I play another heart and it turns out partner has the J of diamonds!
They do finally get the A of clubs on the end. Down 6.
| NORTH ♠ K Q J 7 6 ♥ 9 8 ♦ J 8 2 ♣ T 4 2 | ||
| WEST ♠ 8 5 4 ♥ K Q ♦ A 7 6 5 ♣ K 8 7 5 | EAST ♠ A ♥ A T 7 3 2 ♦ Q T ♣ A Q J 9 6 | |
| SOUTH ♠ T 9 3 2 ♥ J 6 5 4 ♦ K 9 4 3 ♣ 3 |
Jack disagrees with my signal on the opening trick. He wants me to encourage since I have the T. I feel like my holding in spades is as bad as it can be for my earlier bid and I have no reason to encourage, so I stand by my decision to signal low.
Ranking after board 52/60: 1/16 with 61.4%
Sunday, April 20, 2014
Bridge Match 2 - Board 51
Board 51 - Dealer South - EW Vul
Opponents convention card: Majeure cinquième
Opponents playing strength: Intermediate
My hand: ♠ Q J 9 ♥ ♦ A J T 9 6 5 4 3 ♣ 7 4
Well. I have an 8 count with an 8 card suit and a void. If partner has a good hand (especially one with spades and top clubs) we could well be looking at a slam. Or if partner has a bad hand the opponents almost certainly have a slam of their own. So I need to figure out if I want to leave lots of room to find those slams or if I want to just take away all the bidding room. I think they're more likely to have the slam than we are, and they're red while we're white. I've heard the argument that white on red you should preempt up one more level than you normally would (and red on white you should go the other way) but I'm not sure I can talk myself into opening 5 diamonds. But taking away 4 hearts seems really good. Really, really good. Ok, screw it. All in. 5 diamonds. West immediately overcalls 5 hearts which gets passed back to me. I really can't bid more, so I pass too. At least they're stuck at the 5 level, which might be one too high (if they only make 4 hearts at other tables) or one too low (if there's a slam) so I like it.
Partner leads the 2 of diamonds.
2-7-A-K. Would partner have lead the 2 from Q-8-2? I'd hope he'd have lead the Q if he had it so returning a diamond is probably safe. But it doesn't really accomplish anything either since declarer definitely didn't drop the K from KQ8. Leading any other suit is apt to help declarer out, but maybe not a spade if partner has the A or the T. But if declarer has both any spade I choose to lead gives up a trick. I guess a club is only pretty bad? I fire out the 7 of clubs. 7-6-T-Q. Declarer draws trump, I pitch a diamond, and my play of the hand is now unlikely to matter.
Said prediction was true, as declarer is really, really up. Partner had a 4-3-3-3 2 count and they _really_ had 6 cold.
Six of the tables played slam and made. In two cases they even made 7 (I guess they didn't lead a diamond) one of which they were actually _in_ 7. The last table played 4 hearts making 6. So we share the top spot with those guys and earn 13 MPs.
Jack disagrees with my opening bid. He wants me to open 4 diamonds, which is fine, but his reasoning is absurd. He thinks 5 diamonds has a conventional meaning and isn't a preempt. Somehow 5 diamonds is 'Gambling 3NT' which is weird since I'd think that convention would involve opening 3NT. I feel like my bid earned us a lot of MPs Jack, so screw you. (In fact I tried bidding 4 diamonds to see what would happen and they easily get to 6 hearts where assuming I lead my A of diamonds we still get 6 MPs.)
Ranking after board 51/60: 1/16 with 60.64%
Opponents convention card: Majeure cinquième
Opponents playing strength: Intermediate
My hand: ♠ Q J 9 ♥ ♦ A J T 9 6 5 4 3 ♣ 7 4
Well. I have an 8 count with an 8 card suit and a void. If partner has a good hand (especially one with spades and top clubs) we could well be looking at a slam. Or if partner has a bad hand the opponents almost certainly have a slam of their own. So I need to figure out if I want to leave lots of room to find those slams or if I want to just take away all the bidding room. I think they're more likely to have the slam than we are, and they're red while we're white. I've heard the argument that white on red you should preempt up one more level than you normally would (and red on white you should go the other way) but I'm not sure I can talk myself into opening 5 diamonds. But taking away 4 hearts seems really good. Really, really good. Ok, screw it. All in. 5 diamonds. West immediately overcalls 5 hearts which gets passed back to me. I really can't bid more, so I pass too. At least they're stuck at the 5 level, which might be one too high (if they only make 4 hearts at other tables) or one too low (if there's a slam) so I like it.
Partner leads the 2 of diamonds.
| NORTH ♦ 2 | ||
| EAST ♠ K 7 5 3 ♥ J T 5 2 ♦ 7 ♣ K Q 9 2 | ||
| SOUTH ♠ Q J 9 ♥ ♦ A J T 9 6 5 4 3 ♣ 7 4 |
| West | North | East | South |
| 5♦ | |||
| 5♥ | Pass | Pass |
2-7-A-K. Would partner have lead the 2 from Q-8-2? I'd hope he'd have lead the Q if he had it so returning a diamond is probably safe. But it doesn't really accomplish anything either since declarer definitely didn't drop the K from KQ8. Leading any other suit is apt to help declarer out, but maybe not a spade if partner has the A or the T. But if declarer has both any spade I choose to lead gives up a trick. I guess a club is only pretty bad? I fire out the 7 of clubs. 7-6-T-Q. Declarer draws trump, I pitch a diamond, and my play of the hand is now unlikely to matter.
Said prediction was true, as declarer is really, really up. Partner had a 4-3-3-3 2 count and they _really_ had 6 cold.
| NORTH ♠ T 8 6 ♥ 9 6 3 ♦ Q 8 2 ♣ T 8 5 3 | ||
| WEST ♠ A 4 2 ♥ A K Q 8 7 4 ♦ K ♣ A J 6 | EAST ♠ K 7 5 3 ♥ J T 5 2 ♦ 7 ♣ K Q 9 2 | |
| SOUTH ♠ Q J 9 ♥ ♦ A J T 9 6 5 4 3 ♣ 7 4 |
Six of the tables played slam and made. In two cases they even made 7 (I guess they didn't lead a diamond) one of which they were actually _in_ 7. The last table played 4 hearts making 6. So we share the top spot with those guys and earn 13 MPs.
