The Aces on Bridge: Tuesday, 27 February, 2024
by Bobby Wolff on
February 27th, 2024
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Aces on Bridge — Daily Columns |
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The Aces on Bridge: Tuesday, 27 February, 2024
by Bobby Wolff on
February 27th, 2024
4 Comments |
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Hi Bobby,
NS could have sensibly hit 5D here. DKQ to start with then a spade. West can play CAJ but then another spade and West is losing control although the clubs can be ruffed good. I think declarer only gets 3D, the CA and a ruff for 6 off.
OK 1400 (nowadays – it used to be 1100) isn’t as good as 1430 at pairs or BAM but it is only 2 IMPs out assuming slam is bid and made in the other room. The HK might also be wrong of course while East’s bid males life much easier for declarer in placing suit lengths.
Regards,
Iain
Hi Iain,
In answer to your request, my ancient mind goes directly to a hand from a World bridge tournament in Northern Italy, methinks either in the very late 1980’s or early 1990’s when Bob Hamman and I were playing the French in the finals and I picked up a Flannery, 4-5 including AKxxx in hearts with perhaps 2-2 in the minors but overall sound and while vulnerable. As dealer, I opened 2 hearts, which was our system agreement in order to have 2D available which showed a specialized very good hand, necessary (at least in our judgment) to best compete. It then went P, P, to my RHO who held s. KJxxxx, void, Kx, KJxxx. My RHO then balanced with a TO double to which it went all pass down either 800 or 1100 when lefty, Paul Chemla completed the bidding massacre.
Our team then lost, fortunately by more than what we lost on this hand, but who knows
how the rest of our match would have gone without this disaster? Credit to them, blame to us (synonym for me). I did have a decent hand and a classic Flannery, but have never publicly mentioned this, because poor Jim2 would immediately have sworn off ever turning to our web site again together with, no doubt, having both night and day mares for a long time.
My enemies have always said that justice triumphed, but my thoughts went out to my RHO who selected a double instead of any or every other possibility. “He pays his mpney. he takes his chances”.
Please, no one ever mention this to Jim2, since, if done, he would immediately age to at least 30, if not even 31. For those wanting to know, Bob & I did NOT give up playing Flannery, but decided to change the Flannery opening to 2 spades, making a repeat of that result, unlikely to again happen.
Hi Iain,
Not much to add from the above hand except that if, after the completion of playing the above hand, West questioned East on coming in the bidding, no doubt the answer might
be, that perhaps I overbid, but, as you can see, I always have a point when I elect to bid affirmatively.
Hi Bobby,
Ouch and my commiserations!
Iain