rainbow@ihuxe.UUCP (Rob Buchner) (06/26/85)
We were playing in the final round of a regional swiss recently. Winner of the match will finish a clear second. We draw Soloway, Anderson, Wold, Siebert. Together they have about 60000 masterpoints. We have about 3% of that. The match is relatively close. On seven of the boards we lose an imp here and there, so we are down five. We don't know that when the eighth board is played, but we know we were solid at our table. I am sitting opposite Soloway and Anderson. I want nothing better than to beat them for I overheard Soloway say this is going to be a piece of cake upon learning his pairing. Everyone is red and I pick up QJTx-JTxx-Kxx-Kx. The auction goes: partner RHO me LHO 1NT(a) P P 2C(b) P 4H dbl(c) 4S P P dbl(d) P P 5C dbl(e) P P P (a)- 12 to 14 points (b)- this is elerted. it was intended to show clubs and spades. RHO took it for the majors. Their card was not filled out. We did not ask what was going on. (c)- I decide if they are going to try and make game on this hand, its going to be doubled. I have a very good hand on top of it. Normally I'd assume the opponents were crazy at this point. But I respect my opponents. However I usually always double vulnerable games if it seems like they are pushing for it, especially if things look like they are sitting wrong for them. I am optimistic about our chances in the match. (d)- LHO opponent couldn't leave it in hearts, so bid his other suit. I could have been a hero and passed this out which could have given us the match as it turns out. But now I'm really confident about a number and double again. (e)- It looks like RHO finally figured out what was going on. I asked about his 5C bid and the auction and he explained his first error. I have no problem doubling this contract too. The full deal: S:Kx H:AKxx D:xxxx C:Qxx S:xxxxx S:Ax H: H:Qxxxx D:AQT D:Jxx C:AJTxx C:98x S:QJTx H:JTxx D:Kxx C:KX The play goes AH ruffed. A club lead would have been a killer, but I don't blame partner. Now AS. JD covered losing to the Ace. Now a low spade, my partner winning. Partner has no good exit. A diamond and declarer will eventually ruff out the spades and then take a trump hook picking up my doubleton K. Partner actually led the KH, ruffed. Declarer played a low spade. Partner doesn't gain by ruffing with the Q, so dummy ruffs. A spade pitch on the QH. Now two rounds of diamonds, all following. Then another spade with dummy ruffing. The position: S: H: D: C:Qxx S: S: H: H:xx D: D: C:AJT C:9 S: H:J D: C:Kx The lead is on dummy and we cannot take more than one club. Making 5. What a depressing finish. Were they lucky or good? Any and all condolances are welcome.
halle@hou2b.UUCP (J.HALLE) (06/27/85)
I'm not sure whether I'd call it lucky that your pair threw away the hand, or good in doing what was necessary to allow it. In either case, you blew it at several points. I don't necessarily agree with the double, but I find it hard to call wrong. After the first double, I think the subsequent ones are OK, especially the last one. You aren't risking much once they find their spot. It's when they run to their spot that the double hurts. But the real fault is with the defense. I do fault partner a little for not finding the trump opening lead, but I can forgive him since the heart is so attractive. I can even forgive him for not dropping the spade king. What I can't forgive is his lead at trick five. As you pointed out a diamond is obviously futile. But a heart is insane. More importantly, a club is absolutely safe, especially if you drop the spade queen on the second round. The spade play cannot be suit preference, it must be showing what you have. The club play does not lose anything if you have as little as the J, and it removes a ruff from the board. An even trade at worst, much more likely a big gain. What else can you have for your doubles? You're not doubling on seven lousy points. You must have at least the K, and maybe the A, of clubs. After the club switch, declarer is dead. Partner is assured of a second trump trick at the end, or else you get some spades. Down one!