|
|
|
April 23rd, 2008
10:41 am - More Gatlinburginess
So we had a great run at the end-- winning the Wed-Sat AM KO bracket 2, and winning the Sat-Sun KO bracket 2. I'm quite proud of my boy Paul-- after five days of awful bridge he sacked up and played as well as I've seen him play. In our last match of the tournament, against Justin Lall, Kevin Bathurst, Shannon Cappelletti, Catalina Robles, and Jenny Wolpert, he showed no fear, and left at the half up 15 imps. We got lucky on the first board out-- I opened a strong NT with a good 2254 16, and when he made a slam-try in diamonds, I wouldn't take no for an answer, and ended up in 6D opposite pard's Qx xxx AKxxxx xx. Down two, for a push against the other table's 3NT.
Here's a hand I'm pretty pleased with from the second half: I was in 3N after a normal Stayman sequence, on Lall's lead of a low club:
| Dealer: | South | | Vul: | Both | | Scoring: | IMPs |
| | 1N – 2♣
2♥ – 3N
|
I hopped queen at trick one, holding. I played a low diamond to the six, seven, and eight. Another club came back, RHO following. I won king, cashed DA (Q falling-- sweet!) and played a diamond up, LHO winning king. He got out a spade- I won on the board. At this point all I need is 3-3 hearts or the QJ onside-- so a heart to the ten-- winning. +600, when my expert opponent at the other table was -200 in the same contract. This was 13 of our 14 imp margin.
An amusing occurrence from earlier in the week:
In third chair, all white, I held AT KJT97x J KTxx. I opened 1H, pard bid a non-forcing NT, and RHO (a passed hand) came in with 2S. I made the severely pushy call of 3C. Partner gently lifted to 5C, and when lefty confidently pounded it, he even-more-confidently rewound it. LHO thought about pulling for a while, and eventually decided against it. A trump came out, and I saw
| Dealer: | North | | Vul: | None | | Scoring: | IMPs |
| | P (P) 1♥ (P)
1N (2♠) 3♣ (P)
5♣ (P) P (X)
XX (All Pass)
|
I won in hand to lead a diamond up. LHO jumped on it and led a spade. I won, crossed to a club (3-1), pitched my spade on the DK, and led a heart to my K. LHO won and tried a spade-- no love for him. I ruffed and led the HJ. LHO played low without twitching.... but what could he be doubling on if not a heart stack? I ran it and the next one. They proved to be 4-2. Once I ruffed out the queen, I came back to hand, drawing the last trump, and claimed +800 the hard way.
(1)
| Dealer:North |
| | Vul:Both |
| | Scoring:IMPs |
|
| | 1N - 2♣
2♥ - 2♠
P |
He opened 1N, and I invited in spades (with the sequence 2C - 2H - 2S = 5+ spades, invitational). He passed. Which (if either) of us should've done more?
(2)
Red/white, 3rd
♠AKQ97
♥AJxxx
♦Q
♣xx
P (2S) ??
Both myself and the expert at the other table passed this, and we pushed at +150. Any thoughts?
Buffalo and I nearly lost a match on this one:
(3)
| Dealer:North |
| | Vul:Both |
| | Scoring:IMPs |
|
| | 1♠ - 2♣
3♣ - 3♠
4♣ - 4♦
4♥ - 5♠
6♠ - P
|
Looking back, I think the auction should've started
1S - 2C - 3D.
6S is on the spade finesse, but so is 7C.
As usual, check out ![[info]](http://p-stat.livejournal.com/img/userinfo.gif) tyrrhena for a great play-by-play of our tournament.
|
April 16th, 2008
03:31 pm - Gatlinburg hands
So for a great play-by-play of my team's matches and mismatches, head on over to tyrrhena's blog. We're not doing so hot yet, but we're having a good time. The best event so far is last night's midnight, beating old friends and teammates Richard and Anne in the finals. So here's some fun/interesting hands I've picked up so far (all IMPs):
red vs. white, 1st
AJxxx Qxx A9 KQx
I opened 1N (14+-17), lefty bid 2C (diamonds or major-minor), pard doubled (Stayman), RHO bid 2H, I bid 2S, LHO passed, and pard bid 3H. We play this as a slam-try in spades... at least partner alerted and explained it as such the day before... RHO doubled this. I passed to deny the ace. Partner cued 4C, and it was an automatic 4D bid out of me... all pass. Oops.
