Just do what you're told

Here's the hand I held as East:

♠	8 7 6 5 4 3
♥	4
♦	9 4 3 2
♣	9 5

To prove that I can be disciplined I passed. First in chair, green against red and I passed. I know.

The next hand opened 1♦^* and partner bid 1♠. Well well well!

Fourth chair called 2♥ but I didn't care much because I had the 4♠ card already warmed up. Back round to righty it went who ventured 5♦ which partner doubled.

North	East	South	West
-	Pass	1♦	1♠
2♥	4♠	Pass	Pass
5♦	Pass	Pass	X
Pass	?

How good are you feeling about a pass?




It doesn't matter, just do what you're told! You bid correctly and if partner doesn't think they can make 11 tricks so be it. Silence that demon on your shoulder.

	♠ A ♥ Q T 9 7 6 ♦ J 8 6 ♣ K 8 4 2
♠ K J T 9 2 ♥ A K 3 2 ♦ Q ♣ A J 3		♠ 8 7 6 5 4 3 ♥ 4 ♦ 9 4 3 2 ♣ 9 5
	♠ Q ♥ J 8 5 ♦ A K T 7 5 ♣ Q T 7 6

When all is revealed N/S have clearly overstretched on marginal hands. Quite an out pouring of IMPs but you weren't really considering pulling it were you?

* Either 5+♦ or 15+ bal (weak NT system).

Little defensive slips

Defence is hard. Really hard. Often minor errors are never even recognised as mistakes and we go on thinking we're doing well.

I'll talk through a hand and you see if you can spot the mistake.

	♠ K 9 6 3 ♥ 7 ♦ 9 7 5 4 2 ♣ A 6 4
♠ J 7 4 ♥ J 6 3 ♦ K 6 3 ♣ Q J 9 2		♠ A 8 2 ♥ Q 9 8 4 ♦ Q T ♣ K 8 5 3
	♠ Q T 5 ♥ A K T 5 2 ♦ A J 8 ♣ T 7

South	North
1♥	1♠
1NT	End

The opening lead was the ♣Q to which partner flew with dummy's Ace and played a diamond to the Ten, Jack and King. The defence cashed three clubs and fired back a heart.

Partner now cashed the ♦A felling the ♦Q and played a spade towards the table. When the ♠K lost to the Ace partner claimed one spade, two hearts, four diamonds and a club; +120. The 8 of diamonds being the critical entry to the 9 on table.

In a weak NT field where most of the room can't open or rebid 1NT we got a great board for a plus score but there were a few NS making +110 in spades or diamonds so that over trick was crucial.

See the mistake?

It's all in the diamonds, imagine if West ducked the first round. The layout would look like this:

	♠ K 9 6 3 ♥ 7 ♦ 9 7 5 4 ♣ 6 4
♠ J 7 4 ♥ J 6 3 ♦ K 6 ♣ J 9 2		♠ A 8 2 ♥ Q 9 8 4 ♦ Q ♣ K 5 3
	♠ Q T 5 ♥ A K T 5 2 ♦ A 8 ♣ T

Now how will you get to dummy?

That's good but declarer can concede a spade to collect 7 tricks. Say East throws the Queen on the first round? It can hardly cost but now the pressure comes off West and rests back on South.

Suddenly with the diamond suit unclear declarer can see just 1 spade, 2 hearts, 1 diamond and 1 club. A diamond guess (continuing the Jack after covering the Queen with the Ace) will provide the 7th but a miss step will now lead to defeat.

Awful things happen (R18)

This post is unsuitable for those under the ages of 18, infirm or of delicate constitution. Reader discretion is advised.

If you're still here then you've admitted that you want to see horrible things.

Vul: EW Dealer: West	♠ Q T 9 8 7 5 ♥ 3 ♦ A K 8 2 ♣ T 3
♠ K J ♥ Q T 7 6 5 ♦ 7 5 ♣ A J 8 6		♠ A 4 3 2 ♥ 9 8 2 ♦ Q 6 4 3 ♣ K Q
	♠ 6 ♥ A K J 4 ♦ J T 9 ♣ 9 7 5 4 2

West kicked off the auction with 1♥. Presumably one of those sevens looked like a King the first time.

North with a weak jump overcall available decided that if two was good then three was better. 3♠.

East having heard their partner open at the one level figured a bad 11 count was worth a vulnerable game (we are playing match points after all) and bid 4♥

South stared into their crystal ball and then at the vulnerability. Finally, under no duress, deciding that +200 wasn't going to be any consolation when +420 was available and so bid 4♠.

