Hi all

My preparation for the Swiss teams last Sunday in Santa Clara consisted of hitting the freshly powdered & sunny slopes in Sugar Bowl on Saturday. Sanne and I took an obscenely early ski-bus to Tahoe and spent a wonderful day racing down amazing slopes (Trailblazer!). Of course I got wiped out in some unprepared pillow of fluff, where I had to clean the snow from the inside of my glasses. (Un)fortunately there are no pictures of that event…


Michael Bodell and I teamed up with Eugene (Bridge Winners) and Helen. The slow start was largely due to opponents stumbling into a vulnerable 3NT with a 6-4 fit. There were no ten tricks in a contract and the King sitting stiff was required for there was no entry to take a finesse. Argh! We picked up some steam to end with 81 VP out of 7 matches (20 VP scale).

In round 5 after 6 boards I see only scores in the opponent’s column. We didn’t make a single contract and all theirs got home. Last board, we need a pickup. The opponents have an easy auction.

West

North

East

South

 

 

 

1

pass

2

pass

2NT

pass

3NT

a.p.

 

 

Michael leads the Ten. This is what I see:

North

AK

76542

J73

AQ6

 

East

8643

K8

Q4

J9754

 

Hmmm, hiding that poor 5 card suit, eh? I don’t know whether I would have done that myself.

Declarer takes his time and plays low in dummy to his Ace. It looks like Michael has led the highest one from an internal sequence. Do we have enough time to unblock our position? My holding suggests declarer will have 5 tricks there, so if South has the King 9 tricks are unavoidable. So I’ll assume Michael is holding that one. That means declarer has the Ace to get to opening values, and is either 5-2-3-3, 5-3-2-3 or 5-3-3-2.

Declarer crosses to the Ace and requests a low from dummy. The neurons in my brain are firing rapidly, new pathways emerge, logic clicks. If I play low declarer will for sure take some (double) finesse. Maybe Michael will win it but the position remains unresolved.

So I sacrifice my King by playing second hand high. This has unexpected results. Declarer wins his Ace but looks a little befuddled. With his entry removed prematurely he has to choose between setting up the in dummy and abandoning his , or give up the suit altogether. Or so I imagine his train of thought… His Jack wins the trick too, but Michael wins the third with his Queen.

North

K

76

J7

AQ6

 

East

864

-

Q

J974

 

Michael has a full grasp of the situation too, and plays a for my Queen. I get to nail the coffin closed by fixing declarer in dummy with a . Declarer loses track completely and ends up down 2.

South Dealer

NS Vul

North

AK

76542

J73

AQ6

West

95

Q93

KT9852

K2

East

8643

K8

Q4

J9754

South

QJT72

AJT

A6

T83

 

Our team mates brought home 4 with an overtrick, so we score up 13 IMP.

There were several routes available that would have led to success. E.g. declarer could have cashed both when fixed in dummy with the King, effectively strip squeezing and then end playing Michael in to lead away from the King. Or declarer, after winning the Ace, could have unblocked the other in dummy before playing again.

Recognizing that not inserting my King was not going to win either left or right, was my learning moment of the day.

Hi all

I’ve got a small … riddle for you. I’m pretty sure it has crossed the vast social lands of Facebook and Google+ several times, but I assure you, you don’t want to miss out on this one. First you’ll look at it and wonder what it is, and then it’ll dawn on you. Promise!

Here’s another small success from our too short performance at the GNT Open qualifiers. Deceptive maneuvers in the dark, with Lew Stansby starring as unsuspecting victim. I’m sitting East.

West

North

East

South

 

 

1NT1

pass

pass

2 2

pass

2

a.p.

 

 

 

 

1. 11-14
2. &

Geoff leads a trump and this is what I see:

North

AQT4

A8753

Q7

Q8

 

East

J83

T6

AK853

KJ2

 

Geoff wouldn’t easily lead a trump from an honor card so declarer has KQJ, either third or fourth. I see we can take at most four tricks in the minor suits, so somehow we’ll have to conjure two tricks from the suit. I will assume Geoff has both the Ace and King.

But how do I convince declarer that I’m holding that King?

