Good Deed Chocolates

Hi all

If you could just see me now, I’m radiant.

I found a cellphone in the train today. It was a stylish black LG thingie. Finders keepers? Well, the thought crossed my mind. But 5 minutes later I already had arranged a meeting with the owner. He bought me some chocolates as a reward. I felt so… “Baden Powellish”. Now before I start an endless monologue about altruism, and if it really exists. It doesn’t matter. Do good, receive good. That’s what matters.

I leave you with another bronze statue. Next saturday (February 3rd) in the Zeemanskerk in Rotterdam, be there.

Bronze Moon
 

Teams January 24th (part 3)

Hi all

A final one from our last, succesfull teams match. I still don’t know what’s right, if you have strong and convincing suggestions feel free to tell me about it.

Your hand:

North
KJ98xx
x
ATxx
xx

Take a break and look at the hand. It’s nice. I guess opposite a scattered 10 count you have play for game. So this hand is worth a lot, it’s definite in the very upper ranges of a weak two. According to ZAR (or Wikipedia) it’s worth a regular opening bid (26 distribution points). But what do you do when your RHO opens a Muiderberg Two in (weak hand, 5 card and 4+ in a minor)?

I decided to overcall with 2. Because you are so short in enemy’s suit, you cannot expect partner to protect in 4th seat, he has too many for that. And game could still be on. But partner will account you for at least a King more in value, how to cope with that? You are (quoting David Bowie) "Under Pressure".

West Dealer
– Vul
North
KJ98xx
x
ATxx
xx
West
xx
QJ9xx
x
AT9xx
East
ATxx
A
Jxx
KQJxx
South
Q
KTxxxx
KQ9xx
x

The bidding resembles a runaway train:

West
North
East
South
21
2
32
3spade
pass
pass
double
pass
4
pass
pass
double
pass
4
pass
5
pass
pass
double
a.p.
 

1. Muiderberg Two
2. Asking for partner’s minor suit (?)

From here on there are no further agreements, just interpretations. René’s 3 call is about 80% forcing, but I got scared from my own 2 call. East doubled (probably for takeout), West running to his other 5 card suit. Time to come clean, I should bid 4 now, showing my anemic overcall. René’s double is for penalties, expecting in my hand and all suits breaking badly. I ran like the wind. Still expecting full values for my first overcall he raised himself to the game. Three Aces gone, so minus 100.

At the other table things were less hectic. Martin (West) ended up in 3 (a solid 5-5 fit), without a trump lead you can crossruff to eleven tricks. Gain: 2 imp.

Teams January 24th (part 2)

Hi all

Here’s another story from last wednesday, René preempted them out of their vulnerable game on an offshape hand. I passed first hand and he heard his RHO open 1.

North
KQJT6
QJT64
95
8

We have tools for twosuiters, but on agreement this hand is too weak for that. With an eye on the vulnerability and lady Fortune on our shoulder he jumped to 3. It shows that with a passed partner we rise pressure at every opportunity (alerted and explained to our opponents). It paid bigtime, for this was the full deal.

South Dealer
EW Vul
North
KQJT6
QJT64
95
8
West
5
A75
KJ874
AKQ3
East
82
93
AQT3
J9652
South
A9743
K82
62
T74

East had some values but the 1 opening was nebulous (3+ card suit) so raising was not without danger. His pass was a bit timid, but I can see no clear alternatives. With this trump support I had an easy raise to game. Now West’s pass was too conservative, with a stiff and significant extras he should protect with a double. My 4 call was passed out.

René had four top losers, but East led a for West’s Ace and now something went wrong, West got wrong count on his Ace of and when he tried to cash another one, René could claim eleven tricks (pitching dummy’s on his long ).

At the other table North overcalled just 1 and now East could show his support on a comfortable level, the auction eventually ended in 5. A double game swing, 450 + 620 totals a blistering 1070 points.

I have no clue how to get to the cold slam.

Teams January 24th (part 1)

Hi all

As I mentioned earlier, lots of stories. From our last teams match.

