20th February – Board 7: Game All.
Dealer South.
The hand featured below has
points of interest both in bidding and play where in the latter too often a
knee-jerk reaction sets in.
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North:
S Q J 10 9
H K 10 7
D 10 6 3 2
C 9 8
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West:
S 6
H J 9 6 4
D A 8 5
C A K J 5 4
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East:
S A 8 4 3
H A 8 5 2
D 9
C Q 10 7 6
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South:
S K 7 5 2
H Q 3
D K Q J 7
4
C 3 2
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West
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North
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East
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South
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No
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1C
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No
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1H
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Dbl
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2H
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No
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3C
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No
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4H
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End
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Although
West welcomes his partner’s 1H response, his is still a seven-loser hand so a
raise to the two-level is all that is called for. But from East’s point of view
his partner could have raised with just three card support so a leap to game
would be precipitate. Fortunately a return to partner’s first suit minor is
forcing in these situations so a 3C call fits the bill exactly giving West an
easy game bid in hearts. South has an easy lead of the DK and I know that at
least one declarer started on a cross-ruffing spree which merely had the effect
of reducing the trump suit to an uncomfortably low level and in the end game
declarer needed clubs to break evenly! The way to handle these contracts is to
win the lead, duck a round of trumps and win the return. Now play the ace of
trumps and if everyone follows just cash the club suit until the player with
the outstanding trump ruffs. But in fact whether they do or not declarer will
come to an easy eleven tricks.
Why wouldn't S open 1D? If then over 2C N bids 3D (inverted, weak) EW might never find their heart fit and perhaps stop in 4C.
ReplyDeleteChris A
Well of course many people would open that South hand. I probably would myself but am not convinced 100%. If, as you say, the bidding goes 1D, 2C, 3D then East should double for take-out and West then would have an easy 4H bid. To be honest when I was looking at the hand the fact that South was dealer had escaped me. (I think because it wasn't opened at the table where I was watching.) But I dare say some more - er - macho Souths would have no compunction.....
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