To recap:

West	North	East	South
A	non	y	mous
1♥	3♠	4♥	4♠

Passed back to East who made the only good decision by doubling.

After cashing two clubs though East played a diamond letting declarer escape just one trick short.

There's no way I'm telling you which seat I was in.

10 tricks in hand

It's not often you don't need a partner to make game.

♠	A K Q J 9 6 3
♥	A
♦	9 6
♣	K Q J

No one liked my 5♣ opening last week but surely we can all agree this is worth 2♣. It can be tough to find out exactly what you want to know on these hands.

South	North
2♣	2♦
2♠	3♣
3♠	4♠

Seems normal. At my table it was:

South	West	North	East
2♣	2♦	Pass	Pass
X	Pass	2♥	Pass
2♠	Pass	4♠

Who bids over a game force at unfavourable? West it seems. I doubled on the chance partner wanted to defend, sadly not so we bid the spade game.

	♠ 7 4 ♥ Q J 4 2 ♦ Q 4 ♣ T 8 6 4 2
♠ 5 ♥ K 9 ♦ K J T 8 7 6 2 ♣ A 9 7		♠ T 8 2 ♥ T 8 7 6 5 3 ♦ A 3 ♣ 5 3
	♠ A K Q J 9 6 3 ♥ A ♦ 9 6 ♣ K Q J

It's a trap for those who fall in love with the hand. One little ace ask and you're over the edge.

Would you open 5C?

I thought everyone would open at the 5 level with this hand but half the room didn't. Would you?

♠	T
♥	-
♦	K T 8 7
♣	J T 9 8 7 6 3 2

Butler pairs (IMPs scoring) and you're first to act at nil vul.

Who passed?

If you bid you're unlucky. The auction is passed round to RHO who doubles and LHO leaves it in. If they get the defence right (or you miss guess the play) you go -800 against a game.

During the same set there was another interesting decision:

♠	A Q T 8 7 5 3
♥	A 8
♦	K 8 7
♣	5

This time you're favourable and RHO opens a multi 2♦^*.

You only have 13 highs but there's no useless values and a 7 card trump suit is worth a lot.

Imagine a "dummy" like:

♠	x x
♥	T x x x
♦	J x x
♣	J x x x

Often opposite this rather tragic sight you'll make 6 spades, a heart and a diamond, 8 tricks. That's about 3 tricks more than a more normal 15 count 5332 shape overcall. If partner has

♠	K
♥	T x x x
♦	Q T x
♣	J x x x x

You need to be in game. I antagonised briefly and bid 3♠.

Partner raised with ♠J ♥QJ3 ♦AQ965 ♣J864 and 10 tricks rolled home. I'm pretty sure I got lucky.

^* Weak two in either major, 20 - 22 balanced or strong two in either minor.

I'm real (and this is what I look like)

For those of you who were starting to suspect I'm a robot or a sentient pair of scissors I have pictures to prove otherwise!

Here are some things I like to do when I'm not playing bridge:

Try on silly hats.

Have a beer or two.

Stand around outside.

Normal service will resume shortly.

I love spot cards

Maybe that's a stretch but they are a fun part of the game. Sometimes the difference between opening a weak two on QT9874 or QT8532 is two doubled undertricks.

Here's a little hand that came up recently. North opened 1♦, you bid 1♥ and when South bid 1NT everyone was speechless.

	♠ K T 7 3 ♥ K 9 ♦ A Q J 4 ♣ T 4 2
♥ 8		♠ Q 2 ♥ A T 7 6 4 3 ♦ K T 3 2 ♣ A

Declarer plays small off the table fairly quickly at trick one but you'd better think. If partner has 8x and declarer QJx then any heart will do. But if partner had only the eight then you must play the ten.

Declarer wins and loses a diamond finesse to you. Cash the Ace of hearts and now using your magic ♥7643 force out declarers remaining Q5.

Any other card at trick one gives declarer 3 hearts and the contract.

	♠ K T 7 3 ♥ K 9 ♦ A Q J 4 ♣ T 4 2
♠ J 9 8 5 ♥ 8 ♦ 8 7 6 5 ♣ K J 6 3		♠ Q 2 ♥ A T 7 6 4 3 ♦ K T 3 2 ♣ A
	♠ A 6 4 ♥ Q J 5 2 ♦ 9 ♣ Q 9 8 7 5

It doesn't work for me

My brother, a fellow bridge player, has a theory.