Jack disagrees with my opening bid. He wants me to open 4 diamonds, which is fine, but his reasoning is absurd. He thinks 5 diamonds has a conventional meaning and isn't a preempt. Somehow 5 diamonds is 'Gambling 3NT' which is weird since I'd think that convention would involve opening 3NT. I feel like my bid earned us a lot of MPs Jack, so screw you. (In fact I tried bidding 4 diamonds to see what would happen and they easily get to 6 hearts where assuming I lead my A of diamonds we still get 6 MPs.)
Ranking after board 51/60: 1/16 with 60.64%
Sunday, April 13, 2014
Bridge Match 2 - Board 50
Board 50 - Dealer East - NS Vul
Opponents convention card: Majeure cinquième
Opponents playing strength: Intermediate
My hand: ♠ Q T 9 6 5 4 ♥ A 9 6 2 ♦ ♣ Q 9 6
East preempts 3 diamonds. I wanted to preempt spades but that sure isn't happening now. I wonder if I should double here? I don't have nearly enough points to justify it, but I have a really nice distribution. I worry partner has a good hand but too many diamonds to take a sensible action when it gets around to him. I think if the vulnerability wasn't truly terrible I'd go for it. I pass, and so does everyone else.
I lead the T of spades.
East wins the opening lead with the A of spades and fires back a club. 2-6-A-4. Then he cashes the K of spades from board with partner dropping the J. Shift to a diamond. 4-2-A-5 of spades. Declarer throws a spade through. 7-9-5 of diamonds-7 of diamonds. Partner plays a heart over to my ace. 4-3-A-5.
Ok, should I be giving partner pitches now that dummy is out of trump? I think that's probably a good idea. I play a spade with both dummy and partner pitching a club. Declarer draws trump. 6-6 of spades-7 of clubs-J. Partner cashes a heart. K-3 of clubs-2-7. Partner plays another heart but declarer ruffs this one. Because he's got all trump left, but partner still has a high one. Down one.
Six of the tables played 3 diamonds, with 2 going down 1, 1 making, and 3 making up 1. One EW pair somehow played 3 clubs instead and went down 2. And one pair went all the way to 5 diamonds doubled and went down 2. We do better than average, and get 9 MPs. Doubling would have been worth 2 MPs if we'd played in 3 diamonds doubled and still set them? But considering most people made 3 it's probably not worth the risk.
Captain Jack doesn't like my opening lead. He wants me to lead the 6 of spades if I lead a spade at all, but would rather I lead the 6 of clubs. I don't think I like underleading Qxx. And I don't think I should play so low if I lead from my 6 card suit either. Screw you, Jack!
Ranking after board 50/60: 1/16 with 60%
Opponents convention card: Majeure cinquième
Opponents playing strength: Intermediate
My hand: ♠ Q T 9 6 5 4 ♥ A 9 6 2 ♦ ♣ Q 9 6
East preempts 3 diamonds. I wanted to preempt spades but that sure isn't happening now. I wonder if I should double here? I don't have nearly enough points to justify it, but I have a really nice distribution. I worry partner has a good hand but too many diamonds to take a sensible action when it gets around to him. I think if the vulnerability wasn't truly terrible I'd go for it. I pass, and so does everyone else.
I lead the T of spades.
| WEST ♠ K 3 ♥ Q J 7 5 ♦ 5 4 ♣ A J T 7 5 | ||
| SOUTH ♠ Q T 9 6 5 4 ♥ A 9 6 2 ♦ ♣ Q 9 6 |
| West | North | East | South |
| 3♦ | Pass | ||
| Pass | Pass |
East wins the opening lead with the A of spades and fires back a club. 2-6-A-4. Then he cashes the K of spades from board with partner dropping the J. Shift to a diamond. 4-2-A-5 of spades. Declarer throws a spade through. 7-9-5 of diamonds-7 of diamonds. Partner plays a heart over to my ace. 4-3-A-5.
Ok, should I be giving partner pitches now that dummy is out of trump? I think that's probably a good idea. I play a spade with both dummy and partner pitching a club. Declarer draws trump. 6-6 of spades-7 of clubs-J. Partner cashes a heart. K-3 of clubs-2-7. Partner plays another heart but declarer ruffs this one. Because he's got all trump left, but partner still has a high one. Down one.
| NORTH ♠ J 2 ♥ K T 8 4 ♦ K J 7 2 ♣ K 8 4 | ||
| WEST ♠ K 3 ♥ Q J 7 5 ♦ 5 4 ♣ A J T 7 5 | EAST ♠ A 8 7 ♥ 3 ♦ A Q T 9 8 6 3 ♣ 3 2 | |
| SOUTH ♠ Q T 9 6 5 4 ♥ A 9 6 2 ♦ ♣ Q 9 6 |
Captain Jack doesn't like my opening lead. He wants me to lead the 6 of spades if I lead a spade at all, but would rather I lead the 6 of clubs. I don't think I like underleading Qxx. And I don't think I should play so low if I lead from my 6 card suit either. Screw you, Jack!
Ranking after board 50/60: 1/16 with 60%
Sunday, April 06, 2014
Bridge Match 2 - Board 49
Board 49 - Dealer North - None Vul
Opponents convention card: Majeure cinquième
Opponents playing strength: Intermediate
My hand: ♠ A 9 7 3 2 ♥ A 9 6 4 2 ♦ J ♣ A 6
It gets passed to me in 3rd chair and I have a 5-5 hand with 13 points but no intermediate values at all. I have to bid, but I'm not terribly happy with doing so after partner passed. I open 1 spade. Partner raises to 2 spades which is where we play.
West leads the 2 of clubs.
Well, I have 1 club, 1 heart, and 3 spade tricks. For losers I only have 1 club, 1 diamond, 1 heart, and 1 or 2 spades. But setting up extra tricks seems really hard. I guess I probably need to cross ruff the red suits? I might as well lose my club tricks now to cut communication later in the hand? 2-T-Q-6. 4-A-5-9. I duck a heart. 2-T-7-3. West catches on and returns a spade. Doh. 5-K-4-2. A heart back, ruff a heart. Hearts split 3-3 so my last two hearts are now good.
I guess I should just draw trump and lose a diamond, huh?
I do exactly that. Spades split 3-2 so I make 3.
Five tables made 3 spades in a spade partscore. One table made 2 spades. One table made 2 spades but bid up to 3, which is better than the table that bid 3 hearts and only made 1. For our 5 way tie we get 10 MPs.
