Monterey – Part 2

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
11
pass
12
pass
13
pass
34
pass
4
pass
4
pass
4NT
pass
55
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).

South
64
A975
T9864
AK

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.

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