When he has 5 or more spades and his opposition bid 4♥ he's been bidding 4♠ over the top. I'm not quite sure on his rules but it doesn't sound like vulnerability is that much of a concern.

Since he's been claiming successes of about 9 times out of 10 I've been trying it out. Sounds like lots of fun. Only, it doesn't work for me.

Vul: EW Dealer: South	♠ Q ♥ Q J 6 4 ♦ Q J ♣ Q J T 6 4 2
♠ T 9 8 7 4 3 2 ♥ - ♦ K T 8 7 3 ♣ 7		♠ J 6 5 ♥ A T 9 3 ♦ 9 6 4 ♣ K 8 3
	♠ A K ♥ K 8 7 5 2 ♦ A 5 2 ♣ A 9 5

Now admittedly unfavourable probably isn't the time to go trying new competitive bidding theories but what a hand! If any time was right to bid four over four it's now right? If my bro can do it on any ol' five carder surely a 7-5 will work for me.

Turns out no. Even at equal vul this is a bad sacrifice; unfavourable it's a disaster.

But. I have an admission. It wasn't all doom and gloom. A poor decision by opponents to bid 1 more combined with less than dazzling play delivered +50. That was worth a round 10 IMPs where it should have cost 9.

Am I doing it right?

Six four bid less than this

In this tale of over excitement in the auction I was fortunately on the right side. It wasn't me who held the 6 - 4 shape. My hand was a more sedate 5 - 4, something like this:

♠	A 7 5 4
♥	J 8
♦	A 5
♣	A Q J 8 2

Eschewing a strong no trump I started the auction with 1♣ hoping to mention both my suits at the 1 level. When the next hand passed my partner responded 1♠ which counter intuitively shows diamonds¹ (could be a bal 6-9) and denied a major. A double on my right completed the first round.

West	North	East	South
-	-	1♣	Pass
1♠*	X

At this point I have to admit I was a bit of a coward because I bid 2♣. If partner has 10 highs we'll find our game and if not our ability to stop the heart suit is questionable. Anyway, with at least 8 hearts out I bet I'll get another turn.


Lefty after passing smoothly a round earlier now went into a huddle. Much time passed and then somehow 4♥ appeared on the bidding pad. I had a sneaking suspicion that this contract might be a stretch and had the axe ready when two passes brought the auction back to me. Fortunately for all concerned the axe head remained in place as it was swung and no bystanders were injured².

West	North	East	South
-	-	1♣	Pass
1♠*	X	2♣	4♥
Pass	Pass	X	End

	♠ K J 2 ♥ K Q 4 ♦ Q 9 4 2 ♣ K 6 5
♠ Q 9 6 ♥ A 7 ♦ K J T 7 6 3 ♣ 9 4		♠ A 7 5 4 ♥ J 8 ♦ A 5 ♣ A Q J 8 2
	♠ T 8 3 ♥ T 9 6 5 3 2 ♦ 8 ♣ T 7 3

That bad.

Partner led a club then ruffed the third round. We started on diamonds and declarer ruffed round two. A heart saw my partner in again and a third round of the red pointies gave me the ♥J. Finally a spade trick completed the sticks and circles.

1. I'll blog this system soon.
2. I was there!

How many points do you need?

This is a poll and there are no wrong answers. Just silly ones for which everyone will gently ridicule you....


Given a flat hand, what is the minimum points required to bid 3NT in this position:

Pass - (3♠) - ?

Here are a few hands to aid your thinking:

15 ♠ K Q 8 ♥ Q 7 6 ♦ K 9 8 ♣ A J 8 6

17 ♠ K Q 8 ♥ Q 7 6 ♦ K Q 8 5 ♣ A J 6

19 ♠ K Q 8 ♥ A 7 6 3 ♦ K Q 8 ♣ A J 6

21 ♠ K Q 8 4 ♥ A Q 6 ♦ K Q 8 ♣ A J 6

For those that can't answer a question without all the details; imagine you're playing pairs, everyone is vulnerable and it's raining.

Seemingly normal

♠ A 9 6 4 ♥ 9 6 2 ♦ Q ♣ K J 9 6 4		♠ K J T ♥ K T 5 ♦ J T 7 5 ♣ A 5 3

West	East
Pass	1♦
1♠	1N
Pass

Seems like a normal auction.

Nothing's going on here.

Surely it'll play like any other 1NT contract. Good chances of making eight tricks and some chances for nine.