Captain Jack doesn't like my pass over 2 spades. He wants me to bid 3 spades. Given that partner is a passed hand and that I have no good values I think my pass was fine. But I guess we made 3 and partner only had a 5 count. If he had 9 maybe we could have missed a game with my wimpy bid? But I also feel like we got very lucky to make 3 since I needed hearts to split 3-3 and spades to split 3-2. Besides, the right game try is probably to bid 3 hearts and hope we're double fit!
Ranking after board 49/60: 1/16 with 59.91%
Opponents convention card: Majeure cinquième
Opponents playing strength: Intermediate
My hand: ♠ A 9 7 3 2 ♥ A 9 6 4 2 ♦ J ♣ A 6
It gets passed to me in 3rd chair and I have a 5-5 hand with 13 points but no intermediate values at all. I have to bid, but I'm not terribly happy with doing so after partner passed. I open 1 spade. Partner raises to 2 spades which is where we play.
West leads the 2 of clubs.
| NORTH ♠ K 8 6 ♥ 7 6 ♦ Q T 6 4 2 ♣ T 9 8 | ||
| WEST ♣ 2 | ||
| SOUTH ♠ A 9 7 3 2 ♥ A 9 6 4 2 ♦ J ♣ A 6 |
| West | North | East | South |
| Pass | Pass | 1♠ | |
| Pass | 2♠ | Pass | Pass |
| Pass |
Well, I have 1 club, 1 heart, and 3 spade tricks. For losers I only have 1 club, 1 diamond, 1 heart, and 1 or 2 spades. But setting up extra tricks seems really hard. I guess I probably need to cross ruff the red suits? I might as well lose my club tricks now to cut communication later in the hand? 2-T-Q-6. 4-A-5-9. I duck a heart. 2-T-7-3. West catches on and returns a spade. Doh. 5-K-4-2. A heart back, ruff a heart. Hearts split 3-3 so my last two hearts are now good.
I guess I should just draw trump and lose a diamond, huh?
I do exactly that. Spades split 3-2 so I make 3.
| NORTH ♠ K 8 6 ♥ 7 6 ♦ Q T 6 4 2 ♣ T 9 8 | ||
| WEST ♠ J 5 ♥ K T 5 ♦ A 7 5 3 ♣ K J 5 2 | EAST ♠ Q T 4 ♥ Q J 3 ♦ K 9 8 ♣ Q 7 4 3 | |
| SOUTH ♠ A 9 7 3 2 ♥ A 9 6 4 2 ♦ J ♣ A 6 |
Captain Jack doesn't like my pass over 2 spades. He wants me to bid 3 spades. Given that partner is a passed hand and that I have no good values I think my pass was fine. But I guess we made 3 and partner only had a 5 count. If he had 9 maybe we could have missed a game with my wimpy bid? But I also feel like we got very lucky to make 3 since I needed hearts to split 3-3 and spades to split 3-2. Besides, the right game try is probably to bid 3 hearts and hope we're double fit!
Ranking after board 49/60: 1/16 with 59.91%
Sunday, March 30, 2014
Bridge Match 2 - Board 48
Board 48 - Dealer West - EW Vul
Opponents convention card: Dutch Doubleton
Opponents playing strength: Fair
My hand: ♠ 9 4 ♥ A K J 8 4 ♦ T 8 7 ♣ J 7 6
West opens 1 spade, partner passes, and East responds 2 clubs. I'm a little worried I'm going to get myself in trouble by bidding here, but I have a pretty good heart suit and really want partner to lead it. And the vulnerability is favourable. So I bid 2 hearts. West makes a competitive double, partner passes again, and East bids 3 spades. I'm done, and so is everyone else.
Partner leads the 6 of hearts.
Well, I got partner to lead through QTx on dummy. That has to be useful! 6-T-J-7. A-2-9-3. K-7 of spades-5-Q. Declarer draws trump. K-2-6-4. A-T-8-9. Now he switches to clubs. A-2-5-6. 4-K-8-7. Partner is in, and plays a diamond. 2-9-T-Q. Dummy looks pretty high to me... Except partner has the Q of spades. So he's able to ruff in and get his K of diamonds at the end. Down 1!
Everyone played in some number of spades. One pair made 3S, one made 4S, and one made 4S+1. Then 4 tables went down 1 in 4S and we put them down 1 in 3S. I feel like declarer could have made 3 spades if he'd drawn trump and run clubs. These 'fair' opponents seem pretty bad! Anyway, we get 10 MPs.
Captain Jack doesn't like my heart bid. He wants me to pass. By clicking on the bid apparently I should have 10 points and 5 hearts or 8 points and 6 hearts for the bid. I have 9 points and a really solid 5 hearts so I think I'm in the clear here, especially with the vulnerability.
Ranking after board 48/60: 1/16 with 59.67%
Opponents convention card: Dutch Doubleton
Opponents playing strength: Fair
My hand: ♠ 9 4 ♥ A K J 8 4 ♦ T 8 7 ♣ J 7 6
West opens 1 spade, partner passes, and East responds 2 clubs. I'm a little worried I'm going to get myself in trouble by bidding here, but I have a pretty good heart suit and really want partner to lead it. And the vulnerability is favourable. So I bid 2 hearts. West makes a competitive double, partner passes again, and East bids 3 spades. I'm done, and so is everyone else.
Partner leads the 6 of hearts.
| NORTH ♥ 6 | ||
| EAST ♠ J 8 6 ♥ Q T 3 ♦ A 9 ♣ Q T 9 8 5 | ||
| SOUTH ♠ 9 4 ♥ A K J 8 4 ♦ T 8 7 ♣ J 7 6 |
| West | North | East | South |
| 1♠ | Pass | 2♣ | 2♥ |
| Double1 | Pass | 3♠ | Pass |
| Pass | Pass | ||
| 1Competitive | |||
Well, I got partner to lead through QTx on dummy. That has to be useful! 6-T-J-7. A-2-9-3. K-7 of spades-5-Q. Declarer draws trump. K-2-6-4. A-T-8-9. Now he switches to clubs. A-2-5-6. 4-K-8-7. Partner is in, and plays a diamond. 2-9-T-Q. Dummy looks pretty high to me... Except partner has the Q of spades. So he's able to ruff in and get his K of diamonds at the end. Down 1!
| NORTH ♠ Q T 2 ♥ 9 6 5 ♦ K 5 3 2 ♣ K 3 2 | ||
| WEST ♠ A K 7 5 3 ♥ 7 2 ♦ Q J 6 4 ♣ A 4 | EAST ♠ J 8 6 ♥ Q T 3 ♦ A 9 ♣ Q T 9 8 5 | |
| SOUTH ♠ 9 4 ♥ A K J 8 4 ♦ T 8 7 ♣ J 7 6 |
Captain Jack doesn't like my heart bid. He wants me to pass. By clicking on the bid apparently I should have 10 points and 5 hearts or 8 points and 6 hearts for the bid. I have 9 points and a really solid 5 hearts so I think I'm in the clear here, especially with the vulnerability.
