Tuesday, January 4, 2011
NYC Board-a-Match
Thursday, November 11, 2010
Check out Bridge Winners
Tuesday, September 28, 2010
Robot madness
Wednesday, August 11, 2010
Bidding Problem
Here’s an interesting hand to bid from the Spingold. I had a promising collection in 1st seat white/red, AKQxxx Kxxxx x x, which got better when partner responded with Jacoby 2nt. What is your plan? Assume standard Jacoby where 4x=5-card suit and at least a sound opener. I don’t think any of the popular modifications exactly solve this hand either.
Saturday, August 7, 2010
Update on the mysterious origins of the fatal hand
The fatal hand
Saturday, July 31, 2010
Not so fast (updated)
Here is a hand I enjoyed playing from our first-round loss in the Spingold. I was in 3C with
963 6542 QJ K873
KT54 7 K5 AQJ962
on the uncontested auction 1C-1D!(hearts)-1S-2C-3C. I considered the 3C bid very close; apparently at the other table they thought a long time and passed. Anyway, it’s nice to see the opponents can make 4D and probably 4H. Could I make 3C? They led a heart to the A and the DA. I dropped the DK in case I needed the entry; since I did this in tempo, I guess they were afraid I was 4-2-1-6 and they fatally played a second heart. I ruffed with the 9, played a diamond to dummy for a heart ruff, and played the CQ to the K, very pleased when lefty had stiff T. I could claim now; I eliminated the last heart with a high ruff, crossed to the C8 pulling the last trump, and led a spade planning to cover
The result was a 1-imp pickup when our teammates didn’t get in the auction either and were -90.
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The actual right way to play: I should use my trump entry before the diamond entry. This works just as well when the T drops, but leaves me better placed when it doesn't to make against both A onside and Qx or Jx onside, because I find out the trump position earlier. Work it out.