Why then is this a major swing board?

	♠ 8 7 5 3 ♥ A Q J 3 ♦ - ♣ Q T 8 7 2
♠ A 9 6 4 ♥ 9 6 2 ♦ Q ♣ K J 9 6 4		♠ K J T ♥ K T 5 ♦ J T 7 5 ♣ A 5 3
	♠ Q 2 ♥ 8 7 4 ♦ A K 9 8 5 4 3 2 ♣ -

Oh. Right.

The points don't tell the story

What if I told you that North/South have a combined 26 points with a nine card fit, but can't make game. East/West have the remaining 14 points and yet game is cold.

Anyone can place key cards off side you say. All the EW points are in KJ holdings placed carefully over the poor NS tenaces.

Nope, not a single finesse on this hand.

Voids! There must be voids EW.

No one has a void. In fact no one has ten cards in two suits and EW have only one Ace.

	♠ A 7 6 ♥ Q ♦ K Q 9 8 ♣ A Q 9 5 3
♠ J T 9 2 ♥ K 8 7 3 ♦ J T 6 2 ♣ 8		♠ K Q 4 ♥ A T 9 6 4 2 ♦ 4 ♣ T 7 4
	♠ 8 5 3 ♥ J 5 ♦ A 7 5 3 ♣ K J 6 2

See, no finesse fails and there's no extreme shapes. It's not even one of those problems where then tens hold all the power. Swap any ten to any hand and there's no difference.

Yet, any player who has learnt to draw trumps (stopping at 13) will bring in 4♥.

Strong club dilemma

If you open a strong club it's likely that your opponents will gleefully jump in the way. It's a soft target. More so if they can break your relay or shift it up a few steps so you're in less familiar territory.

This is such a problem that it's often argued that all the advantages of playing a strong club come when you don't have one. The benefits of tightly limited openings in the other suits outweigh the shortcomings of the strong club.

With that in mind Keith, a director at my club, came to me this week with a dilemma. Say you hold 17 highs. Your partner is dealer but before they get a chance to act, RHO passes.

Your options are to, A) accept the pass out of rotation and open your strong club, or, B) cancel the pass and let partner open.

What do you think?

The power of 9xx

Lets play a little game. I'll start describing a hand and you tell me when you work out why 9xx is critical. Here's the full deal:

	♠ Q 9 2 ♥ J ♦ Q 7 2 ♣ A K 8 7 5 4
♠ K T 6 4 ♥ 7 4 3 2 ♦ J T ♣ Q J 3		♠ A J ♥ A Q T 8 6 ♦ 8 4 3 ♣ 9 x x
	♠ 8 7 6 3 ♥ K 9 5 ♦ A K 9 6 5 ♣ T

I opened a marginal 1♦ as South to which partner responded 2♣, GF. Ouch.

I have to rebid 2♦ and on hearing 3♣ I turn green and bid 3NT hoping partner holds 15 highs. Not this time.

Seen it yet?

West led the ♠6 (3rds & 5ths), East won the Jack and cashed the Ace.

Three to the nine, what could it possibly be good for?

East thought for some time before cashing the ♥A. Thinking some more he persisted with the ♥Q.

I'm sure I had a hand with nine third in all four suits once.

Not feeling under any pressure to start winning tricks I ducked the ♥Q and prayed that East would continue.

Would a switch to 9xx be better?

East did continue so pitching a club off the table I ran the diamond suit.

Here's the position with two diamonds to go:

	♠ Q ♥ - ♦ - ♣ A K 8 7
♠ K T ♥ - ♦ - ♣ Q J 3		♠ - ♥ T 8 ♦ - ♣ 9 x x
	♠ 8 7 ♥ - ♦ 9 6 ♣ T

On the penultimate diamond East failed to recognise the quality inherent in his club holding and let go the smallest. Sadly for West that meant that the very next diamond effected a spade/club squeeze and I had my nine tricks.

Overcalling at IMPs

Overcalling is a contentious subject but to me there's five factors:

1. Preemption
2. Lead direction
3. Playing strength
4. Finding a sacrifice
5. Risk

When deciding whether to overcall you balance the first four positives against the last one and decide whether it's worth it.

For example at favourable vulnerability:

♠	5
♥	A T
♦	T 9 8 7 6 5 2
♣	T 9 5

Pass - (1♣) - ?

