plavings
03-08-06, 06:13 AM
TRUST YOUR OPPONENTS
by PAUL LAVINGS
This hand is my pick for the most interesting from the Adelaide ANOT. The room was buzzing after the round, with players comparing results on this deal:
DLR: East
VUL: NS
K82
Q752
AKQ10
AK
J5 1094
K 109643
97652 ----
J9743 Q10865
AQ763
AJ8
J843
2
Those that bid to 6NT scored up 1440, but there were some -500s for five down in 6S.
At my table when partner opened 1S I was afraid that if I bid 2D I may be unable to keycard in spades later, so bid an immediate 4NT. Over 5S I continued with 5NT, partner bidding 6S. To come to 12 tricks a club may need to be ruffed, partner may hold AQJxx, A10x, xx, Jxx, so I passed 6S.
The opening diamond lead was ruffed and a low heart came back in tempo, ducked to West?s HK. The defence now crossruffed all their baby trumps for five down.
Nothing was said, but how could East lead from HK back around to dummy?s Q, and risk presenting declarer with an impossible contract. There are few gifts from competent opposition. TRUST YOUR OPPONENTS - follow your instincts and don?t be afraid of looking foolish.
It seemed unproductive to say to partner he should rise HA and drop the bare king so I left it at that. The message for me was that my 4NT over 1S got what it deserved. I needed to find out more before I bid RBCB. I should trust that the correct bid, 2D, will lead to the correct contract.
Back in Sydney, the first time I played I picked up the South hand in a daytime duplicate:
S AKJ10
H J10
D Q542
C 732
S -----
H AKQ8
D AJ97
C KQJ84
The bidding proceeded:
1C-1S
2H-3D
4D-5C
6C //
West led a club to East?s CA, and (again) in tempo, back came D8. East sure wasn?t leading from DK so rising with DA was automatic, don?t consider ducking. After that leap of faith I leave it to the reader to now find the line to make 6C.
by PAUL LAVINGS
This hand is my pick for the most interesting from the Adelaide ANOT. The room was buzzing after the round, with players comparing results on this deal:
DLR: East
VUL: NS
K82
Q752
AKQ10
AK
J5 1094
K 109643
97652 ----
J9743 Q10865
AQ763
AJ8
J843
2
Those that bid to 6NT scored up 1440, but there were some -500s for five down in 6S.
At my table when partner opened 1S I was afraid that if I bid 2D I may be unable to keycard in spades later, so bid an immediate 4NT. Over 5S I continued with 5NT, partner bidding 6S. To come to 12 tricks a club may need to be ruffed, partner may hold AQJxx, A10x, xx, Jxx, so I passed 6S.
The opening diamond lead was ruffed and a low heart came back in tempo, ducked to West?s HK. The defence now crossruffed all their baby trumps for five down.
Nothing was said, but how could East lead from HK back around to dummy?s Q, and risk presenting declarer with an impossible contract. There are few gifts from competent opposition. TRUST YOUR OPPONENTS - follow your instincts and don?t be afraid of looking foolish.
It seemed unproductive to say to partner he should rise HA and drop the bare king so I left it at that. The message for me was that my 4NT over 1S got what it deserved. I needed to find out more before I bid RBCB. I should trust that the correct bid, 2D, will lead to the correct contract.
Back in Sydney, the first time I played I picked up the South hand in a daytime duplicate:
S AKJ10
H J10
D Q542
C 732
S -----
H AKQ8
D AJ97
C KQJ84
The bidding proceeded:
1C-1S
2H-3D
4D-5C
6C //
West led a club to East?s CA, and (again) in tempo, back came D8. East sure wasn?t leading from DK so rising with DA was automatic, don?t consider ducking. After that leap of faith I leave it to the reader to now find the line to make 6C.