Woodberry Bridge Club: June 2020

Hands from the 2000 Bermuda Bowl Round Robin

Nikos Sarantakos provides some commentary to these hands. Comments by Paul Lamford (Foxymoron) at the end of each hand in italics. They were all played at the Woodberry on 30th June 2020.

The Swan

Round 4, Board 1

Dealer: N

Vul: None

KQT42

T9876

J86 5

Q5 T62

KQ52 J43

KT98 A76532

A973

AK98743

Allegedly 7-4-1-1 hands (whose shape has been described as a swan by Culbertson) play better in the long suit but this was not the case here. Only 6 out of 20 pairs missed the slam, curiously including both US teams and Canada. If North opens a Lucas 2S, South might just bid RKCB and get there easily. Club pre-emption, if North passes, will be harder to deal with - Foxymoron

Am I missing something?

Round 2, Board 2

Dealer: E

Vul: NS

854

A9632

653

J753 942

QJT9 AK732

J7 KQT

KQT 92

AQ86

854

AJ874

No fewer than eight NS pairs won the bidding in some diamond contract, from 3D to 5D and some made game despite at least four losers! The normal lead of a top heart lets through 4D by North, but a trump leads beats it two. It is indeed hard to see how someone could have made 5D! – Foxymoron

Another way to score 800

Round 4, Board 3

Dealer: S

Vul: EW

KJ7

AK985

AKJ3

A8652 QT94

QJ7 642

T8 6

K53 AQ874

Q97542

J962

Indonesia NS scored 800 here by making 5D redoubled. It is not obvious why the Australian E or W doubled and I don't have the bidding records, but three of his counterparts also did so. After the redouble, EW might have thought to run to 5S. This would possibly also cost 800, so at least they had found a more original way to concede this score. The Chinese bid 6D despite Blackwood and they made it after the Poles failed to cash their aces.

A favourable weak 2D (or 3D) looks in order for South here and North might well raise to 5D whether or not West overcalls. East should go quietly – Foxymoron.

How do you score 980?

Round 7, Board 4

Dealer: W

Vul: Both

QJ93

862

AK84

KT5 A8742

K542 AJ98

943 KT7

J62 3

T76

AQJ5

QT975

How do you score 980 with the NS cards? Not by bidding a slam (you are vulnerable in any case) - against New Zealand the South Africans managed it by making 11 tricks in one notrump doubled! Five clubs, four diamonds, and perhaps two spades? Alas, we don't have the play records. I expect the defence did not find the heart switch after a low spade to the king and a second spade. But there was no defence to seven tricks in any case.– Foxymoron.

Ten points, ten tricks

Round 5, Board 5

Dealer: N

Vul: NS

Q9652

KQ652

876 AQ932

K4 J83

A3 T

QJ7632 K954

JT54

AT7

J9874

At three tables, this deal was passed out; at first glance this is reasonable, for each hand has the exact average of 10 high card points. At second glance, at the tables where the bidding was opened, the majority of declarers made 10 tricks, usually in diamonds by NS. I would throw it in if it reached me as West with only 13 “Pearson Points” the sum of my Miltons and my Spades <15. – Foxymoron.

Bidding challenge

Round 7, Board 6

Dealer: E

Vul: EW

K7653

K42

QJ94

J8 Q92

Q875 KT

JT987 AQ65

52 A873

AT4

AJ6432

KT6

After East opens 1NT how can NS play in spades? Not so easy and in fact 16 out of 20 declarers played in 2H and all but four of them went down. Spades plays much better. Four NS pairs did reach spades - against weak no-trumps. They made 8, 9, or 10 tricks (this by the Australians against USA2, and they had even bid 4S! Apparently such exercises did not fare well in the long term, for the Australians lost their match by 95 to 27 IMPs). It is normal to play Multi-Landy over either no-trump range and bid 2D on the South hand, and North will bid 2H. My methods with Gary Jones would also fail in that we would bid 2C showing four or six hearts (but not five). This would get to 2H by South – Foxymoron.

