8/9/15 board 17

This was an interesting hand which probably led to all sorts of auctions. Pianola shows me that NS ended up in spade partscores, heart games, diamond games and a notrump game - it would be interesting to hear some other auctions.

On our table I was E. N opened 1S, I overcalled 2C and then NS bid uncontested with 2H - 2S - 3D - 3NT after a long pause; I then had my fingers crossed this would pass out as I was sure it wouldn't make... indeed it shouldn't though the one pair that bid it scored an overtrick... S sensibly shifted to 4H which was the final contract.

They made it unfortunately (for us at least). What are the best lines for both declarer and defense though? We just got a D trick and the KQ hearts at the end of the day.

Vijay

01.09.15

Board 6

Michael Dajwlowski and I played together for the first time this Tuesday.

On this board, we reached 6S via this sequence:

1S-4D-4S-5S-6S.

4D was a splinter. 4S denied a heart control. 5S confirmed a diamond void and showed that North's only concern was trumps.

Any other suggestions for a good bidding sequence?

NorthNV

• ♠
  • 10
  • 9
  • 5
  • 3
  • 2
• ♥
  • A
  • K
  • 5
• ♦
  • -
• ♣
  • A
  • 9
  • 7
  • 6
  • 4

WestV

• ♠
  • 8
  • 6
• ♥
  • Q
  • J
  • 8
• ♦
  • Q
  • 10
  • 5
  • 2
• ♣
  • K
  • J
  • 3
  • 2

EastVD

• ♠
  • J
• ♥
  • 10
  • 7
  • 6
  • 4
  • 3
• ♦
  • A
  • J
  • 9
  • 7
  • 3
• ♣
  • 8
  • 5

SouthNV

• ♠
  • A
  • K
  • Q
  • 7
  • 4
• ♥
  • 9
  • 2
• ♦
  • K
  • 8
  • 6
  • 4
• ♣
  • Q
  • 10

18.03.15 Board 6

At our table, North opened 1S in 4th seat. South raised to 3S and North bid 4S.

NorthNV

• ♠
  • K
  • Q
  • 10
  • 6
  • 3
• ♥
  • A
  • 7
• ♦
  • K
  • Q
  • J
  • 9
  • 7
• ♣
  • J

WestV

• ♠
  • 5
• ♥
  • J
  • 8
  • 5
  • 4
• ♦
  • 6
  • 4
  • 3
• ♣
  • A
  • K
  • 10
  • 6
  • 5

EastVD

• ♠
  • 8
  • 7
  • 4
• ♥
  • K
  • 10
  • 9
  • 3
  • 2
• ♦
  • 8
• ♣
  • Q
  • 9
  • 8
  • 7

SouthNV

• ♠
  • A
  • J
  • 9
  • 2
• ♥
  • Q
  • 6
• ♦
  • A
  • 10
  • 5
  • 2
• ♣
  • 4
  • 3
  • 2
  • • 
      

I would be interested to hear views on how to reach 6S.

Woodberry Bridge Club: 11.08.15Board 20I thought it was about time we r...

Woodberry Bridge Club: 11.08.15
Board 20
I thought it was about time we r...: 11.08.15 Board 20 I thought it was about time we revived this blog. This was an interesting board. North ♠ K   7   6 ♥ K ..



I can comment on this in disinterested fashion as I didn't play the board!

Andy is right that on a putative low Diamond lead if you take the Heart finesse (after testing the Club position) you can not make twelve tricks any more. This however is not so much because a Diamond return breaks up the squeeze as because you need to be able to cash Dummy's ♥ K and get back to hand without taking out your last entry for the squeeze to operate. You can make slam if you take the illogical line of taking the Heart finesse without touching Clubs!

If declarer is in slam however I suspect a passive top Club lead is more likely and now none of Declarer's options are compromised. You can even make the slam by throwing East in at the end to lead into Dummy's ♥ KJ!

On a low Diamond lead from West however no squeeze play is necessary as you can generate you twelfth trick by force in Diamonds as long as he has one of the remaining honours in the suit.

Interestingly this position is echoed by the Spade suit on board 30 where South was generally in 3NT

                                   North AK76

West T853                                                      East J2

                                   South Q94

If the declarer has to open up the suit they can only make three tricks in it but after a 4th highest Spade lead from West to East's J and declarer's Queen. running  South's 9 picks up the suit without loss and would do so even if East's second Spade were the 8.

11.08.15

Board 20

I thought it was about time we revived this blog.
This was an interesting board.

North

• ♠
  • K
   
  • 7
   
  • 6
• ♥
  • K
   
  • J
   
  • 5
   
  • 4
• ♦
  • K
   
  • 8
   
  • 6
   
  • 4
• ♣
  • 7
   
  • 5

West

• ♠
  • J
   
  • 8
   
  • 5
   
  • 3
• ♥
  • 8
   
  • 7
• ♦
  • Q
   
  • 10
   
  • 7
   
  • 2
• ♣
  • J
   
  • 10
   
  • 3                                 

East

• ♠
  • Q
   
  • 9
   
  • 2
• ♥
  • Q
   
  • 10
   
  • 9
   
  • 6
   
  • 2
• ♦
  • J
   
  • 5
• ♣
  • 9
   
  • 6
   
  • 2

South

• ♠
  • A
   
  • 10
   
  • 4
• ♥
  • A
   
  • 3
• ♦
  • A
   
  • 9
   
  • 3
• ♣
  • A
   
  • K
   
  • Q
   
  • 8
   
  • 4

Len & Sheila got a complete top for their optimistic 6NT contract.

In fact 6NT can be made on any lead, provided declarer (South) reads the cards accurately.

On a diamond lead, win with the Ace, cash 3 rounds of clubs, discarding a spade.
It seems logical to next try the heart finesse. However, a diamond return from East appears to compromise declarer's entry position to execute a double squeeze. (Please correct me if I am wrong!)

Instead, South could concede a diamond  and win the (say) diamond return. Next cash two rounds of hearts and a fourth club discarding a heart.

This is the position:

N) S K7   H J   D 6
E) S Q92  H Q
S) S AT4 C 4
W) S J85  D Q

When South leads the club 4, West must unguard the spades in order to keep the diamond queen. South discards the diamond jack, and now East must unguard spades to keep the heart queen. Three spade tricks now complete declarer's slam.

Five pairs made 12 tricks in no trumps. I think it is unlikely that play went this way, and would be interested to learn what happened on other tables.

At our table, Paul & Adrian were in the usual 3NT contract.. Adrian made 12 tricks by means of an endplay.
He played the Ace on partner's queen, cashed all his winners leaving this position:

N) immaterial
E) S J8    D Q
S) S AT   D 9
W) immaterial

He threw me in with a diamond, and I had to concede the last two tricks.
.