Ranking after board 48/60: 1/16 with 59.67%
Sunday, March 23, 2014
Bridge Match 2 - Board 47
Board 47 - Dealer South - NS Vul
Opponents convention card: Dutch Doubleton
Opponents playing strength: Fair
My hand: ♠ 9 3 ♥ K Q 8 ♦ Q J 4 3 ♣ Q J T 4
I open a weak NT and partner bids 2 clubs, Stayman. East decides the Stayman bid was meant for him and bids 2 spades. I don't have any majors so I think I need to just float this around to partner and pass. He jumps to 3NT.
West leads the 2 of clubs.
2-K-A-4. Ok, I now have 3 clubs locked up. Oh, and diamonds are super solid with 5 guaranteed tricks there. I can easily set up 2 hearts as well, but I'll have to give up the lead. Spades could be a problem, and I bet if West had lead his partner's suit that they'd have set us hard. But he didn't, so maybe they won't. East returns a club. 8-Q-6-3 of hearts. Should I cash my 8 tricks and then play on the majors? My concern is that West has the A of hearts and shifts to a spade. If that happens they'll take 6 more tricks at least. If I cash out I'll be left with Kxx J opposite 9 KQ8 and then I won't have an entry back to my hearts. So I need to keep Kx Jx opposite 9 KQ8. I'm still going down anytime West has the A of hearts and East has the A of spades. I don't think spades are blocked so that's probably the best play anyway.
Unless by cashing out my clubs I set up club tricks for the defense. Then if West has the A of spades he gets to cash clubs in a situation where I was making. I don't have the entries to cash diamonds and then clubs either. Hmm. So probably I'm looking at cashing out for down 1 or taking a risk. I feel like the defense gave me an out to avoid down a ton and maybe that'll be worth a ton of MPs. On the other hand maybe they made the play they did because West has the A of spades and I make if they lead a spade and cashing out for down 1 will be a bottom. Ok, I'm doing well in the event and I don't need to take a mini-maxi line. If the board is set up such that we all go down a bunch, let's all go down a bunch and tie in the middle. I lead a heart.
8-2-J-6. Ok... Now I can cash out for making. That sounds awesome. Diamond to hand, cash the clubs, cash the diamonds, give up. They cash a club at the end on top of their two aces. Just in.
Everyone else played a contract and went down so once again we get a solo top board as the only team to make, though we made only because the enemy was _terrible_. Down 1 would have been worth 12 MPs, letting them take their 8 tricks for down 4 would have been a solo bottom. So it turns out maybe I should have cashed out once they failed to play spades the first time. Because most tables played diamonds, not NT!
Captain Jack doesn't like my opening bid. We're playing 12-14 NT, not 11-14, and I only had 11 points. Eh, fair enough, but I like my 11 points as being a lot like 12 since the honours are all touching and I have a working T. This is a fine weak NT I think. Way better than pass. Jack would also have cashed out for down 1. Or at least he would have started playing diamonds. I think maybe playing hearts right away made West think I had diamond issues which made him duck? Or he's just terrible.
Ranking after board 47/60: 1/16 with 59.42%
Opponents convention card: Dutch Doubleton
Opponents playing strength: Fair
My hand: ♠ 9 3 ♥ K Q 8 ♦ Q J 4 3 ♣ Q J T 4
I open a weak NT and partner bids 2 clubs, Stayman. East decides the Stayman bid was meant for him and bids 2 spades. I don't have any majors so I think I need to just float this around to partner and pass. He jumps to 3NT.
West leads the 2 of clubs.
| NORTH ♠ K 8 2 ♥ J 5 4 3 ♦ A K T 9 2 ♣ K | ||
| WEST ♣ 2 | ||
| SOUTH ♠ 9 3 ♥ K Q 8 ♦ Q J 4 3 ♣ Q J T 4 |
| West | North | East | South |
| 1NT | |||
| Pass | 2♣1 | 2♠ | Pass |
| Pass | 3NT | Pass | Pass |
| Pass | |||
| 1Stayman | |||
2-K-A-4. Ok, I now have 3 clubs locked up. Oh, and diamonds are super solid with 5 guaranteed tricks there. I can easily set up 2 hearts as well, but I'll have to give up the lead. Spades could be a problem, and I bet if West had lead his partner's suit that they'd have set us hard. But he didn't, so maybe they won't. East returns a club. 8-Q-6-3 of hearts. Should I cash my 8 tricks and then play on the majors? My concern is that West has the A of hearts and shifts to a spade. If that happens they'll take 6 more tricks at least. If I cash out I'll be left with Kxx J opposite 9 KQ8 and then I won't have an entry back to my hearts. So I need to keep Kx Jx opposite 9 KQ8. I'm still going down anytime West has the A of hearts and East has the A of spades. I don't think spades are blocked so that's probably the best play anyway.
Unless by cashing out my clubs I set up club tricks for the defense. Then if West has the A of spades he gets to cash clubs in a situation where I was making. I don't have the entries to cash diamonds and then clubs either. Hmm. So probably I'm looking at cashing out for down 1 or taking a risk. I feel like the defense gave me an out to avoid down a ton and maybe that'll be worth a ton of MPs. On the other hand maybe they made the play they did because West has the A of spades and I make if they lead a spade and cashing out for down 1 will be a bottom. Ok, I'm doing well in the event and I don't need to take a mini-maxi line. If the board is set up such that we all go down a bunch, let's all go down a bunch and tie in the middle. I lead a heart.
