Hi all
I’m back after a short break. But before the Santa Clara Regional begins, I have to finish up some Philadelphia stories. Here we go:
Not too shabby! I love it when I pick up my cards and the stream of face cards just doesn’t end.
1
24
5- Beowulf: 15-17 balanced, or stronger any shape
- 6+ hcp any shape
- 18-19 bal, GF
- Transfer
- Splinter
- That should be about right
I took some artistic liberty with 2NT, as it technically shows 18-19 balanced, but all I wanted to do was to establish a game force. I could always raise to slam myself if Geoff had no more than a simple raise to game.
Geoff did surprise me a couple of times during the bidding. First his positive response made my day a bit brighter (27-counts usually make me grin like a monkey in pairing season). And then his self-splinter over 3. At that point I figured Geoff had to hold very good trumps for a slam try opposite 18-19, because I’m holding everything else. Anyway, with my significant extras I had no problem emptying my bidding box.
16 tricks from top. And a fistful of IMPs when the other table closed out in small slam.
Wasn’t there also a misunderstanding about whether 4
was splinter or kickback? :)
Yes, you have an excellent memory Antony!
In retrospect it can’t be kickback. Usually Ace-asking with just 1 key card is asking for trouble.
Whatever I thought at the table, 4
was a slam try…
Isn’t life easier when you can say “whatever you want, I’ve got it!”. :)