I hold a fairly nice red twosuiter:

South
Kx
AQTxx
KQ8xx
K

I open a strong 1, LHO enters the bidding with 1 (showing and a higher suit), René passes (0-4 hcp) and East bids a natural 2. Do I have enough to mention my suit? I suddenly liked my hand a lot less, breathing down my neck, partner nearly broke, so I dropped the hand like a hot potato.

I lead a high and dummy comes down:

 
West
xx
KJ986
AJTx
Jx
South
Kx
AQTxx
KQ8xx
K

I breathe with relief, a red suit monster was waiting for me around the corner. The defence is tight and we take maximum advantage of a small error leading to a one trick set.

At the other table things went differently:

West
North
East
South
 
 
 
1
pass
1
31
3
pass
3
pass
4
double
a.p.
 
 

1. Preemptive pressure

I do have some comments on N-S bidding, 1 was frivolous, but South raising himself to game still hurts my eyes. I guess West (Martin) felt like he had been invited to a butcher’s party (+800).

Full:

South Dealer
NS Vul
North
QTxxx
53
xx
QTxx
West
xx
KJ986
AJTx
Jx
East
AJxx
7
xx
A9xxxx
South
Kx
AQT42
KQ8xx
K

Them Vibes

Hi all

It seems everything is working fine again, and I have lots of stories to tell. So check back often. Tuesday at Star I played with Martin. I have to start with some apologies, I can count something like fifteen solid tricks during the bidding, but I miscount an Ace. No score for 6NT (back to primary school?).

North
A975
542
AKQ
A64
South
QT8642
863
742
9

We ended up in 4 and I know what’s technically correct. Go for the drop. But it was an opportunity for gallery play and I had good vibes at the table. So I played the Queen from hand and success was mine, East had a bare Jack of . Yay!

Some more vibes.

South
Q93
Q8
AQ7643
A9

I open with a 11-14 NT (though it’s a little too strong for that) and Martin transfers to . Not unhappy. But now Martin jumps to the game, according to our agreements this is mildly slam invitational (other hands go through Texas). Well, I definitely have extras so I cuebid 5 and Martin finishes off with 6.

Full deal:

South Dealer
– Vul
North
AKJT852
K65
9
84
West
7
T7432
T82
KT72
East
64
AJ9
KJ5
QJ653
South
Q93
Q8
AQ7643
A9

I ruff out the for 12 tricks. I was a bit surprised we were not alone on this one, but still happy with the 80something%.

Finnish Art

Hi all

And now for something completely different, my mother contributes two large bronze statues to an exhibition in the “Zeemanskerk” in Rotterdam, starting the 3rd of February. It’s all about Finnish art, I can recommend it to everyone. Here’s a sample of what you will find there:

Bronze Angel

On The Defence

Hi all

I have a small defensive problem for you. It occurred at Dennis’ table last Tuesday at BC Star.

East
A85
Q43
742
KQT4

LHO opens 1, a Bergen 3 on your right and left decides he has enough for game. Partner starts with the 2 (odd leads) and dummy hits the table. You take the trick with your Ace and return the King of .

North
73
AJT2
AT93
953
East
A85
Q43
742
KQT4

Declarer takes your King with the Ace and plays the Queen for partner’s King. The from partner is ruffed and declarer throws the remaining from dummy on his Jack of . Two top follow (partner following once) and declarer doesn’t look happy seeing he has a trump loser, but puts you in with a third round.

South Dealer
– Vul
North
T
AT93
East
742
QT

Declarer skillfully removed all the black suits. It looks as if you have to open up or give a ruff and discard.

Let’s analyze.

Declarer surely doesn’t have King-Queen in , else he would have claimed. What about distribution? This one is easy, declarer has a 3-5-4-1.

The picture is complete. A ruff and discard cannot help declarer, for he can discard just one . He will still be left with a loser in the suit or a complete guess about the Queen. Let declarer solve his own problem, maybe he’ll go wrong…

Full layout:

South Dealer
– Vul
North
73
AJT2
AT93
953
West
K9642
5
Q5
J8762
East
A85
Q43
742
KQT4
South
QJT
K9876
KJ86
A

Black Tie Squeeze

Hi all

Here’s a 6NT from one of the Dombo teams matches last week. The game stayed in the back of my mind for a couple days, and finally I found out why.