8-2-J-6. Ok... Now I can cash out for making. That sounds awesome. Diamond to hand, cash the clubs, cash the diamonds, give up. They cash a club at the end on top of their two aces. Just in.
| NORTH ♠ K 8 2 ♥ J 5 4 3 ♦ A K T 9 2 ♣ K | ||
| WEST ♠ J 6 ♥ A 7 2 ♦ 7 6 5 ♣ 9 7 6 5 2 | EAST ♠ A Q T 7 5 4 ♥ T 9 6 ♦ 8 ♣ A 8 3 | |
| SOUTH ♠ 9 3 ♥ K Q 8 ♦ Q J 4 3 ♣ Q J T 4 |
Captain Jack doesn't like my opening bid. We're playing 12-14 NT, not 11-14, and I only had 11 points. Eh, fair enough, but I like my 11 points as being a lot like 12 since the honours are all touching and I have a working T. This is a fine weak NT I think. Way better than pass. Jack would also have cashed out for down 1. Or at least he would have started playing diamonds. I think maybe playing hearts right away made West think I had diamond issues which made him duck? Or he's just terrible.
Ranking after board 47/60: 1/16 with 59.42%
Sunday, March 16, 2014
Bridge Match 2 - Board 46
Board 46 - Dealer East - None Vul
Opponents convention card: Dutch Doubleton
Opponents playing strength: Fair
My hand: ♠ T 8 4 3 2 ♥ T 8 6 ♦ 7 4 3 ♣ T 2
Wow, a 0 count! So tempted to psyche here... Especially after East opens 1 diamond. But I can't bring myself to do it. West bids 1 heart, East bids 1 spade, West bids 1NT and then partner gets frisky with a 2 diamond bid. I have no idea what that means. The delayed cuebid? I have to think it's actually a natural diamond bid. East doubles for penalty and now it's on me. Well, if partner meant something crazy he can run by himself now, so I pass. Partner pulls to 2 hearts. East bids 3 clubs. WHAT IS GOING ON? I should have psyched because at least then I'd be the one causing the confusion. I pass. As does everyone else.
I lead the T of hearts.
T-J-K-7. Partner cashes a spade. A-7-2-5. Then he exits a club. What is going on? Why did partner set up their K of spades? I'm still so confused. 4-3-T-J. Declarer draws more trump. 6-5-K-2. He shifts to a spade now. 9-T-K-8 of diamonds. Now back to drawing trump. 8-7-A-3 of spades.
Over to diamonds. 5-3-9-J. Now partner cashes a heart. A-6 of diamonds-6-2. Why is no one ruffing anything? Now a diamond. A-T-4-9 of clubs. Heart pitching a diamond, heart losing to partner. Partner cashes another diamond and then declarer ruffs the last one.
I don't understand the trump use in this hand at all. But we put them down 2... Maybe that's good for something?
Everyone other NS pair played a contract (3 diamonds, 2 diamonds doubled, or 1NT) and went down. So we get a solo top board.
Captain Jack disagrees with my heart lead. He thinks I should lead the 8 if I lead a heart (probably right) and that I should have actually lead a diamond. Also probably right.
Ranking after board 46/60: 1/16 with 58.54%
Opponents convention card: Dutch Doubleton
Opponents playing strength: Fair
My hand: ♠ T 8 4 3 2 ♥ T 8 6 ♦ 7 4 3 ♣ T 2
Wow, a 0 count! So tempted to psyche here... Especially after East opens 1 diamond. But I can't bring myself to do it. West bids 1 heart, East bids 1 spade, West bids 1NT and then partner gets frisky with a 2 diamond bid. I have no idea what that means. The delayed cuebid? I have to think it's actually a natural diamond bid. East doubles for penalty and now it's on me. Well, if partner meant something crazy he can run by himself now, so I pass. Partner pulls to 2 hearts. East bids 3 clubs. WHAT IS GOING ON? I should have psyched because at least then I'd be the one causing the confusion. I pass. As does everyone else.
I lead the T of hearts.
| WEST ♠ K 6 5 ♥ Q J 5 3 2 ♦ 9 ♣ J 9 8 6 | ||
| SOUTH ♠ T 8 4 3 2 ♥ T 8 6 ♦ 7 4 3 ♣ T 2 |
| West | North | East | South |
| 1♦ | Pass | ||
| 1♥ | Pass | 1♠ | Pass |
| 1NT | 2♠ | Double1 | Pass |
| Pass | 2♥ | 3♣ | Pass |
| Pass | Pass | ||
| 1Penalty | |||
T-J-K-7. Partner cashes a spade. A-7-2-5. Then he exits a club. What is going on? Why did partner set up their K of spades? I'm still so confused. 4-3-T-J. Declarer draws more trump. 6-5-K-2. He shifts to a spade now. 9-T-K-8 of diamonds. Now back to drawing trump. 8-7-A-3 of spades.
Over to diamonds. 5-3-9-J. Now partner cashes a heart. A-6 of diamonds-6-2. Why is no one ruffing anything? Now a diamond. A-T-4-9 of clubs. Heart pitching a diamond, heart losing to partner. Partner cashes another diamond and then declarer ruffs the last one.
I don't understand the trump use in this hand at all. But we put them down 2... Maybe that's good for something?
| NORTH ♠ A ♥ A K 9 4 ♦ A K J 8 2 ♣ 7 5 4 | ||
| WEST ♠ K 6 5 ♥ Q J 5 3 2 ♦ 9 ♣ J 9 8 6 | EAST ♠ Q J 9 7 ♥ 7 ♦ Q T 6 5 ♣ A K Q 3 | |
| SOUTH ♠ T 8 4 3 2 ♥ T 8 6 ♦ 7 4 3 ♣ T 2 |
Captain Jack disagrees with my heart lead. He thinks I should lead the 8 if I lead a heart (probably right) and that I should have actually lead a diamond. Also probably right.
Ranking after board 46/60: 1/16 with 58.54%
Sunday, March 09, 2014
Bridge Match 2 - Board 45
Board 45 - Dealer North - All Vul
Opponents convention card: Dutch Doubleton
Opponents playing strength: Fair
My hand: ♠ K ♥ A 9 5 4 ♦ A T 8 6 ♣ K 5 4 2
East opens 1NT in 2nd chair. They're playing strong no trumps. My hand is pretty good, but I don't have a bid over 1NT. Neither does anyone else. Let's play 1NT!
I lead the 4 of hearts.
4-2-6-J. It would appear I chose poorly. East decides to attack clubs. A-2-9-6. But then he goes back to hearts. T-5-3-4 of spades. Q-A-7-4 of diamonds. Partner doesn't like spades, or diamonds. Declarer cashed the A of clubs. I feel like we're not getting anything anywhere. But maybe partner doesn't know his diamonds are useful. I might as well lead through dummy and hope. T-9-K-7.
