Recap Of 12/1/2014 28 Board IMP Individual

Well, the usual – bidding decisions caused all but one of the double digit swings.  As I’m leaving tomorrow for Providence, this blog will be fewer hands and less commentary.  Here we go…

A strange swing in the first round…

After partner opened 1♣, it was passed out at my table.  But at the other table, a reopening double of the 1♣ bid was passed out.  Due to my doubleton club, I almost decided to respond 1♥, but decided pass was better.  However, had a double come back around to me, I would always run to   1♥  or redouble rather than let partner struggle in 1♣.  In the middle of the defense at our table, the ♦A was cashed and another diamond played, allowing declarer to score 5 total tricks, -200.  But at the other table, our teammates held declarer to 4 total tricks, scoring +800, winning 12 surprising IMPs.

 

I felt this hand was quite difficult to bid.  Looking at both hands, you would choose to be in 6♣,  Obviously, double dummy, 6♣ is cold – simply find the ♣Q.  Single dummy, it is pretty routine to play for the drop.  53+%.  Not bad odds.  However, when the ♣Q failed to drop, our teammates scored +50 to go with our +450 and 11 IMPs.  With the 2♣ rebid, possibly partner has a 6 card suit and the importance of the ♣Q is quite diminished.  Also, if the ♦K is the ♣Q, 6♣ is a truly outstanding contract.  There is probably a way to bid the slam scientifically, but I’m not clear how.  I’m sure my 4♠ bid was rather timid, but I couldn’t figure out how to find out partner’s red suit strength. What does East bid at their second turn?  Something forcing, but no bid sends the desired message: club support, slam interest, strong spades for source of tricks, but 1 fast heart loser and 2 fast diamond losers.  Sometimes you just close your eyes, bid the slam and hope.   I think that is what happened here (at the other table). 

Here, if South decides to double 4♥, proper technique (and guessing South’s shape) will find 10 tricks (lead small towards dummy’s high hearts twice, then cash side tricks and throw South in at trick 11 to lead into the ♥AJ at trick 12.  But, with no double, the ‘obvious way’ to play hearts (lead the ♥Q to finesse), results in -1 due to the power of the ♥9876.  At the other table, the players with our cards found their way to 3NT which may or may not be superior to 4♥ in theory, but, in practice, against this layout, 3NT was cold for +630 and +100 for defeating 4♥, so my team lost 12 IMPs.

This is one of the most miserable opening lead problems I have seen, but it turns out the key is the shift at trick 2.  Surely leading an ace must be the right start, then figure out what to do.  Both tables started with the ♣A.  Then it was time to shift.  With the heart bid on my right, I wasn’t ready to put the ♥K on the table at trick 2.  Instead I tried the ♦10 which went around to the ♦Q and declarer returned a diamond with me winning the ♦A.  Now I tried the ♥K, but it was too late and soon declarer wrapped up 10 tricks, pitching his last heart as I ruffed a diamond.  At the other table, the ♥K was led at trick 2, establishing the setting trick in hearts before diamonds could be established and 4♠ was down 1.  Lose 12 IMPs.