This is a great time to stick a spanner in the works. 3♦ is disruptive and may make it difficult for the opponents to find the right game or level. You're never getting doubled at these colours and with a passed partner you have free reign. You'd love partner raising to 5.


This time red against green:

♠	A Q 2
♥	Q J
♦	K 8 6
♣	K 6 4 3 2

(Pass) - Pass - (1♠) - ?


Not this time. If there's a game available here partner will reopen and you have no suit worth bidding. You risk spending 500 points on a part score board or more against a game.


What about this one (nil vul)?

♠	Q
♥	A 9 7
♦	7 6 5 3
♣	A K T 6 5

(1♦) - Pass - (1♠) - ?

This time you have a nice suit in a reasonable hand; there's definitely a lead direction element here. But you don't have many tricks opposite a weak dummy. The only realistic game is 4♥ and if partner can't bid at the one level that's not happening. There's no pre-emptive value and the risk of bidding in a live auction might be more than you think.

	♠ T 5 3 ♥ J 5 4 2 ♦ 9 4 2 ♣ 7 4 3
♠ A ♥ K 8 ♦ A K J T 8 ♣ Q J 9 8 2		♠ K J 9 8 7 6 4 2 ♥ Q T 6 3 ♦ Q ♣ -
	♠ Q ♥ A 9 7 ♦ 7 6 5 3 ♣ A K T 6 5

At the table opener is about to make a strong jump in clubs. They won't double you on this hand but I hope it demonstrates a point.


Would you (vul against not)?:

♠	Q T 6 5 3
♥	Q
♦	K 4 2
♣	K 8 5 4

(1♥) - ?


What could go wrong at the 1 level? I've seen a couple of 1100s given out at the 1 level, lets not pretend there's no risk. There's definitely no pre-emption, no chance of a sacrifice at these colours and the lead direction very shaky.

The most likely contract is hearts to which you're on lead and into 3NT partner leading QT9x in a minor is likely to be much better than say 8x in spades.


Finally here's a hand from the Bowl (favourable vul):

♠	9 8 3
♥	6 5 4
♦	T 9
♣	A K T 9 4

Pass - (1♦) - ?


The risks shrink at this vul and the lead direction cannot be denied but the other virtues are questionable.

However, overcalling 2 minor over 1 minor can be devastating. Catch the opponents with a 54 major shape (do you double or bid the 5 card?) or a good pre-empt from partner and the auction gets very high before your opponents can evaluate their majors.

Linda Lee of bridge blogging has written up this particular hand here.

Nice bidding team mates

Playing in a teams match recently this board proved to be a trap:

Vul: All Dealer: West	♠ K J 9 ♥ Q T 9 2 ♦ K J 7 ♣ J 9 7
♠ 8 7 5 4 ♥ 8 7 3 ♦ T 9 4 3 ♣ K Q		♠ A Q 2 ♥ 6 4 ♦ A 8 2 ♣ 6 5 3 4 2
	♠ T 3 2 ♥ A K J 5 ♦ Q 6 5 ♣ A T 8

N/S hold a combined 25 highs yet there's no game available. It's a great demonstration of the weakness of the 4333 shape.

At our table our opponents went through an invitational auction avoiding 4♥ in favour of 3NT. I led the ♠7 and though declarer dropped one of the club honours it wasn't enough, down 1.

Our friends at the other table starting with South had the auction:

1♣ - 1♦ - 2♥ - Pass
The 1♦ is a transfer and promised 4+ hearts, the 2♥ showed four hearts in a weak NT. A nicely judged pass by North saw a plus on both score sheets and 6 imps to the good guys.

Just stop it!

Here's something that really gets to me. You're defending a contract, lets say it's 3♠ and you have a trump holding like ♠Q52.

Declarer is quite clearly in a nine card fit. Maybe they opened in spades and caught a four card raise from their partner.

Dummy's spades are ♠KJ43.

Declarer wins your well considered lead in hand, cashes the ♠A and leads a small spade towards dummy. You follow nicely in tempo but then play stops.

For a full minute.

Or two.

Stop it! Make some discovery play, think about what you're going to do in advance and then just do it. Leading towards a finesse then spending three minutes trying to read the defence as they desperately stare out the window is not bridge.

Swinging the axe?

Playing imps you hold:

♠	T 3 2
♥	A T 8 3
♦	K Q T 9 6
♣	8

All vulnerable you listen to this:

South	West	North	East
1♣	1♦	1♠	2♦1
2NT	Pass	3♦	Pass
3♥	Pass	4♥	Pass
Pass	?

