M

Hi all

I’ve enjoyed way too many “M”‘s in Finland: Munkki, Muikku, Marimekko, Marieke, Makkara, Mansikka and more. The weather wasn’t very cooperative, the worst summer in 40 years I’ve heard. It had no impact on my mood, though, I was up all the time. I could even muster a teensy smile when I had to pump the air bed in the middle of the night for the third time. Brand new with a cursed tiny leak. Marieke still cracks up when she so vividly remembers me “enthusiastically” pumping the air bed while fending off waves of interested mosquitos.

Here’s a nice deal from HOK last Monday.

South
AQ72
KQ3
AJ85
Q3

Just a random balanced 18-count. With a former world champion on my left of course things don’t get to pass uncontested.

West
North
East
South
 
 
pass
11
12
DBL3
pass
1NT4
pass
3NT
a.p.
 
  1. 16+
  2. Majors or minors
  3. Any 5-7
  4. 17-19 bal

West leads the 4 of (odd leads) via the Jack for my King and this is what I have to work with:

North
3
95
KT962
K8765
South
AQ72
KQ3
AJ85
Q3

Here’s an excerpt of my train of thoughts (cravings for beer, improper thoughts and other non-vital musings omitted): The suit is my main source of tricks. If I find the Queen I still need to avoid East gaining the lead because of my single positional stopper. So West needs to hold the Ace of . To even get close to nine tricks the hook needs to be onside.

Because West is holding both Majors (the leads suggests it) I’m going to take a finesse against East’s presumed Queen-third. West discards a on the second round of

That’s hurdle #1. 

Three more rounds follow, West discards some more and finally a . Hurdle #2 coming up: The 3 to my Queen survives, West surrendering the Jack. This is the position now:

North
9
K8765
South
A7
Q3
Q3

Trivially academic by now. I cash the Ace and exit with the  3 towards the King. If West ducks I have nine already and if she rises she can pick her poison granting me my contract with either round Queen. 

East Dealer
NS Vul
North
3
95
KT962
K8765
West
J654
AT764
7
AT2
East
KT98
J82
Q43
J94
South
AQ72
KQ3
AJ85
Q3

Taking 9 was good for the same number of IMPs.

I leave you with a recommendation to watch the Danish/Swedish crime drama “The Bridge”. In a genuine Netflix binge Marieke and I finished season one in three days or so. What a ride!