Craig/Scottish legend Irving Gordon/PO Sundelin
Apparently, bulletin staff don't always know what happens on a deal and assumes something. Time is short when you've got a report to write you may be forgiven, I guess. Case in print from the semi-final. I had:
J52
A532
T54
Q84
The bidding started on my right with an 2S showing 8-11 hcp and a (5)6 card suit (according to cc). LHO raised to 4S and it was my lead.
A blind lead from the minors did not attract my attention. I've seen more than a few of these where 4 tricks were cashable and the wrong lead resulted in overtricks instead, for example if a strong diamond suit would hit in dummy. I led therefore the ace of hearts. Dummy went down with:
_____QT63
_____KT8
_____A2
_____KJ65
J52
A532
T54
Q84
Partner discouraged with the 7 and I promptly shifted to a diamond to dummys ace, partner signalling strength this time. Declarer played a spade to hand, partner following (declarer only 5) and led the T of clubs. What do you do? Quick decision!
I played low as I could see only one heart, one diamond and I figured a club misguess was our best shot. Declarer ran it and made 10 tricks on this layout:
_____QT63
_____KT8
_____A2
_____KJ65
J52________8
A532_______QJ74
T54________KQ76
Q84________A973
_____AK974
_____96
_____J983
_____T2
Declarer could now repeat the club finesse but it didn't matter, it's easy to ruff your losers in dummy and come to 10 tricks. A misguess was our only shot. This deal cost 6 imps when our comrades missed this one in the first half against Texans.
According to the bulletin, I shifted to a low club in trick 2 and they claimed that a diamond lead and passive defence (including club cover) sinks the contract.
Think again.
J52
A532
T54
Q84
The bidding started on my right with an 2S showing 8-11 hcp and a (5)6 card suit (according to cc). LHO raised to 4S and it was my lead.
A blind lead from the minors did not attract my attention. I've seen more than a few of these where 4 tricks were cashable and the wrong lead resulted in overtricks instead, for example if a strong diamond suit would hit in dummy. I led therefore the ace of hearts. Dummy went down with:
_____QT63
_____KT8
_____A2
_____KJ65
J52
A532
T54
Q84
Partner discouraged with the 7 and I promptly shifted to a diamond to dummys ace, partner signalling strength this time. Declarer played a spade to hand, partner following (declarer only 5) and led the T of clubs. What do you do? Quick decision!
I played low as I could see only one heart, one diamond and I figured a club misguess was our best shot. Declarer ran it and made 10 tricks on this layout:
_____QT63
_____KT8
_____A2
_____KJ65
J52________8
A532_______QJ74
T54________KQ76
Q84________A973
_____AK974
_____96
_____J983
_____T2
Declarer could now repeat the club finesse but it didn't matter, it's easy to ruff your losers in dummy and come to 10 tricks. A misguess was our only shot. This deal cost 6 imps when our comrades missed this one in the first half against Texans.
According to the bulletin, I shifted to a low club in trick 2 and they claimed that a diamond lead and passive defence (including club cover) sinks the contract.
Think again.
3 comments:
The facts that the bulletin did cover well was your excellent performance in coming third.
Particularly outstanding considering that you, and the winners, were only 4-man squads.
Well done!
Thanks Paul!
Didn't you and I play a session together about 15 years ago in some suburban bridge club in London where you and Andy worked a bit?
Hitting your apartment in the wee hours for backgammon - ring a bell?
Not me I'm afraid!
We haven't met except that I kibitzed you in the Spingold semi in Washington (2002).
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