Pale

Hi all,

I’ve been deeply engrossed in Game of Thrones lately. The books I have read already a couple of years ago, now I’m catching up with the series. Varys, Tyrion and Arya, yeah! I seek opportunities at the bridge table to quote GoT. Like saying “Winter is coming” when putting down a terrible dummy. Heh! I kill myself! And now for something completely different (a larch, anyone?) … I suggest you take a look at this YouTube clip. None of it has to do anything with Westeros or its amazing characters, it might actually invoke a genuine “WTF?”. Ohh, do I miss the days when I burned thru seasons of Red Dwarf for the first time.

Here’s a nice deal from the Patton series at HOK. 

North
5
643
AKJT853
74

Kees (South) opens a 10-12 NT first hand and I have to decide whether to undertake immediate action or take the low road. My RHO passes and a glimpse to my left reveals an opponent intensely studying her cards. Alright, let me take you out for a spin: I pass. LHO flicks an “X” on the table and partner and RHO have nothing to add. 

Okay, I think I have a nasty surprise for my LHO.

West starts with the Jack of and with an evil grin I put down my dummy:

North
5
643
AKJT853
74
South
K962
J87
Q4
AQT3

East lets the Jack slide and Kees takes his King. I swear East turned a whiter shade of pale when the dreaded Queen hit the table. Six more followed in rapid succession and East had no discards to spare. She decided to abandon the suit altogether so four more came rolling in. This was the full deal:

North Dealer
– Vul
North
5
643
AKJT853
74
West
JT73
A95
972
852
East
AQ84
KQT2
6
KJ96
South
K962
J87
Q4
AQT3

So the result was 1NT! making 6. I add another rare bird to my book of bizarro scores: +680 in a NT contract.

“A bruise is a lesson… and each lesson makes us better.”

Hot Stuff

Hi all,

I have another city trip under my belt, this time I spent a couple of days in Copenhagen. I met up with teammates who happened to have scheduled their holidays parallel with mine. Strolling around in Copenhagen with the sun on our faces while discussing bridge. Yes please, any day. On Saturday I had a lovely evening where my girlfriend had her graduating performance at the Complete Vocal Institute. Unbridled enthusiasm, a mountain of talent and just a pinch of stage nervousness blended for a silver lined day.

Here’s a nice deal where I was handed a gift or two and then demanded another. Again I was playing with René, the founder of Bridge Big.

South
K7
AJ8
KQ5
AJT62

I hear my RHO open a weak 2 in and I have a problem. I’m top heavy for a 2NT overcall, but I see no good alternative. If I start with a double we might end up in some awkward 4-3 fit if partner starts with a Lebensohl response. So I choose 2NT, René raises me to game.

North
9643
Q52
AJT84
5
South
K7
AJ8
KQ5
AJT62

West leads the Ace and switches to a low that runs to my Ten. Thank you! I probably wouldn’t have been able to do that myself. I can easily set up a trick to take ten, but I’m hungry for more.

I overtake my King of with dummy’s Ace and a towards my Jack wins the trick. From here it’s plain sailing, I cash the King and Ace and rattle off the remaining . This is the position with one more to go:

North
9
Q5
8
South
A8
J6

On the train East has been discarding a string of . On the last East discards her black Jack and I honor it with mine. Now I exit with the 9 to East and out goes my last . East is placed and has to return a into my split fork. Hot Stuff! +660 feels good.

East Dealer
NS Vul
North
9643
Q52
AJT84
5
West
A
T764
763
KQ843
East
QJT852
K93
92
97
South
K7
AJ8
KQ5
AJT62

Here’s me enjoying a Three Floyds Majsgoop (a surprisingly hoppy barley wine) @ Mikkeler “Welcome Beer Geeks” Bar in Copenhagen. Wonderful!