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!