No King in sight

Round 19, Board 7

Dealer: S

Vul: Both

843

QJT753

K JT9762

KJ843 T972

K532 64

642 K

AQ5

QJT87

A98

In nine matches out of 10, 3NT was played at both tables, so only overtricks were the matter. Against South Africa, Argentina bid 6C. Note that all four kings are missing, and both black kings are bare. In any case, they made the contract. But they would have gained a good swing even by staying at game, for S Africa, NS stayed at 4C. If South opens a strong NT, North may transfer to clubs and slam might be reached, but it needs a lot. If you bid and made the cold 7C, dropping the stiff KS, beware – bridgecheaters.com is monitoring this site! – Foxymoron.

SuperMoysian

Round 4, Board 8

Dealer: W

Vul: None

Q97

K9853

653

854 KJT2

KQT98 AJ6

AJT7 Q

K AQJT7

A63

742

642

9842

13 of the 20 EW pairs bid slam here, but the Brazilians were the odd men out. For some reason they alighted at 6C at their 5-1 fit. No problem, they made it as well and they gained a swing against the 4H+2 recorded by the Bulgarians. After the start 1H-2C-2D East should bid 2S, FSF. Now West has to bid 3H with no spade stop, and East might well ask for key cards before bidding slam. North should lead a spade giving West a nasty guess as North might well have the ace. – Foxymoron.

A good steal

Round 1, Board 9

Dealer: N

Vul: EW

A8752

A643

AT5

AJ874 KQT5

9 KJ4

KQ2 JT97

KQ73 82

632

QT63

J964

EW have an easy 4S but NS of S Africa (v China) and of France (v Canada) stole the board in 2H and made this (the French with an overtrick). If North opens 1H and South raises to 2H, West should bid 2S which will lead to an easy game. Even 3H should only keep out the occasional kudu in the West seat. – Foxymoron.

Mystery

Round 6, Board 10

Dealer: E

Vul: Both

Q852

KQJ975

KQ53 J76

KT9 A6

4 T863

KT986 J532

AT982

J743

Almost all NS pairs played in hearts and made 10 tricks; the Taipei EW players managed to steal the board at 2SX - and they even made it despite the trump break! (presumably South never led trumps?). Scoring -670 instead of +420 was not a good result, but the mystery is how on earth went the bidding; didn't South open 1S? South might have opened an off-shape 1NT but it is hard to see how West showed his spades. 4H cannot be beaten by South, but by North a club lead beats it routinely; amusingly a low spade from East also beats game –Foxymoron.

Super-super Moysian

Round 4, Board 11

Dealer: S

Vul: None

K65

T9743

AQJT5

T98 432

T96 87432

KQ86 J5

872 K96

AQJ7

AKQJ5

Six clubs is doomed on a diamond lead and presumably this happened all five times it was bid, so it failed unanimously. However, three times NS elected to bid 6NT and twice this attracted a "safe" spade lead (I presume again) so it made. Six Spades in the real Moysian is a good contract. If the club is right, then there is no real problem, and on the actual hand the only defence is the remarkable low diamond lead from West. On the KD lead, South wins, ruffs a low heart in dummy, draws trumps and cashes the hearts throwing clubs. Now he exits with a diamond with West having Kx and East stiff jack. The crocodile coup now fails which is why the initial low diamond lead is needed!! Of course no declarer is going to play this line with the simple alternative of the club finesse available – Foxymoron.

Wires crossed

Round 8, Board 12

Dealer: W

Vul: NS

T76

Q9754

AQ43

KQ9 JT632

A8 9542

JT8 K3

T9876 K5

A874

KQJ3

A62

NS can make a low partial in a red suit or one notrump, but in practice EW will find their spades and go down in 2S or higher. When USA1 played Bulgaria, however, Nickell and Freeman got their wires crossed over some obscure enemy call and finished in 6C by NS. It went down 6 doubled for 1700. I expect most will get to 1NT by South, either by opening that or rebidding it. – Foxymoron.

Are you disciplined?

