So there I was, three sessions into a tournament in which I was destined for mediocrity when I picked up:
| ♠ | Q T 7 6 5 4 2 |
|---|
| ♥ | J T 9 5 |
|---|
| ♦ | T |
|---|
| ♣ | 8 |
|---|
Weee! That's a lot of spades. Still I have 4 hearts and that makes preempting dangerous plus unfavourable which makes preempting expensive. Maybe I'll go back to sleep.
After another pass partner opened 1
♣. Of course. RHO bid 1
♠ and I... wait, 1
♠? Really? Guess I'm going to have to write this up. Better bid it perfectly; pass.
2
♦ from my left, 2
♥ from partner passed to me. 2
♥ from partner! He could have just doubled; 2
♥ should be good stuff. Finally I get to bid, I choose 4
♥! Pass, think, think, think, oh no, 4
♠. Yes partner I know you have a void, it's not nearly as useful as you imagine. 5
♥ all pass.
Vul: NS
Dealer: North |
| ♠ | Q T 7 6 5 4 2 |
|---|
| ♥ | J T 9 5 |
|---|
| ♦ | T |
|---|
| ♣ | 8 |
|---|
|
| ♠ | K J 9 8 3 |
|---|
| ♥ | 8 4 3 |
|---|
| ♦ | Q 3 2 |
|---|
| ♣ | A 4 |
|---|
|  |
| ♠ | A |
|---|
| ♥ | 6 2 |
|---|
| ♦ | K 8 7 6 5 4 |
|---|
| ♣ | J 7 5 2 |
|---|
|
|
| ♠ | - |
|---|
| ♥ | A K Q 7 |
|---|
| ♦ | A J 9 |
|---|
| ♣ | K Q T 9 6 3 |
|---|
|
Had the club Jack been short 5
♥ would have had a happy ending but 1 off is the best it can be played for. Matchpoints is a funny game though and it seems the other N/S players had got even more excited (or more doubled) and -100 was worth a comforting 83%!
Didn't help much though, dead on 50% after 78 boards. Ah well, teams tomorrow.
Are you sure 5H cannot make? It seems like it might just make, if the normal spade lead is not ruffed (ditch a diamond instead). The permutations of what the opponents do and how to count each is large, but if you can eventually hook the club 8, you seem to be able to eventually pull LHO's last trump by running clubs at him and overruffing when the time comes. I haven't played it out in all scenarios, but a few worked.
ReplyDeleteYou're correct, it can be made however I would argue that almost all declarers will fail. Can you justify single dummy a line that succeeds double dummy?
ReplyDeleteI think so. I mean, when spades are assuredly 5-1 with the stiff Ace to the right, per the bidding and lead, giving up that trick to maintain trump control (ditching a probable diamond loser) seems like a really good idea, single or double dummy. Now, most opposition counters leave you with control and transportation to bring in clubs, which is critical, assuming a small guess of the club Jack. So, I don't think making this contract should be a freak. Granted -- a low percentage of people will find that line.
ReplyDelete