A cunning plan develops in my head. All I need is a clear moment to execute my devilry.

Lew wins the trump lead in his hand with the King and plays a to dummy’s Queen. Ding-Ding-Ding! This is the opening I was hoping for! I win it with my Ace! I return my trump via Geoff’s  9 for dummy’s Ace. When Lew asks for the 7 I smoothly play low, via the 9 for Geoff’s Ten. A proper switch to a and my Jack wins the trick. Next my King smothers the Queen in dummy and a third gets ruffed in dummy.

I can see declarer’s train of thought. This gentleman on my right wearing those brightly colored pants has shown up with the Ace and the KJ, so East needs the King to make up for his weak NT. What are my options?

This is the position now, with the lead in dummy:

North

AQT4

87

-

-

 

East

J83

-

K85

-

 

Declarer has lost four tricks so far, so has to limit his losers to one. Lew crosses to a high trump in his hand and plays a to the Ten for my Jack.

Ka-Pow! I flick the King on the table for dummy to ruff. With no way back to his hand Lew has to surrender a trick to Geoff’s King. And down 1 it is.

East Dealer

NS Vul

North

AQT4

A8753

Q7

Q8

West

K92

94

T62

AT943

East

J83

T6

AK853

KJ2

South

765

KQJ2

J94

765

 

Hehehe, a successful ambush by a guy who usually wears yellow, purple or orange pants. Beware!

Hi all

I played with Geoff and Michael & Michael in the GNT Open qualifiers. Our total number of masterpoints matched us to the second seed, a 6-bagger with Lew & Joanna Stansby. The first 3 rounds we had some problems of getting scores in the right side of the scoring column. We kept bleeding little drops of imps, but then in the last quarter things turned around. Unfortunately the 40something IMP we clawed back was not enough to offset a win.

I picked up:


Not too shabby! I hear Geoff pass in first hand and RHO opens 1NT (14-16). Our defensive agreements say Astro, so I have a penalty double to my avail. A prime, Class A weapon grade penalty double, so to speak.

LHO passes, and Geoff runs to 2 , showing a very poor hand.

I waste little time and jump to 3NT. Thinking I have nine tops, and if they lead a then either Geoff can put down a very slow stopper, or perhaps the suit will split friendly. When West leads a I claim 9 and we’re off to the next board.

This was the full deal:

North Dealer

EW Vul

North

-

942

Q9632

QJ543

West

43

T8763

J87

972

East

8652

KQJ

KT

AKT8

South

AKQJT97

A5

A54

6

 

At the other table East opened 1NT, South passed (?!?) and West transferred to . In the rebound South jumped to 4 , and found a very lucky doubleton King to score his tenth trick. So I lose a gut wrenching IMP.

Hi all

Currently in The Netherlands there’s the buzz of a possible “Elf Steden Tocht” (a 200 km ice skating tour thru eleven cities). Well, here in Berkeley, CA that feels like an event on another planet. It did stir the old viking in me, though. My appetite for snow and cold was in slumber for a long time, perhaps it’s time to check out Tahoe for my cold cravings.

Here are two deals from Quicktricks, I was playing with Jo Ginsberg.

West

North

East

South

1NT1

pass

2

pass

2

pass

3 2

pass

4 3

pass

4

pass

4NT4

pass

5 5

pass

6

a.p.

 

 

 

1. 12-14
2. 5-5 GF
3. Cuebid agreeing
4. RKC
5. 3 Key cards

I let the auction sink in and finger my cards. Of course I’m going to lead a minor, but which one? I’m holding six myself, so the odds declarer (Geoff) has shortness there seems … plausible. I lead a .

West Dealer

NS Vul

North

J863

Q9

KJ983

K4

West

QT

J643

AQ74

A53

East

A9742

AKT82

6

J8

South

K5

75

T52

QT9762

 

Geoff competently wrapped things up. He won my lead with the Ace and ran the Queen to me. I continued but he ruffed and drew trumps. He crossed to dummy in and rode the Ten. Then after ruffing a his other two high provided parking spots for both losers in dummy.

Big kudos for my teammates who replicated the auction, play and result.