North Dealer
NS Vul
North
Kx
AJTxx
QJ9x
QT
West
Jx
98xxx
KTx
xxx
East
QT9xx
x
xx
KJxxx
South
A8xx
KQ
Axxx
Axx

North opened 1, East overcalled 1 and South ended up in 6NT. West not being blessed with second sight started with the Jack (a lead from West beats 6NT). Declarer lost track and ended up one trick short.

The plan. You have eleven tricks if you develop the for three tricks. Number twelve has to come from a squeeze, there are no other options available. So take the lead with the King and play a to the Ace and a to dummy, West takes and plays again a for your Ace. Cash both the King and Queen of and cross to dummy in . Now the rest of the red suit tricks and East is trapped.

North Dealer
NS Vul
North
T
QT
West
.
not
important
.
East
Q
KJ
South
8
Ax

When the Ten of is played from dummy it’s all curtains for East.

I hear you say: “But if West switches to a when he’s in with the King?” Now this is what I like about this game. Follow the same lines as above and it will lead to this:

North Dealer
NS Vul
North
x
T
Q
West
.
not
important
.
East
QT
K
South
A8
x

Again these curtains on the Ten.

West can take away one entry when in with the King, but the other black suit will still provide the communication for the black suit squeeze. One question is still left, how to get to play 6NT from North? 

Locked

Hi all

Another one from the glorious match last monday. At both tables 5 went down one, but in the post mortem Wim found the way to eleven tricks.

South Dealer
EW Vul
North
QT2
942
J8
AKQ84
South
A84
AQ75
6
JT953
West
North
East
South
 
 
 
11
pass
22
pass
23
pass
24
pass
3
pass
35
pass
36
pass
47
pass
48
pass
59
a.p.
 
 

1. 15-17 balanced or unbalanced 4+
2. Inverted
3. unbalanced
4. stopper
5. Half a stop?
6. No, but something extras in
7. Not enough for 5, but interpreted as slaminvitational
8. Cue
9. Pulling the brakes

The plan. Take the trump lead in dummy and immediately play a . Take the (likely) trump continuation again in dummy and ruff the other . Cross to dummy in trumps, finesse in , and play Ace and a third round. This is the position:

South Dealer
EW Vul
North
QT2
84
South
A84
7
J

East will be on lead and has to lead away from the King of or give a ruff and discard. On the thirteenth you can dispose of the other losing then. But what if East throws his King, foreseeing the throw in? Too bad, West holds the Jack, so the position is locked frozen for the opponents. Complete deal:

South Dealer
EW Vul
North
QT2
942
J8
AKQ84
West
J75
J83
AT754
62
East
K963
KT6
KQ932
7
South
A84
AQ75
6
JT953

Moral victory

Hi all

Though we tied 15-15 against our arch rivals BCO4, the moral victory was ours. By one whole imp. There were several nice games, a grand in , a couple of nice partials, but let me ask you a question:

West
T63
93
K9752
KT5
West
North
East
South
 
1
1
2
2
pass
pass
3
pass
3
pass
pass
???
 
 
 
 

How greedy are you? Remember it’s teams.

I wonder what hurt most, that declarer got home without breaking a sweat or the doubled overtrick?

There’s something nifty about this game. Game in is on ice for the opponents. Look here:

North Dealer
– Vul
North
A752
AT854
83
AJ
West
T63
93
K9752
KT5
East
KQJ84
KQJ72
862
South
9
6
AQJT64
Q9743

Let’s assume West leads a (as good as anything). You take it and immediately ruff a . Finesse in , ruff another , cross to the Ace, Ace as well and a ruffed. Now if you ruff a in dummy this will be the position:

North Dealer
– Vul
North
7
T85
8
West
K9752
East
not
important
.
.
South
AQJ
Q9

Play a loser from dummy, discard a winning yourself and West has to ruff. Next he will tackle trumps for you. Repeat the trick by playing your last from hand. Drumroll…: Eleven icy cold tricks.