All's Well That Ends Well: I know a man that had this tricke of melancholy hold a goodly Mannor for a song.
The score of 960 in bridge is not a trifling sum and is not that rare. The keen student will work out the four other ways it can be achieved other than the one below. Web Ewell and Michael Klein scored 960 today on a way to a good win in the event.
960 is known to bridge aficionados as a "Song", because it was the year that the Song dynasty started. The Song dynasty ([sʊ̂ŋ]; Chinese: 宋朝; pinyin: Sòng cháo; 960–1279) was an imperial dynasty of China that began in 960 and lasted until 1279. The dynasty was founded by Emperor Taizu of Song following his usurpation of the throne of the Later Zhou, ending the Five Dynasties and Ten Kingdoms period.
The auction was interesting, East opened a weak Two Diamonds, as they did at our table, and South decided he was a bit light for a double. Now West raised to 3D which came round to South who had a problem. The leopard cannot change its spots and double of 3D, when you couldn't double 3D, is played by most, including Michael and Web, as penalties. So he tried 3S, hoping this would find a bit of a fit opposite. Now West doubled for penalties and when it came round to South he redoubled to show 4-4 in the two unbid suits. It could be right to play four clubs opposite x KQx Qxxx QJxxx for example. North was "content" as they say in rubber bridge. Declarer made an overtrick, discarding a heart on the fourth round of clubs, scoring 960 for 3Sxx+1..
And I shall give you the other four ways of scoring 960 on Tuesday.
At our table, Stefanie's opening bid was passed out. 2 diamonds cannot be defeated, and this led to a very poor match point score for Winnie and myself. However, it is difficult to see why either North or South should have bid.
ReplyDeleteSeveral Woodberry pairs play Benji Acol or multi 2 diamonds, and do not have a weak 2 diamonds at their disposal. On these tables, West opened the bidding and South was able to double at a later stage as North knew that he was a passed hand. So in a sense, this board was a victory for weak 2 diamonds.
ReplyDeleteI think that South should double 2D for takeout. He knows that partner is going to have some diamonds and is unlikely to act, and the risk of All Pass is too great. It is true that you would prefer to balance with a double, but a pre-balance is needed here, I think.
ReplyDelete