Partner switches to a club. 3-7-K-T. Declarer now has 7 tricks since my spade K is stiff. They also can get a diamond trick. Maybe they'll set that one up before attacking spades? I don't know what to do. I'll return partner's clubs. 4-Q-2 of diamonds-8.
Huh. Declarer cashes his heart with partner pitching the 8 of spades. Declarer then plays a diamond to set that trick up too. 5-A-Q-3. Declarer then cashes out, discovering my stiff K so he gets the Q of spades too. Making 3.
7 tables played 1NT with 5 of them making 3 and 2 of them making 2. The other table played and made 3NT. So we get 6 MPs.
Captain Jack disagrees with a couple of things. I signaled an odd number of clubs, not an even number, which is probably why he fired back a club when he got in. Doh! He also didn't like the diamond shift and wants me to just play passively and fire back a heart. I thought about doing that but decided to hope partner had the KJ of diamonds for some reason.
Ranking after board 45/60: 2/16 with 57.62%
Opponents convention card: Dutch Doubleton
Opponents playing strength: Fair
My hand: ♠ K ♥ A 9 5 4 ♦ A T 8 6 ♣ K 5 4 2
East opens 1NT in 2nd chair. They're playing strong no trumps. My hand is pretty good, but I don't have a bid over 1NT. Neither does anyone else. Let's play 1NT!
I lead the 4 of hearts.
| WEST ♠ Q 6 3 2 ♥ 8 7 3 2 ♦ Q 9 ♣ Q T 9 | ||
| SOUTH ♠ K ♥ A 9 5 4 ♦ A T 8 6 ♣ K 5 4 2 |
| West | North | East | South |
| Pass | 1NT | Pass | |
| Pass | Pass |
4-2-6-J. It would appear I chose poorly. East decides to attack clubs. A-2-9-6. But then he goes back to hearts. T-5-3-4 of spades. Q-A-7-4 of diamonds. Partner doesn't like spades, or diamonds. Declarer cashed the A of clubs. I feel like we're not getting anything anywhere. But maybe partner doesn't know his diamonds are useful. I might as well lead through dummy and hope. T-9-K-7.
Partner switches to a club. 3-7-K-T. Declarer now has 7 tricks since my spade K is stiff. They also can get a diamond trick. Maybe they'll set that one up before attacking spades? I don't know what to do. I'll return partner's clubs. 4-Q-2 of diamonds-8.
Huh. Declarer cashes his heart with partner pitching the 8 of spades. Declarer then plays a diamond to set that trick up too. 5-A-Q-3. Declarer then cashes out, discovering my stiff K so he gets the Q of spades too. Making 3.
| NORTH ♠ J T 9 8 7 4 ♥ 6 ♦ K 4 3 2 ♣ 6 3 | ||
| WEST ♠ Q 6 3 2 ♥ 8 7 3 2 ♦ Q 9 ♣ Q T 9 | EAST ♠ A 5 ♥ K Q J T ♦ J 7 5 ♣ A J 8 7 | |
| SOUTH ♠ K ♥ A 9 5 4 ♦ A T 8 6 ♣ K 5 4 2 |
Captain Jack disagrees with a couple of things. I signaled an odd number of clubs, not an even number, which is probably why he fired back a club when he got in. Doh! He also didn't like the diamond shift and wants me to just play passively and fire back a heart. I thought about doing that but decided to hope partner had the KJ of diamonds for some reason.
Ranking after board 45/60: 2/16 with 57.62%
Sunday, March 02, 2014
Bridge Match 2 - Board 44
Board 44 - Dealer West - NS Vul
Opponents convention card: Jack
Opponents playing strength: Intermediate
My hand: ♠ A 2 ♥ K Q J 9 ♦ T 3 ♣ A T 8 7 5
Partner opens 1 diamond in second chair. East interferes with a preempt of 3 spades. I double. Partner bids 3NT which gets passed out.
East leads the Q of spades.
I have 2 spades and 2 clubs. So I need to find 5 more tricks. It's entirely possible East only has 2 spades though (I would think West has 7 for the 3 spade bid), so I may be able to give up the lead twice without getting slaughtered. Clubs I can choose which hand to lose to, but I want to make that choice after they play the second round of spades. Getting all the clubs also isn't enough so I should probably play hearts first anyway. Or maybe diamonds? Diamonds are pretty scary, actually, since I'm missing the A and Q. The problem with hearts is I may lose a trick to the T of hearts. But then I can try to get all 5 clubs... Anyway, worry about that later. First I win a spade and play hearts. Q-2-8-K. 4-A-9-3. Huzzah! 3 heart tricks now. East returns the spade. J-A-4-6.
Ok... Should I cash my hearts first? If I do I probably set up a heart for them, actually. I think I need to just play clubs. Should I finesse the Q or play for the drop? If I was sure West had 7 spades I'd go for the finesse for sure. Against Andrew that would be a safe bet for sure. Actually, East had QJ of spades and my team had the AK. Would Jack really jump to the 3 level with 6 spades to the T? I have to assume no. Ok, finesse on East it is. I start by casting the A from hand. A-2-6-3. 5-Q-K-4. Everybody's a winner!
I cash out my 10 tricks and give them whatever 2 tricks they want. Making 4.
3NT+1 was a top board. There were 6 different contracts on this board with 8 different results. EW went down 1 in 1 heart. My side played 3NT twice (+1 and just in), 5 clubs twice (-2 and just in), 6NT-1, 6C-2, and 4H-2. It also turns out East bid spades, not West, so my entire logic while playing the hand was backwards and wrong. I was planning on finessing into the dangerous hand. Better lucky than good!
Captain Jack disagrees with my double of 3 spades. He wants me to just bid 3NT. Now, I didn't think my double was penalty. I thought it was negative. If I'd known it was penalty I would have bid 3NT instead. But in what world is it penalty? Jack also wants me to play clubs first, not hearts. I think that is wrong.
Ranking after board 44/60: 1/16 with 57.95%
Opponents convention card: Jack
Opponents playing strength: Intermediate
My hand: ♠ A 2 ♥ K Q J 9 ♦ T 3 ♣ A T 8 7 5
Partner opens 1 diamond in second chair. East interferes with a preempt of 3 spades. I double. Partner bids 3NT which gets passed out.