1. 3 card support, could be very weak

How many tricks do you think they're making?

Slow start

Some auctions start at the 5 level, some never make it past the one level. Some others look like the latter then slowly spiral upwards.

Here's a hand:

Vul: NS Dealer: South	♠ J 2 ♥ T 5 3 2 ♦ 7 6 ♣ J T 9 5 4
♠ 9 8 6 4 ♥ 4 ♦ J T 9 8 5 2 ♣ 3 2		♠ A K 7 5 3 ♥ K J 9 8 ♦ A K 4 ♣ 7
	♠ Q T ♥ A Q 7 6 ♦ Q 3 ♣ A K Q 8 6

If it looks harmless enough don't be fooled:

South	West	North	East
1♣	Pass	Pass	X
1♥	Pass	Pass	1♠

A desperately slow start. Two players acting, four calls and we're not past the one level.

South	West	North	East
1♣	Pass	Pass	X
1♥	Pass	Pass	1♠
2♣	2♥	3♣	3♠

Warming up now though. The 2♥ was an attempt at a cue raise in spades. Normally my cue raises show more than a 1 count.

3♣ looked very much like one of those "should have bid it the first time" actions. I guess it stops the opposition playing in 2♠. 3♠ must be a dollar each way, more than min but not enough to commit to game.

South	West	North	East
1♣	Pass	Pass	X
1♥	Pass	Pass	1♠
2♣	2♥	3♣	3♠
Pass	4♠	5♣	X

Not content with cue raising on a 1 count I then considered it a max and raised to game. North made another "should have bid it the first time" noise which prompted the chopper.

5♣ isn't good. On a heart lead declarer drew trumps and threw East in. East played a pointy suit back so a heart went away and there were 5 defensive tricks.

Bidding problem

Your hand is:

♠	K T 9 7 3
♥	Q 8
♦	K J 8 7 6
♣	6

The auction starts off like this:

South	West	North	East
1♣	1♥	1♠	2♥
Pass	Pass	?

Presumably the 1♠ the first round isn't contentious.

Yes you play support doubles and yes partner would always make one holding three trumps.

Partner punishing

It's something we all do from time to time. Make a bid or play that seems (to us) to be reasonable. A play that partner "should be able to work out". Back in the real world partner hasn't a chance of doing the right thing and you're going to grump at them when they don't.

Here's a typical example from last week:

Vul: All Dealer: West	♠ A Q 8 6 5 4 ♥ T 8 ♦ 8 6 5 ♣ J 9
♠ K J T 3 ♥ A 5 ♦ 9 4 2 ♣ A T 8 2		♠ 7 2 ♥ Q J 9 7 4 2 ♦ - ♣ K Q 6 4 3
	♠ 9 ♥ K 6 3 ♦ A K Q J T 7 3 ♣ 7 5

West	North	East	South
1♣	1♠	2♥	?

The auction started without issue. The Intermediate player sitting North bid 1♠ because they play intermediate jumps. I figured I had to start with one of my suits then the expert South came out with a wonder bid.

3♣
When I asked him later he explained his hope that North might bid 3NT with a club stop.

Nah.

West	North	East	South
1♣	1♠	2♥	3♣
Pass	3♠	4♣	4♦
Pass	Pass	4♥	X
5♣	Pass	Pass	X
Pass	Pass	Pass

The rest of the auction continued as you might expect. North was forced to repeat her suit. I bid at every opportunity. South found a suit to bid. Partner pulled me out of a doubled making game. To another doubled making game.

Normal stuff.

Long time between sevens

The seven of diamonds is for some folk the reason they play bridge. For others it provides a lifestyle of drinking they could never have afforded otherwise. For me it never really caught on.

However, despite my indifference, occasionally the 7 manages to steal the 13th trick. Sometimes it just happens:

Vul: All Dealer: East	♠ 3 2 ♥ 5 4 ♦ Q T 6 4 2 ♣ K J 5 3
♠ K Q J 9 8 ♥ K 2 ♦ 9 8 5 ♣ T 8 4		♠ 7 6 4 ♥ 9 8 7 3 ♦ A K 7 3 ♣ Q 2
	♠ A T 5 ♥ A Q J T 6 ♦ J ♣ A 9 7 6

North	East	South	West
-	Pass	1♥	1♠
Pass	2♠	3♥	end

South (hereafter referred to as Brigadier Unilateral) made something of an unusual bid with 3♥. Partner led two rounds of spades declarer winning the second. A spade was ruffed then a losing trump hook put partner back on lead.

