Karma bit me hard last night on the 7th hand of the evening. I upgraded A98 A10xx xx K1098 to a 12-14 1NT at game all (pairs), partner raised to 2 and I passed then made 10 tricks thanks to a fair bit of luck and helpful defence for +180 and absolutely 0 matchpoints. If I’d passed, LHO has a filthy 12 count (no 10s or 9s, unsupported honours, 4-3-3-3 which many opened 1NT and staggered off opposite a ropy 5 count. Yet I can’t help feeling it as payback time for my sins on the first board of the night.
I would up in 6S (!!) on the first board with AQ9xx J9 A10 AQxx opposite 10x AKQxxx Jxxx x and had the H8 led round to the 10 and J. The only hope here is that East has SKJ alone and West has to follow to lots of hearts. CA, C ruff S10 getting a small one (rats) but SQ holds, SA drops the J offside nd I can start running H on which LHO shows out. So I started running them off dumping minor suit losers knowing that I’m going one off at best but RHO let me dump 2C and a diamond. Then when I played one more heart, on which I’d have to dump the DA before ruffing a plain card and being endplayed to give RHO the SK8 at T12, she ruffed in small, having a brainstorm. Justice was done 6 boards later….
Regards,
Iain
PS I refuse to own up to the bidding except it was my fault.
bobbywolffJune 9th, 2023 at 7:33 pm
Hi Iain,
No doubt you and your partner (is he still after last night?) reached the good 6 spade slam, always described that way, since you made it. Enough of other names, but rather the gospel truth, when you brought it home.
Methinks that pard decided on giving you a late auction preference rather than rebid again,
his not too shabby suit.
The first hand represented, especially at matchpoints, the luck involved while playing, when
the vulnerability plays an unfair huge role in determining the result, to which, while playing
rubber or IMPs, is only, where it belongs, a relatively minor setback.
Finally, with only the “Scarecrow”, from “The Wizard of OZ” fame exempt. when one needs a brainstorm from opponents, it always arrives, well, sometimes!
In Bid with the Aces suppose over double west bids 4 hearts and partner passes should I now bid 4 NT for minors or bid 5 C or double again or simply pass ?
Best regards
Shantanu Rastogi
bobbywolffJune 10th, 2023 at 2:22 pm
Hi Shantanu,
Certainly not 5 clubs (much too restricted) but also not double, since holding only three of the other major, but likely 4NT (at least to me, a slam dunk choice) bur a conservative pass needs to be at least considered, but not long by me, who would definitely chance partner having length in one minor or the other. Of course this discussion then runs to partner being afraid to double 4 hearts for penalty while holding their trump suit, an obligation by him to not hide his feelings for fear you will chance what I would, when he meekly just passed.
Proving sometimes that conservatism is, according to “Donald Duck”, not what it is quacked up to be.
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Hi Bobby,
Karma bit me hard last night on the 7th hand of the evening. I upgraded A98 A10xx xx K1098 to a 12-14 1NT at game all (pairs), partner raised to 2 and I passed then made 10 tricks thanks to a fair bit of luck and helpful defence for +180 and absolutely 0 matchpoints. If I’d passed, LHO has a filthy 12 count (no 10s or 9s, unsupported honours, 4-3-3-3 which many opened 1NT and staggered off opposite a ropy 5 count. Yet I can’t help feeling it as payback time for my sins on the first board of the night.
I would up in 6S (!!) on the first board with AQ9xx J9 A10 AQxx opposite 10x AKQxxx Jxxx x and had the H8 led round to the 10 and J. The only hope here is that East has SKJ alone and West has to follow to lots of hearts. CA, C ruff S10 getting a small one (rats) but SQ holds, SA drops the J offside nd I can start running H on which LHO shows out. So I started running them off dumping minor suit losers knowing that I’m going one off at best but RHO let me dump 2C and a diamond. Then when I played one more heart, on which I’d have to dump the DA before ruffing a plain card and being endplayed to give RHO the SK8 at T12, she ruffed in small, having a brainstorm. Justice was done 6 boards later….
Regards,
Iain
PS I refuse to own up to the bidding except it was my fault.
Hi Iain,
No doubt you and your partner (is he still after last night?) reached the good 6 spade slam, always described that way, since you made it. Enough of other names, but rather the gospel truth, when you brought it home.
Methinks that pard decided on giving you a late auction preference rather than rebid again,
his not too shabby suit.
The first hand represented, especially at matchpoints, the luck involved while playing, when
the vulnerability plays an unfair huge role in determining the result, to which, while playing
rubber or IMPs, is only, where it belongs, a relatively minor setback.
Finally, with only the “Scarecrow”, from “The Wizard of OZ” fame exempt. when one needs a brainstorm from opponents, it always arrives, well, sometimes!
Hello Bobby Sir
In Bid with the Aces suppose over double west bids 4 hearts and partner passes should I now bid 4 NT for minors or bid 5 C or double again or simply pass ?
Best regards
Shantanu Rastogi
Hi Shantanu,
Certainly not 5 clubs (much too restricted) but also not double, since holding only three of the other major, but likely 4NT (at least to me, a slam dunk choice) bur a conservative pass needs to be at least considered, but not long by me, who would definitely chance partner having length in one minor or the other. Of course this discussion then runs to partner being afraid to double 4 hearts for penalty while holding their trump suit, an obligation by him to not hide his feelings for fear you will chance what I would, when he meekly just passed.
Proving sometimes that conservatism is, according to “Donald Duck”, not what it is quacked up to be.
.