Round 19, Board 13

Dealer: N

Vul: Both

QJ9

AT652

A6532

AK862 T

8 AKQJT7542

K74 93

KJ98 7

7543

963

QJ8

QT4

Suppose that NS venture 5D against your 4H and partner doubles. Are you disciplined enough to pass or you believe that a 9-card suit entitles you to bid on? Five hearts can be beaten and it was beaten two times out of four, while 5D went for 1400. Top for NS was achieved by the French who recorded 1480 against Australia (4H redoubled making five). I would overcall 4H on the East hand if North opens 1D, and that should end the auction, but I can understand North bidding again. East should now double to show a good 4H bid, and West will have an easy pass. It is wrong to bid 5H before partner can act. – Foxymoron.

Minor slam

Round 10, Board 14

Dealer: E

Vul: None

9643

T52

9742

AJT8 KQ7

Q9 AK87

K76543 Q98

A 863

J643

KQJT5

Six diamonds is on as the cards lie, but three pairs who played at 3NT went down. The majority were in a sensible 5D. A weak NT by East will see West use Stayman and then force to game with 3D. East should pass the time of day with 3H now and West might bid 4D with some worry about clubs. 6D is about 50%, but 3NT makes on a club lead if declarer plays four rounds of spades, triple squeezing South who has to part with a club to keep the hearts guarded. - Foxymoron.

Clubs anyone?

Round 15, Board 15

Dealer: S

Vul: NS

KT8652

Q86

K82 QJT96

4 QJ73

T98642 J3

932 T7

A74

AQ5

AKJ54

The 4-1 break dooms the heart slam - clubs is a much better spot and note that with hearts 3-2 there are 13 tricks in clubs. Only the two US teams and Brazil found the club slam. There were a lot of -100s at 6H and a curious 1440 by the French against Sweden at 6NT. Bulgarians achieved a slam-zone score without sweating. They doubled the Chinese EW at 4S. Despite the good fit, declarer was only able to score four trump tricks, so this was 1400. South is too good for a 20-22 2NT and should show 23-24. Now North transfers to hearts and South might bid 3NT, showing only 2H. North is a bit good now for 4H and should bid 4D, a cue. South MIGHT try Six Clubs now, offering a choice of slams but not easy – Foxymoron.

Yarborough fit

Round 4, Board 16

Dealer: W

Vul: EW

AKT

A65

98754

873 96542

A5 9743

KJ97 43

KJT3 62

KJ862

QT82

NS have a boringly easy 3NT and nearly all pairs bid it but in the Nordic derby between Norway and Sweden the Swede thought it better to double EW in 1S! Declarer (presumably East) added insult to injury by making the contract despite the perfect Yarborough he held; actually more than perfect since his combined trump suit was also a Yarborough. The defence can prevail by starting with two rounds of clubs, and then they score four trump tricks for one off but that is not good enough against the cold game NS can make – Foxymoron.

Either seven, or eleven

Round 7, Board 17 (board 1 originally)

Dealer: N

Vul: None

T984

T64

QJT643

763 J2

AK2 T9875

J8753 KQ9

52 K87

AKQ5

QJ643

NS won the auction at all 20 tables and usually declarer made either 7 or 11 tricks. It all comes down to North's call after South opens 1H. If he passes, then South plays 1H in his 5-0 fit, hence the 7 tricks (eight were also made at a couple of tables). If he responds 1S, he is raised to game and makes 11 tricks. Indonesians and Canadians contrived to also make 7 tricks -but in 3NT. There is a rule that one should respond with a void in partner’s suit with 3 points and with a singleton with 4. Mike Cappelletti, Jr. told me to always respond with an ace – Foxymoron.

The five level belongs to whom?

Round 13, Board 18

Dealer: E

Vul: NS

7652

964

AJ95

8 K3

AQT73 KJ852

97 AJ842

Q7642 8

AQJT94

KT65

KT3

A typical situation where Total Tricks are more than Total Trumps: in this case there are 22 or 23 tricks with 20 trumps. The Bulgarians thought that they should not go to the five level, and they doubled USA2 in 4S. This cost 1190 when declarer made 12 tricks. They also sold out to 4H in the other room, so this was the greatest swing of the match. I would always save in 5H but give in to 5S as EW. Generally six-level sacs don’t work although here even 7Hx-3 is par. – Foxymoron.

Woodberry Bridge Club

Tuesday 30 June 2020

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