East leads the Q of spades.
| NORTH ♠ K 6 ♥ 4 2 ♦ K J 9 6 4 ♣ K J 9 6 | ||
| EAST ♠ Q | ||
| SOUTH ♠ A 2 ♥ K Q J 9 ♦ T 3 ♣ A T 8 7 5 |
| West | North | East | South |
| Pass | 1♦ | 3♠ | Double1 |
| Pass | 3NT | Pass | Pass |
| Pass | |||
| 1Penalty | |||
I have 2 spades and 2 clubs. So I need to find 5 more tricks. It's entirely possible East only has 2 spades though (I would think West has 7 for the 3 spade bid), so I may be able to give up the lead twice without getting slaughtered. Clubs I can choose which hand to lose to, but I want to make that choice after they play the second round of spades. Getting all the clubs also isn't enough so I should probably play hearts first anyway. Or maybe diamonds? Diamonds are pretty scary, actually, since I'm missing the A and Q. The problem with hearts is I may lose a trick to the T of hearts. But then I can try to get all 5 clubs... Anyway, worry about that later. First I win a spade and play hearts. Q-2-8-K. 4-A-9-3. Huzzah! 3 heart tricks now. East returns the spade. J-A-4-6.
Ok... Should I cash my hearts first? If I do I probably set up a heart for them, actually. I think I need to just play clubs. Should I finesse the Q or play for the drop? If I was sure West had 7 spades I'd go for the finesse for sure. Against Andrew that would be a safe bet for sure. Actually, East had QJ of spades and my team had the AK. Would Jack really jump to the 3 level with 6 spades to the T? I have to assume no. Ok, finesse on East it is. I start by casting the A from hand. A-2-6-3. 5-Q-K-4. Everybody's a winner!
I cash out my 10 tricks and give them whatever 2 tricks they want. Making 4.
| NORTH ♠ K 6 ♥ 4 2 ♦ K J 9 6 4 ♣ K J 9 6 | ||
| WEST ♠ 8 5 4 ♥ T 8 7 6 5 3 ♦ A Q ♣ Q 2 | EAST ♠ Q J T 9 7 3 ♥ A ♦ 8 7 5 2 ♣ 4 3 | |
| SOUTH ♠ A 2 ♥ K Q J 9 ♦ T 3 ♣ A T 8 7 5 |
Captain Jack disagrees with my double of 3 spades. He wants me to just bid 3NT. Now, I didn't think my double was penalty. I thought it was negative. If I'd known it was penalty I would have bid 3NT instead. But in what world is it penalty? Jack also wants me to play clubs first, not hearts. I think that is wrong.
Ranking after board 44/60: 1/16 with 57.95%
Sunday, February 23, 2014
Bridge Match 2 - Board 43
Board 43 - Dealer South - None Vul
Opponents convention card: Jack
Opponents playing strength: Intermediate
My hand: ♠ K 5 2 ♥ T 5 ♦ T 8 4 ♣ J T 9 8 4
What a terrible hand. I pass in first seat. West opens 1 club (which could be short) and East responds 1 heart (Walsh). Partner and I pass a bunch and they end up in 4 hearts.
I lead the T of clubs.
T-K-A-6. Partner switches to a spade. 6-4-K-7. What is partner's plan here? I don't see much hope in any suit so I might as well return his switch. 5-9-3-8. Guess declarer has spades wrapped up. He then ruffs a club. 7-Q-4 of hearts-4. Then trump gets drawn. 6-5-K-A. Partner is in and throws out a diamond in the hopes something good happens. 3-5-8-K.
Declarer draws more trump. 3-2-9-T. That was unexpected. Ten doubleton for the setting trick? On it! Maybe we can even get one more trick if partner can ruff a spade... 2-T-J of hearts-Q.
We get nothing else, but that's quite alright. Down two!
That extra undertrick was worth 5 MPs as we get a solo top board instead of tying with the 5 pairs that put 4 hearts down one. Some EW pairs stopped in 1NT or 3H and scored positive.
Captain Jack disagrees with returning a spade when I won the K. He wants me to fire back a useless club. Maybe he's right in general, I don't know, but returning the spade got us a top board.
Ranking after board 43/60: 1/16 with 56.98%
Opponents convention card: Jack
Opponents playing strength: Intermediate
My hand: ♠ K 5 2 ♥ T 5 ♦ T 8 4 ♣ J T 9 8 4
What a terrible hand. I pass in first seat. West opens 1 club (which could be short) and East responds 1 heart (Walsh). Partner and I pass a bunch and they end up in 4 hearts.
I lead the T of clubs.
| WEST ♠ J T 9 7 ♥ K 8 7 3 ♦ A K 6 ♣ K 7 | ||
| SOUTH ♠ K 5 2 ♥ T 5 ♦ T 8 4 ♣ J T 9 8 4 |
| West | North | East | South |
| Pass | |||
| 1♣1 | Pass | 1♥2 | Pass |
| 3♥ | Pass | 3NT | Pass |
| 4♥ | Pass | Pass | Pass |
| 1Could be short | |||
| 2Walsh | |||
T-K-A-6. Partner switches to a spade. 6-4-K-7. What is partner's plan here? I don't see much hope in any suit so I might as well return his switch. 5-9-3-8. Guess declarer has spades wrapped up. He then ruffs a club. 7-Q-4 of hearts-4. Then trump gets drawn. 6-5-K-A. Partner is in and throws out a diamond in the hopes something good happens. 3-5-8-K.
Declarer draws more trump. 3-2-9-T. That was unexpected. Ten doubleton for the setting trick? On it! Maybe we can even get one more trick if partner can ruff a spade... 2-T-J of hearts-Q.
We get nothing else, but that's quite alright. Down two!
| NORTH ♠ 6 3 ♥ A J 2 ♦ J 7 3 ♣ A Q 5 3 2 | ||
| WEST ♠ J T 9 7 ♥ K 8 7 3 ♦ A K 6 ♣ K 7 | EAST ♠ A Q 8 4 ♥ Q 9 6 4 ♦ Q 9 5 2 ♣ 6 | |
| SOUTH ♠ K 5 2 ♥ T 5 ♦ T 8 4 ♣ J T 9 8 4 |
Captain Jack disagrees with returning a spade when I won the K. He wants me to fire back a useless club. Maybe he's right in general, I don't know, but returning the spade got us a top board.