Here the ground we stood upon fell apart.

West

North

East

South

 

pass

3

4 1

5

pass

pass

dbl2

pass

5

pass

6 3

a.p.

 

 

 

 

1. 5-5 + Major
2. Extra values
3. I totally & utterly zoned out

Why did I zone out? Because I haven’t disclosed what my Major is, thus 5 is pass or correct. Jo ended up playing in a silly 4-3 fit while we had a massive 5-5 fit between us.

North Dealer

NS Vul

North

T9652

AJ64

92

84

West

4

QT73

J543

AT72

East

K8

92

76

KQJ9653

South

AQJ73

A85

AKQT8

-

 

She collected 11 tricks on the devious lead of a small by East. Our opponents got to the small slam in , on a 6 board match that’s almost impossible to recover from.

Hi all

Here’s a deal from the San Francisco Sectional. Geoff and I reach heights where the air gets very, very thin. I pick up a decent hand, but the auction that follows doesn’t give me warm feelings.

West

North

East

South

 

1 1

pass

2

pass

2 2

dbl

2

pass

3

pass

3NT

pass

…5

a.p.

 

 

1. 8-17 hcp systematically
2. Any minimum

Perhaps I should have smelled a rat and pass out 3 but I still visualized game to be reasonable. I’m surprised by the jump to 5 , curious I wait for dummy.



Of course West starts with a trump so ruffing all my losers is going to get difficult. I’m in a terrible spot. And I make a mental note to tell Geoff his hand doesn’t qualify for opening in my standards, or our standards. Add a couple of spots to the suit, then maybe if not vulnerable.

Anyway, I’d better make a plan. My best chance is to find QJ-third onside. Perhaps I can set up a to pitch a from dummy so I can tackle 3-3. Not that it brings my odds for bringing this baby home anywhere close to 50%.

I win in dummy with the Ace and request the 5. East rises with the Ace and returns her trump, fortunately they break 2-2. Now let’s see if I can work something in the suit.

But wait… if I play a top from hand then it doesn’t matter what West does. Covering and forcing me to ruff will leave me an entry short to finesse twice in later (East will split) if my experiment is fruitless. While if West ducks then it doesn’t gain me anything, with the miniscule exception of finding East with exactly AK9 or AQ9.

A cunning plan fosters in my mind… I check whether West is awake. I put down the 8 intending to let it ride, playing West for any Honor-9 combination. Later I can take a ruffing finesse against his honor, and I have one trump left in dummy to establish my (just depending on a 3-3 split).

But no, West covers the 8 with the 9 and I’m forced to ruff. So far my experiment in the suit… The hook against QJ is all I have left.

North Dealer

NS Vul

North

5

KJ864

A986

753

West

Q9732

932

73

962

East

AK6

AQT75

52

QJ4

South

JT84

-

KQJT4

AKT8

 

It works… for +600. Not happy with the bidding, but the result is nice to surprise your team mates with.

Hi all

So it’s Saturday evening now. After a wealthy dinner at Montrio we get to sit down against two lovely ladies. I had my guard up a bit, because it’s still the finals of a two day KO. I’d better not be lulled into a false sense of comfort.

We start good by extracting +800 from a phantom sacrifice. And then Geoff and I Beowulf to slam on the cards below.

North Dealer

NS Vul

North

KJ653

T4

AJT

842

West

84

K762

K87

J965

East

7

Q9853

Q9642

T3

South

AQT92

AJ

53

AKQ7

 

West

North

East

South

 

pass

pass

1 1

pass

1 2

pass

1 3

pass

3 4

pass

4

pass

4

pass

4NT

pass

5 5

pass

6

a.p.

 

 

 

 

1. 15-17 bal, or stronger any shape
2. 6+ hcp
3. Natural, 18+
4. Maximum/slammish raise
5. Two keys with trump Queen or extra length

When West led a trump, I needed either the to break or the double finesse in . I’m glad they didn’t lead a . A tentative estimate puts us now at +20, I think. But the ladies proved to be a lot more resilient than expected.

