How to win a pairs event

Or at least how to get pushed into game and make it. Last weekend I played two tournaments with regular commentator James. We won the pairs with two sessions in the mid fifties separated by a 68% monster in the middle.

Here's an example of the sort of hand that usually breeds a story:

♠	A 8 6 4
♥	Q 8 3
♦	T 9 6 4
♣	8 7

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

Horrible. West bid 4♣ confidently, like it's a certain thing. We're green though and that means if the opponents forget to double we can safely go down two! Lets try:

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

A♣, K♥, A♥, end. Not sparkling defense but ten tricks and a bunch of matchpoints.



But what say you pick up this:

♠	K 8
♥	A K 9 8
♦	T 4 3
♣	T 8 7 6

And the auction is slower and more tortuous:

South	West	North	East
Pass	Pass	1♦	Pass
1♥	1♠	2♥	2♠
X	Pass	3♥	3♠
?

You doubled to invite but partner turned you down. The opponents push on and wanting to protect when we hold the balance a 'sacrifice' in game looks like an option...

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

On a spade lead all that needs to work is a heart finesse and ten more tricks roll home. Sometimes you just can't bid to the right spot without a little help from you friends. And after all if your opponents played perfectly there would be no chance of getting a trinket like this.