Board 127

Board 127
Our side vulnerable

♠ J 9 4 2 ♥ 7 5 ♦ Q J 5 ♣ Q J 8 6

I pass in first seat. Partner opens one notrump in third seat and buys it. RHO leads the five of clubs.

	NORTH ♠ J 9 4 2 ♥ 7 5 ♦ Q J 5 ♣ Q J 8 6
	SOUTH ♠ 10 7 6 ♥ 9 8 6 2 ♦ A K 8 2 ♣ A 2

West	North	East	South
	Pass	Pass	1 NT
(All pass)

If the club five is fourth best, East will have only one card higher than dummy's six. If I play an honor from dummy, I will have six tricks whether or not the honor gets covered, but I will have little chance for a seventh. The opponents have at least seven tricks in the majors as soon as they get in. And they don't even have to cash them right away. I will have to lose the lead lots of times before I establish a seventh trick of my own.

If I play the six at trick one, however, I will have seven tricks ready to cash anytime East's one high club is the singleton or doubleton king. And I have chances if his high club is the nine or ten. I can take his nine or ten with the ace, play a club to dummy's eight, then drive out the king.  Then I have to cross my fingers. Depending on how their high cards are distributed, it may not be easy for the defense to work out how to cash their tricks.  If they fail to do so, I'll make this.

Accordingly, I play the six. East plays the king. Aha! I cash out my seven tricks and concede the balance. Making one.

	NORTH ♠ J 9 4 2 ♥ 7 5 ♦ Q J 5 ♣ Q J 8 6
WEST ♠ K Q 5 3 ♥ A K 10 4 ♦ -- ♣ 10 9 7 5 3		EAST ♠ A 8 ♥ Q J 3 ♦ 10 9 7 6 4 3 ♣ K 4
	SOUTH ♠ 10 7 6 ♥ 9 8 6 2 ♦ A K 8 2 ♣ A 2

The opponents can make two hearts, and they would get there with no trouble if they were playing sensible methods (in other words, Astro). West would bid two clubs over one notrump, showing hearts and a minor, intending to bid two spades over his partner's putative two diamonds, thereby getting all three suits into the auction. As it happens, however, his partner would bid two hearts, and that would be that.

At the other table, South opens one diamond in third seat, and West doubles. North bids one spade. East passes, and South rebids one notrump. This is passed around to East, who doubles for penalties. We'll never know if they would have made this or not. With top tricks, support for his partner's suit, and a ruffing value, South, quite reasonably, pulls to two spades, which West doubles.

The defense starts with three rounds of hearts, tapping declarer. Declarer plays a diamond to the king, which West ruffs. West plays another heart. Declarer ruffs with the nine, and East overruffs with the ace. East plays a spade to his partner's queen. West shifts to the ten of clubs--queen--king--ace. Declarer plays another spade. West hops with the king, reaching this position:

	NORTH ♠ -- ♥ -- ♦ Q J ♣ J 8 6
WEST ♠ 5 ♥ -- ♦ -- ♣ 9 7 5 3		EAST ♠ -- ♥ -- ♦ 10 7 6 4 ♣ 4
	SOUTH ♠ 10 ♥ --- ♦ A 8 2 ♣ 2

West shifts to the three of clubs. Declarer could finesse the eight. But, more elegantly, he hops with the jack and plays the queen of diamonds. Diamonds are blocked, but West can't exploit this fact. If he ruffs and plays a club, he establishes a club trick in declarer's hand while declarer has the diamond jack as an entry. All he can do is to take is one more trump trick for down two. But that's plenty. +500 nets us 11 imps.

See? That's what happens when you play strong notrumps. You go for numbers.  Actually, in fairness, it wasn't my opponents' methods that got them into trouble, it was South's one notrump rebid.  Opposite a passed hand, he should simply pass one spade.  Passing should promise three trumps, so partner will know how high to compete if the opponents keep bidding.  South was somewhat unlucky to be punished for his mistake.  Most of the time, nothing bad would come of a one notrump rebid. But it's still an error.  Not only is passing more descriptive, it's also superior tactically. One notrump creates no problems for West, and it gives East a second chance to act.

We have a commanding lead going into the last board. In response to an earlier comment by a reader, let me point out that I didn't know this at the time.  My estimate going into the last board was that we were still down about 5 or 6 imps.  To avoid the temptation of playing to score, I played the last eight boards without comparing, then went back and had Jack play them against himself.  As it happens, my teammates came back with some pretty good results.

Me: +90
Jack: -500

Score on Board 127: +11 IMPs
Total: +11 IMPs