The spade attack continued forcing the brigadier who proceeded to draw all but one trump pitching diamonds off the table. Finally a losing club finesse to me left this position:

	♠ - ♥ - ♦ Q T ♣ K 5
♠ 8 ♥ - ♦ 9 ♣ T 8 4		♠ - ♥ 9 ♦ A K 7 ♣ 2
	♠ - ♥ T ♦ J ♣ A 9 7

Declarer might not have ruffed the second diamond, but then you wouldn't be reading this. When it was ruffed I was in the enviable position of having the only trump and the winning seven of diamonds left.

Sadly it wasn't till the beers afterwards (which incidentally partner had bought) that it was pointed out to me that I had in fact succeeded in making, if not claiming, a beer card.

More ways to improve your bridge

In my travels across the wide open internet I've come across another way you can improve your bridge.

Have a read slides 2 through 12* of this presentation:

JamisBuck.org

You can use your arrow keys to go back and forth through the slide show.

*The rest of it is what I found to be a very interesting discussion on maze drawing algorithms but I suspect it will put a good chunk of the population to sleep.

The dime that is four minor

It's usually somewhere you end up by accident; passing a cue, minor-wood, splinter. Sometimes though, it's perfect. 10 tricks available and not a hint of an eleventh.

Yes it's weird auction time:

South	West	Me	East
1♥	2♥	X	3♣
Pass	3♦	Pass	Pass
3♥	Pass	3♠	Pass
4♣	end

Phew! 2♥ is Michaels of course but sadly we hadn't discussed how we might defend. I started with a double but couldn't really have another swing when 3♦ came back.

Partner bid 3♥ and I had a real problem. What would you have bid?

♠	A K J 5 4
♥	K
♦	J 6 3
♣	J 8 7 3

So many contracts could be right here. 3♥, 3NT, 4♣, 4♥, 5♣ all seem possible end points.

Since I believe a double from partner would have been penalties 3♥ doesn't show extra length, merely "I can't double". Now heart contracts start to seem unlikely.

Partner could still have a diamond stop though, Kx is a stop but not a double. I thought 3♠ was a good way to transfer the blame.

When partner bid 4♣ I gave up. No diamond stopper and poor clubs in my hand make 5♣ a long shot plus partner with a better hand might have bid clubs immediately over 3♦.

Vul: NS Dealer: South	♠ A K J 5 4 ♥ K ♦ J 6 3 ♣ J 8 7 3
♠ Q 8 7 6 3 ♥ 8 5 3 ♦ A Q T 9 8 ♣ -		♠ T 9 ♥ J 7 6 2 ♦ K 7 2 ♣ A T 6 2
	♠ 2 ♥ A Q T 9 4 ♦ 5 4 ♣ K Q 9 5 4

As discussed earlier there were precisely 10 tricks.

Usually 4 minor is a matchpoint thing. At teams you must bid the game as it's just too dangerous to pass when that 11th trick might magically appear. But if you get doubled in four like happened to my partner this week:

♠ 9 ♥ K 9 5 ♦ 9 4 ♣ A K T 9 8 7 5		♠ J 5 3 ♥ A J T 7 ♦ K Q 6 5 ♣ 4 2

Partner had opened a club and NS entered into an invitational sequence in spades. We pushed on regardless and when they doubled we stopped. Clubs were 3-1 and the ♦A offside but a good decision in hearts made the 10 tricks worth 59 points each.

Too Many Quacks

I got a really good board the other night for recognising a fundamental truth:

Queens and Jacks are worth diddly squat

That's maybe a little general and anyone who's gone down in a slam after miss guessing a two way finesse to a queen might rightly feel aggrieved. Here, I'll show you the hand:

♠	Q J 8 7 6
♥	Q J 6
♦	J 9
♣	Q J 9

Sparkling isn't it. Third round control of all three suits. It's fair to say that you don't have a lot of trick taking potential.

Pretend you're North and the auction starts like this:

West	North	East	South
Pass	Pass	Pass	1♠
2♦	?

I like opening the bidding a bit light especially with spades but this hand doesn't cut it. Still it's a surprise to see partner with five of them too.

Ever heard of the law of total tricks? This is a great example of when it's going to be horribly wrong. I bid 2♠ sadly admitting to myself that if partner made a game try I'd probably have to raise.

