Month: June 2008

Hi all

A long time ago, in a galaxy far, far away I was a happy-go-lucky and worryfree bridgeplayer. I used to bid fairly high (read "insanely" here), but often I would compensate with thoughtful play or I could rely on partner for damage control.

Here, from a butler session at Dombo:

I think everybody agrees with me it’s an opening bid.

1. 4th suit forcing
2. 5-6+ distribution
3. let partner continue…

I thought I was too light to continue myself over 4 and I didn’t feel unhappy when the auction ended there.

On a lead I had a safe route to ten tricks, I ruffed three in dummy.

It feels unsettling that more than half of the pairs present bid the slam. And made it too! I guess South got carried away with his/her nice collection. You need a favourable split, nothing nasty in trumps and preferably no lead. Apart from that slam is okay.

Did the fat lady sing already? Is it time for me to visit the old man’s home for retired vikings?

Hi all

I have this opponent, let’s call him cigar. Enemy is too strong a label, but he is definitely scheduled under "less favourite". He creates a lot of heat at the table, to his opponents and sometimes his partner gets some of it too.

Hoek and I sit down and the first game his partner summons 10 tricks in a partscore when our defence is suboptimal. But cigar is not satisfied, his partner should have doubled our non-vulnerable intervention for takeout and he would have laid down the perfect defence for down two.

Right. I’m familiar with heat too. Inside I feel a blaze starting, a small hot spot turning and twisting into a living firestorm. I need to control it, it could easily backfire.

I pick up garbage:

I notice cigar is surprised by his partners raise to game. His 3 wasn’t invitational, he was just taking away space competitively. The time feels right to start a fire, I double. I take Hoek’s overcall into account, my solid trump trick and some sidevalues to set free my inner storm. I see cigar’s expression change to annoyed and when dummy comes down it changes to angry.

Down 1. A magic +200 for us. Cigar, I’d like you to meet a friend of mine, his name is Pain.

Howdy

Hoek and I weren’t really there last time at Star. I was still suffering from a jet lag and Hoek had one of his not-so-good days. Some 42% isn’t something to write home about. But it’s true, and there were some nice games.

Here’s a nice one:

A fine sixteencount. But it’s not your turn yet, you’re sitting 4th position, all vulnerable.

* Lightning fast

Hoek shattered the window of sane bidding with a completely unexpected 4, my RHO doesn’t even waste half a second in bidding 4. I have excellent trumps and some other nice values so I decide to jump too, to 6. LHO believes my confident look and resorts to 6. I double, ending the sequence.

I spend half a moment thinking about calling the director, because neither opponent followed to the stop rule. And the director is there to protect me against any unauthorised information that moves across the table. With a small sigh I let it pass.

When Hoek started with the Queen, it was the end of the defence. Declarer threw a from hand while ruffing in dummy, and after two rounds of trumps I was thrown in with to lead away from my Ace of . Down 1. Well, it’s a plus, and there are only 11 tricks for us to buy in a contract, but down 1 just doesn’t really quench my thirst for tricks.

A lead is obviously the most rewarding defence. On that lead it’s not even game for EW! After two rounds of and a ruff declarer still has to have a keen eye and let the King of hold the trick. The ensuing ruff and sluff lets declarer get rid of the losing .

Howdy

My mouth is dry. We’re on a mission, a perilous one. Captain asked us to do a covert operation in an unnamed country. Hoek is my wingman and together we fly, deep into enemy territory.

I was close to raising to 3 on the first round, but I thought I was a shade too light. I don’t want to crash in a razorsharp 3NT when it’s pairs. But I could show my slight values and good shape with a double when the opponents retreated to my shortest suit.

Hoek launched his missile when he decided to pass for penalties.

Hoek started with his stiff , and when I saw dummy I knew the result would be brutal. Eventually declarer scrambled together 4 tricks. I’m happy I had my eye on the ball when I doubled 2 for takeout. I aimed, Hoek pulled the trigger.

Scorched earth, mission accomplished.