West Dealer

NS Vul

North

T983

953

76542

A

West

54

AJ762

-

KQJ942

East

J6

KQT84

AK8

873

South

AKQ72

-

QJT93

T65

 

West

North

East

South

1

pass

1

2NT1

4

4

dbl

pass

5

a.p.

 

 

 

1. Unusual

5 went down one silently, but at the other table they maneuvered a contract of 5 in the South hand. So East gets his two tricks, but West not the ruff he was looking for: 13 imp down the drain.

In addition they brought home a sharp 3NT and outbid us on a couple of part scores, so after the first 12 boards a boatload of imps has crossed the table: 42-42.

The second half starts of poorly for us when I find the single lead that lets them make their game. Then the ladies hopscotched into 6 with two top missing. But on a non- lead all losers went away… Geoff and I now both sit at the table like hawks, waiting for an opportunity to pounce. And the opportunity gets there…

Sitting in 3rd seat, all red I decide to open a Beowulf 2 (showing 8-12 hcp, exactly 4 crd suit, unbalanced).


My LHO overcalls 3 , passed to me… I know we’re good. She misplayed a bit and went down four, for +400, no game for anyone in sight. A funny side note: Because in the US we’re not allowed to play any conventions over an opening like this, all bids after that have to be natural. So without a blush or embarrassment I could have doubled 3 for penalties. Now how’s that if you have opened weakly in 3rd chair?

We have a lock. We win the finals by 89 to 77. That’s quite rich over a 24 board match.

Hi all

Back from Belize safe & sound. In a nutshell: snorkeling, sea turtles, eagle rays, I kissed a shark, Maya ruins (Caracol), roasted pig on the beach, termites taste minty – carrotty (really!), ATM cave, slightly tanned, donated a lot of blood to local mosquito population, and I had the most amazing smoked pork chops ever at Erva’s in San Ignacio.

Barely back from Belize and I’m headed for Monterey again, attending the Clambake Regional. Geoff and I teamed up with Grant and Jessica (picture probably in the next issue of the Bridge magazine). We entered the Friday – Saturday KO, and after a pretty flat round robin we picked up steam. Here’s me drawing nine out of the fire with bare hands.

West

North

East

South

 

 

 

1 1

3

3

pass

3NT

a.p.

 

 

 

 

1. Could be light (8-17)

Geoff took a flyer when he bid 3 , hoping to find me with some kind of fit. Well, this is what I saw after West leads the Jack:



Ugh! 3NT needs a lot of work with only 3 tricks from top. Fortunately I’m not vulnerable, so damage control is not a top priority.

I request the Queen from dummy and it wins the trick. A to my Jack survives as well, and prospects look a little bit less bleak. A second back to dummy and East wins his Queen (West has followed suit with the 8 and 9). A surprising Ten of hits the table that gets covered around to dummy.

A back to the 8 and it wins, 7 tricks in the pocket now. I check whether the break, but they don’t. One last resort, if the break 8-1, I can endplay East. I cash my Ace and exit with another one.



East grumpily cashes his trick and the Ace, but then surrenders a to dummy’s King. The Ace is the entry to my free , and that’s trick number nine.

South Dealer

- Vul

North

KT8763

T5

Q7

A52

West

J5

98

KJT9632

K3

East

AQ92

KQ72

5

T976

South

4

AJ643

A84

QJ84

 

Thank you!

Hi all

Sanne and I are mere hours away from our trip to Belize. Snorkeling gear packed, sun screen & glasses, and no phones or digital communication equipment at all. Just us, the beach, Maya temples and a couple of malaria mosquitoes. Life’s good.

Here’s a cute deal from a home knock out. After the busy auction below I found myself defending.

West

North

East

South

 

 

 

1NT1

pass

2

DBL

2

DBL

pass

2NT

pass

3

a.p.

 

 

 

1. 11-14

 

East

A4

KQ5

QJT72

JT8

South

T985

A72

K94

AQ4

 

Geoff (North) leads the 3 (3rd and low), and I zone out to figure out a defence. I win the Ace and declarer drops the Jack. If I switch to now, it’ll be too late. My king is very poorly placed, and if declarer has a problem, the in dummy will provide a parking spot. No, I need Geoff to hold the King, accompanied by three little ones.