	♠ Q J 8 7 6 ♥ Q J 6 ♦ J 9 ♣ Q J 9
♠ 9 ♥ A 7 5 ♦ K Q 8 7 5 4 ♣ 8 7 2		♠ 4 3 ♥ K 8 2 ♦ T 6 3 ♣ A K T 6 5
	♠ A K T 5 2 ♥ T 9 4 3 ♦ A 2 ♣ 4 3

That was the end of it. The defence carefully got the five tricks they deserve but it wasn't worth much to them. The field was evenly split down two in game or down one on an invite.


Back to what I said about the law though. Is it really wrong? The best fit of each side sums to 19. Double dummy they have 11 tricks in diamonds and we have 8 in spades. Maybe the law isn't so bad.

69 for the win

Playing the last session of a long running pairs event we needed to score 69% to beat an absent but leading pair and beat another playing pair by 6%. A tough ask but not impossible, we'd score high 60s in this event a few times before. Here are some hands from the attempt:

Vul: All Dealer: East	♠ K Q 5 3 ♥ - ♦ J 5 4 2 ♣ A J T 7 4
♠ 9 4 ♥ A K Q 9 4 3 2 ♦ T 7 ♣ 9 2		♠ A 7 6 2 ♥ J 8 7 ♦ K 9 8 6 3 ♣ 3
	♠ J T 8 ♥ T 6 5 ♦ A Q ♣ K Q 8 6 5

Partner, East, passed and South opened a weak 1NT. I like passing this sort of hand hoping to secure +300 against 3NT so pass I did. North bid Stayman and South denied a major. I started salivating thinking of the match points we were getting for +300 but the auction stopped right there!

Not only that when we didn't defend perfectly (did you imagine that dummy when you led?) it made for -90. Still we weren't -1370 like some poor sods so we got 58% for going minus. Problem is when you need 69% getting less than 60 on a board is a drag.

The next board is a strong contender for the worst auction of the night but for 92% of the MPs I'm not complaining...

Vul: All Dealer: South	♠ K 6 ♥ A K 4 ♦ Q 7 2 ♣ K T 9 3 2
♠ T 8 5 ♥ T 8 6 3 ♦ K T ♣ A Q J 4		♠ J 7 ♥ Q J 9 7 5 2 ♦ A 9 4 3 ♣ 8
	♠ A Q 9 4 3 2 ♥ - ♦ J 8 6 5 ♣ 7 6 5

South	Me!	North	East
2♠	Pass	2NT	3♥
X	4♥	4♠	5♥
5♠	X	End

The weak two could have been 5 card but the double on the second round showed a 6-card max. None of the rest of the bidding makes any sense to me. The play wasn't much better, figuring they had no tricks I led a trump allowing declarer to pitch two clubs, draw trumps and end play me with my annoying diamond holding. Down one.

The real disaster of the night came when we bid a pushy 3NT (as you do when you need a score right?) and caught a well judged double:

Vul: All Dealer: North	♠ A Q T 9 5 ♥ J 7 4 ♦ A 7 2 ♣ T 4
♠ 8 6 3 ♥ Q 9 5 ♦ 6 4 3 ♣ 8 7 3 2		♠ K J 4 2 ♥ K T 6 ♦ T 4 ♣ A K J 5
	♠ 7 ♥ A 8 3 2 ♦ K Q J 9 8 ♣ Q 9 6

I was North now and had opened spades. East worked out his hand was gold and swung the Axe. My partner actually played quite well for down only one and 3%.

We certainly got lucky overall. Twice we played in 3NT with a major fit and twice it was right. On one hand it was simply a case of the same tricks being available in both contracts but on this hand:

Vul: All Dealer: North	♠ K Q 4 2 ♥ K 4 ♦ Q J 7 6 3 ♣ 9 3
♠ J 9 7 5 ♥ Q J 9 6 ♦ 9 4 ♣ A K 5		♠ 6 ♥ T 8 7 3 ♦ T 8 5 2 ♣ 6 5 4 3
	♠ A T 8 3 ♥ A 5 3 ♦ A K ♣ Q J T 7

Those who found the major suit were in trouble. No matter how well you play you can't do better than 10 tricks. In no trumps however you can afford to run the diamonds before touching spades and. West who'd led a heart got a little uncomfortable having to make three discards and 11 tricks were suddenly possible.

All up we managed 90% or better on 11 out of 26 boards but the 3NT doubled along with a couple in the 20s held us to 67%. Worse, the playing pair we needed to crush scored 66% so we wound up third in the event. 67% has never felt so bad.