Unlikely Destination

Lack of updates has become a common theme on ToyBridge lately but when this hand came up I knew I had some great material. I was playing pairs and since it was board 13 everyone was vulnerable.

Partner, West, started off with 1♥ which gave me the impression that he had 5 of them and opening values. North passed which presumably denied a bid. These assumptions will turn out to be false.

Still I held:

♠	6
♥	Q J 8 3
♦	5 3
♣	Q T 9 8 3 2

and the action obvious to me was to bid game in hearts. There's a good chance it'll make and even if it doesn't 3♠ may well make and opponents may misjudge whether or not to bid 4♠.

Another thing I didn't know at the time is that South now had a penalty double available. The axe slammed into 4♥ with a wet thump causing everybody to wince a little. Not to worry though as the double was pulled to 4♠.

West	North	East	South
1♥	Pass	4♥	X
Pass	4♠	?

I'll admit I'm embarrased at how long I thought here, there's no way I have anything more to contribute to this auction. South was visibly distraught that her penalty double hadn't stuck but trying to make the best of a bad situation bid 5♣.

And that's where it ended.

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

Two speeds

Playing a casual teams match I picked up a really good hand:

♠	J 8 7 2
♥	Q J 3
♦	J 9 7
♣	Q T 7

Favourable and as dealer partner opened 1♥. My RHO overcalled 2♦ and anxious to convey the true nature of my hand I passed.

This is what came back:

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

Interesting, bidding into our opponents strong auction without any help partner actually has a hand. Better own up to our two queens:

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

Blast! With all this defence surely we wanted to defeat their vulnerable game rather than take our chances at the five level.

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

Shows what I know. Their game is not only cold but they should have bid five over five because that makes as well. We concede a mere hundred for finding the profitable sacrifice. How did things go over at the other table:

South	West	North	East
1♥	X	1♠	4♠

Two very different speeds.