This deal was originally dealt in the 2022 Lower Slobbovian Slush Cop. I know this because I sat East.
North sorted his AC in with his spades and decided to open Flannery 2D despite being over-strength. He would loudly explain afterwards that it was better to get his shape described, as he would be able to respond 4D to the 2N asking bid.
Anyway, South bid 4S, ending the auction.
West led the JC (as who would not?), and I had to figure out how to proclaim that the Ace in the Board’s AQJ10 was an imposter without disclosing I held the real one.
This was finally sorted out (North stared long and accusing at the false AS as though it had personally betrayed him), declarer won the AC (perforce) and advanced the QS.
I feared declarer had five spades and held off the AS in case partner had the KS bare.
So, things had gone of the rails for N-S, but pard continued clubs, doing even worse damage to our own cause.
Declarer ruffed, dropping my KC, and grimly continued trump. His expression grew positively and disgusting sunny when West’s 9S fell under my true AS. I swear he was but a single iota away from a triumphant, full-bodied Hog snort.
Four spades bid and made; sometimes I feel it is 4 against my one, with pard and TOCM ™ joining the opponent pair against me.
My only consolation was that it was not board-a-match teams with us needing to explain what happend to our other pair.
jim2November 2nd, 2024 at 4:34 pm
If I had held off the AS a second time, would declarer have still found a way home?
It has haunted me these last two years, so this is a fitting Halloween story …
A V Ramana RaoNovember 3rd, 2024 at 1:46 pm
Hi Jim2
You appear to be the antithesis of Rueful Rabbit who makes silly errors but has great luck as the apparent errors turn out to be right cards while you play perfectly but luck conspires against you
And yes, declarer can still make the contract even if you hold up spade A for second time. He cashes two high diamonds in dummy and leads diamond three to A in hand. If you ruff and return high heart, dummy wins and leads J of heart which you must cover, south ruffs and cashes Q of clubs pitching heart from dummy and gets ten tricks whether you ruff or not. And if you don’t ruff third diamond, south leads Q of clubs . And again south gets ten tricks. There’s nothing defense can do but if only west returns heart on winning spade, declarer doesn’t have any play for the contract
And the defense mentioned in the column line against three NT is truly delightful and instructive. A moment of reflection and east would know that west’s lead is from length and the unblock of K of clubs should be automatic with a doubleton. With three cards to K, east need not unblock but must win first spade , cash K of clubs and return club.
Hope our host approves
Regards
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This deal was originally dealt in the 2022 Lower Slobbovian Slush Cop. I know this because I sat East.
North sorted his AC in with his spades and decided to open Flannery 2D despite being over-strength. He would loudly explain afterwards that it was better to get his shape described, as he would be able to respond 4D to the 2N asking bid.
Anyway, South bid 4S, ending the auction.
West led the JC (as who would not?), and I had to figure out how to proclaim that the Ace in the Board’s AQJ10 was an imposter without disclosing I held the real one.
This was finally sorted out (North stared long and accusing at the false AS as though it had personally betrayed him), declarer won the AC (perforce) and advanced the QS.
I feared declarer had five spades and held off the AS in case partner had the KS bare.
So, things had gone of the rails for N-S, but pard continued clubs, doing even worse damage to our own cause.
Declarer ruffed, dropping my KC, and grimly continued trump. His expression grew positively and disgusting sunny when West’s 9S fell under my true AS. I swear he was but a single iota away from a triumphant, full-bodied Hog snort.
Four spades bid and made; sometimes I feel it is 4 against my one, with pard and TOCM ™ joining the opponent pair against me.
My only consolation was that it was not board-a-match teams with us needing to explain what happend to our other pair.
If I had held off the AS a second time, would declarer have still found a way home?
It has haunted me these last two years, so this is a fitting Halloween story …
Hi Jim2
You appear to be the antithesis of Rueful Rabbit who makes silly errors but has great luck as the apparent errors turn out to be right cards while you play perfectly but luck conspires against you
And yes, declarer can still make the contract even if you hold up spade A for second time. He cashes two high diamonds in dummy and leads diamond three to A in hand. If you ruff and return high heart, dummy wins and leads J of heart which you must cover, south ruffs and cashes Q of clubs pitching heart from dummy and gets ten tricks whether you ruff or not. And if you don’t ruff third diamond, south leads Q of clubs . And again south gets ten tricks. There’s nothing defense can do but if only west returns heart on winning spade, declarer doesn’t have any play for the contract
And the defense mentioned in the column line against three NT is truly delightful and instructive. A moment of reflection and east would know that west’s lead is from length and the unblock of K of clubs should be automatic with a doubleton. With three cards to K, east need not unblock but must win first spade , cash K of clubs and return club.
Hope our host approves
Regards
Hi Jim2,
Commiserations as ever!
Iain