Ranking after board 43/60: 1/16 with 56.98%
Sunday, February 16, 2014
Bridge Match 2 - Board 42
Board 42 - Dealer East - All Vul
Opponents convention card: Jack
Opponents playing strength: Intermediate
My hand: ♠ A 6 3 ♥ T 9 6 5 ♦ Q J 3 ♣ K 3 2
East opens 1 club promising at least 2 clubs. I don't have a suit to bid and I don't like my shape for a double so I pass. West also passes and partner bids 1 heart. Is a jump to 3 hearts here a limit raise or preemptive? I feel like it should be preemptive and I should cuebid clubs. I wonder if that changes with the potenitally short club? I donno. I try 2 clubs, West doubles as a competitive bid and partner jumps to 3NT. Now should I sit here? I feel like we have a good heart fit but I have nothing to ruff over here. Partner jumping to NT makes me think he's probably 5-3-3-2 so we don't have a dummy reversal in hearts either. So I pass.
East leads the A of diamonds.
I have 2 diamonds, 2 spades, and probably 3 hearts. I get a club at some point unless all of West's points are the A of clubs. I need hearts to split well in order to get a 4th trick there since I don't get another trick anywhere else. A-Q-9-4. East shifts to a club. 5-3-J-7. West returns a club. 4-8-A-2. East decides to not pound out my last club and goes back to diamonds. 5-J-6-T.
I need to play hearts for one loser. I only have one more entry to dummy, too. I feel like I should float the T around then next time I'm in I'll probably play for the 2-2 drop? In that case shouldn't I finesse the Q first? I feel like the guy who opened is really favoured to have the K though... I'll have to look this one up afterwards to see what the 'right' play with no bidding would be. I lead the T. T-2 of spades...
Oh dear. East has KJ83. Well, there's no way to play this suit for one loser! I play low and East wins the J. East returns a club. I don't know what I can do. I can cash out for down 3. They actually can't take more than that even if I put East in and he started with 5 clubs. So I just give up another heart. Then I realize my math is bad because I'm playing during downtime of the Canada-Finland hockey game. Fortunately clubs split 4-4 so I'm still only down 3. Actually, I'm down 2... Because I was only in 3NT, not 4NT... Wow, my math sure was terrible!
3NT down 2 or down 3 would have been the same result: a near bottom. We only beat the pair that went down 3 in 4 hearts doubled. 3 pairs went down 1 in 3 hearts, 1 made 1NT, and 2 EW pairs played in diamond partscores. I don't like partner's jump to 3NT here since his hand plus my minimum is in a terrible way there. 2NT feels a lot better. I pull to 3 hearts and we play that for likely 5MPs instead of 2.
Captain Jack disagrees with my 2 clubs bid and wonders what I had in mind. Oddly enough when I click on the description of what he thinks my bid means it says 9+ points, 3+ hearts. I have 10 points and 4 hearts! This seems like what I have! He also disagrees with my play at the end when I don't cash out for down 2 after East gives me a low heart trick. I blame hockey for that one, Jack. My bad.
Ranking after board 42/60: 2/16 with 55.95%
Opponents convention card: Jack
Opponents playing strength: Intermediate
My hand: ♠ A 6 3 ♥ T 9 6 5 ♦ Q J 3 ♣ K 3 2
East opens 1 club promising at least 2 clubs. I don't have a suit to bid and I don't like my shape for a double so I pass. West also passes and partner bids 1 heart. Is a jump to 3 hearts here a limit raise or preemptive? I feel like it should be preemptive and I should cuebid clubs. I wonder if that changes with the potenitally short club? I donno. I try 2 clubs, West doubles as a competitive bid and partner jumps to 3NT. Now should I sit here? I feel like we have a good heart fit but I have nothing to ruff over here. Partner jumping to NT makes me think he's probably 5-3-3-2 so we don't have a dummy reversal in hearts either. So I pass.
East leads the A of diamonds.
| NORTH ♠ K T 8 ♥ A Q 7 4 2 ♦ K T 4 ♣ 8 7 | ||
| EAST ♦ A | ||
| SOUTH ♠ A 6 3 ♥ T 9 6 5 ♦ Q J 3 ♣ K 3 2 |
| West | North | East | South |
| 1♣1 | Pass | ||
| Pass | 1♥ | Pass | 2♣2 |
| Double3 | 3NT | Pass | Pass |
| Pass | |||
| 12+ clubs | |||
| 2Constructive raise | |||
| 3Competitive double | |||
I have 2 diamonds, 2 spades, and probably 3 hearts. I get a club at some point unless all of West's points are the A of clubs. I need hearts to split well in order to get a 4th trick there since I don't get another trick anywhere else. A-Q-9-4. East shifts to a club. 5-3-J-7. West returns a club. 4-8-A-2. East decides to not pound out my last club and goes back to diamonds. 5-J-6-T.
I need to play hearts for one loser. I only have one more entry to dummy, too. I feel like I should float the T around then next time I'm in I'll probably play for the 2-2 drop? In that case shouldn't I finesse the Q first? I feel like the guy who opened is really favoured to have the K though... I'll have to look this one up afterwards to see what the 'right' play with no bidding would be. I lead the T. T-2 of spades...
Oh dear. East has KJ83. Well, there's no way to play this suit for one loser! I play low and East wins the J. East returns a club. I don't know what I can do. I can cash out for down 3. They actually can't take more than that even if I put East in and he started with 5 clubs. So I just give up another heart. Then I realize my math is bad because I'm playing during downtime of the Canada-Finland hockey game. Fortunately clubs split 4-4 so I'm still only down 3. Actually, I'm down 2... Because I was only in 3NT, not 4NT... Wow, my math sure was terrible!
| NORTH ♠ K T 8 ♥ A Q 7 4 2 ♦ K T 4 ♣ 8 7 | ||
| WEST ♠ Q 9 7 4 2 ♥ ♦ 9 8 7 6 ♣ Q J 6 4 | EAST ♠ J 5 ♥ K J 8 3 ♦ A 5 2 ♣ A T 9 5 | |
| SOUTH ♠ A 6 3 ♥ T 9 6 5 ♦ Q J 3 ♣ K 3 2 |
Captain Jack disagrees with my 2 clubs bid and wonders what I had in mind. Oddly enough when I click on the description of what he thinks my bid means it says 9+ points, 3+ hearts. I have 10 points and 4 hearts! This seems like what I have! He also disagrees with my play at the end when I don't cash out for down 2 after East gives me a low heart trick. I blame hockey for that one, Jack. My bad.
Ranking after board 42/60: 2/16 with 55.95%
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