Play proceeds, Ace (Geoff encourages), Queen, and a third for Geoff. In full grasp of the position he puts down the poisonous 13th . Declarer has an unsolvable problem. Ruff low in dummy and my 9 forces out the Ace. Ruff high and I will refuse to overruff. Promoting a trick for my 9. Down one, left and right.

South Dealer

All Vul

North

762

T8643

62

K952

West

KQJ3

J9

A853

763

East

A4

KQ5

QJT72

JT8

South

T985

A72

K94

AQ4

 

Happy holidays all!

Hi all

I don’t often put brands, recommendations or advertisements here, but for Tap House in downtown Seattle I make an exception. With 160 beers on draft it was a pleasure to cool off after a day of bridge. The picture below shows their Honor Society selection. I’ve experienced most of them from bottle, but some of them I didn’t even know existed on draft. The Gulden Draak was out of this world!


This deal is from the Open Swiss. I wasn’t full awake yet (no beer cause!). Geoff leads a high-ish after the opponents bid 1NT – 4NT – 6NT.

 

East

KQJ

AT

K652

QJT7

South

AT743

8763

74

95

 

Declarer wins the in dummy and asks for the King. Sleepily I win my Ace and return a . Subsequently I see declarer hooking the Ten and then squeezing Geoff out of his red suits so the come in for 4 tricks and the contract.

The solution is easy: duck the Ace twice. The count not rectified, declarer is unable to get to more than 11 tricks. I’m glad the opponent in my seat was just as awake as I was.

West Dealer

NS Vul

North

82

K952

J983

863

West

965

QJ4

AQT

AK42

East

KQJ

AT

K652

QJT7

South

AT743

8763

74

95

 

6 is on ice, though. And in my mind a Baron-esque sequence should get an imps player to the safest contract. Here’s what I suggest:

West

North

East

South

1NT

pass

4NT1

pass

5NT2

pass

6

a.p.

 

1. Quantitative
2. Accepting the quantitative raise, but requesting to bid four card suits up the line

Cheers!

Hi all

So Geoff and I teamed up with Bill & Drew to stretch our muscles in a compact knockout a week ago on Thursday. Our teammates have the slam engine on and we easily make it to the semis. This is what happened when we’re two boards into the match.

West

North

East

South

 

 

 

1 1

???

 

 

 

 

Geoff opens 1 , showing a 15-17NT or a stronger hand of any shape. West now decides to consult his partner about their defence against such a opening. All of us are baffled at the question, but East is awake enough to respond that discussing this during the auction is not appropriate. West continues with the words: “So we have no agreements whatsoever?!?”. By now the director is present at the table, and after hearing what happened, strongly reprimands West with the words:”You have single handedly made sure this board is almost unplayable. If you make any more noise, I’ll cancel the board and hand you a procedural penalty.”

The board was a flat 3NT, so nothing happened. But consider this, we’re playing in the 17,000 to 30,000 masterpoints bracket. It was unreal.

That we didn’t win the event is mostly on my account. I failed to compete to a vulnerable 3 of a minor on a sub-minimal hand, and I paid the price with a double part score swing. That was the difference and we settle for a 3rd place overall.

Here’s me having a full grasp of what’s happening at the table. I had all my antennas out.

West

North

East

South

 

1:NT1

pass

pass

DBL

pass

pass

2 2

DBL

2 3

2

pass

3

pass

4

a.p.

 

1. 11-14NT
2. + another run out
3. Real suit, redouble would have asked for my 2nd suit


I knew that Geoff was short in , and dummy would put down reasonable power. So I decide to underlead my Ace, to give declarer an immediate guess.

I knew I hit the jackpot when dummy came down. Full deal:

West Dealer

NS Vul

North

J2

AKQ72

Q85

754

West

AQ63

J9

KJ94

AK2

East

KT987

T3

62

QJ62

South

54

8654

AT73

983

 

Declarer tried the Jack but Geoff won the Queen and we quickly cashed out. Later in the play declarer would have gathered some more information, and he might as well have taken the right guess. But on the lead that is so much more difficult.