Dummy came down with
x xxx KQTx AJxxx
Three rounds of hearts were led, LHO ruffing the last, and a diamond was returned, picking up RHO's Jx. It became a DTAC problem from there.... LHO's hand:
KTxxx xx 65432 x. +130. Always fun, those 4-2 fits... we got what we deserved, losing 11 to the 630 at the other table.
white vs. red, 1st
x AKQxxx AJ8x AK
The uncontested auction:
2C - 2D[1] - 2H[2] - 2S[3] - 3D[4] - 3H[5] - 4C - 4H[6] - P
1: Positive
2: Start of a Kokish sequence: either hearts or balanced
3: Forced
4: Natural; naturalizes 2H
5: "I have something to cuebid"
6: "My cue was spades [could be A or K]"
I think this was a pretty intelligent auction to stop short of slam... partner's hand:
Axxx Txx T97 QJx
That diamond sequence is helpful, but I still need something really nice in diamonds to happen to make six... either KQ onside, honor-doubleton on my right, or a diamond lead. The other table blasted into slam, and found Qx onside. Balls.
red vs. red, 4th
QJ9 x Tx AJTxxxx
Wow, did I bid this hand terribly.
(P) 1D (1S) 2C
(P) 3C (P) 3N
(P) 4D (P) 4H
(X) 4N all pass
First of all, I forgot we were playing invitational jump-shifts. I was hoping to be able to bid 2C, 3C non-forcing. Oops. Then, once clubs got raised, I decided to try for 3N... partner's 4D was keycard. I showed one, he signed off, and I failed to correct to 5C when my stiff was lead-directed. This is probably my worst-bid hand of the last few years.
LHO led a high spade, and partner tabled
Ax x (!!) AKQxxx xxxx
I hopped ace, split the club honors 1-1, and took 13 tricks. Cold for six clubs missing two keycards and the queen, no less! They could have taken the first SEVEN hearts. At the other table, our teammates played the cold 3H for 140 and win 13.... well done, team.
red vs. white, 4th
K AQJx JT9x AJ7x
My lefty opened a weak 2H, which got checked to me. I pulled out 2N... I don't know if that's the right bid, but it felt right at the time. Partner Texased me into 4S holding:
AQxxxx x xx QT8x
On the lead of the stiff 9 of clubs and 3-3 spades, this was easy.
white vs. red, 3rd
--- T9xx KJxxx Kxxx
Partner opened 1C [may be two]. RHO bid 1S, I made a negative double. LHO cued 2C, and partner passed. We play "pass-double inversion" here, so his pass says he's content with a club lead, while a double would suggest something else. Over 2C, RHO bounced to 4S. So what do you think? Man or mouse? I manned up, and bid 5C. It turned out to be right... -100 opposite the other table's 620.
white vs. white, 4th
AK9x KT AQTxx T8
Pard opened 1C [may be two again] and the opponents passed throughout. I was in pro mode, and my client was in client mode [having misplayed everything he could get his hands on that set], so I decided to make sure I declared. I bid a forcing 2N. He checked back with a Staymanesque 3C. I bid 3S, he bid 4S, and I keycarded to 6S. A fourth-best deuce of hearts was led, and dummy was
T7xx AQ9x -- AQJ9x
I'd love to hear suggestions for a line of play... I played on crossruff lines and disdained the club finesse. LHO eventually ruffed a diamond in front of dummy with the queen for their only trick.
|
April 13th, 2008
01:20 am
I just won an event (Washington, DC sectional pairs) in which I went for the biggest number of my life -- 2300. Matchpoints is fun.
|
March 21st, 2008
09:18 am - Suit combination time!
No fair running to Roudinesco.
Q98 opposite AJ432. Play it for one loser.
|
March 18th, 2008
10:48 pm - Toronto Regional, Day One
We made it to the semis of the first knockout. Go team!
red vs. white, 2nd seat, IMPs
JT98xxxx J Jxx T
(P) P? (1H) 1S
(2S) ?
Do you pass in second chair?
What's your bid?
red vs. white, 3rd seat, IMPs, opponents silent
Q JTx Jx KQ98xxx
1S - 1N [semi-forcing];
3D - ?
|
February 4th, 2008
07:59 am - Bermuda
So Bermuda was semi-succesful.
I was pretty much too tired to compile hands this week... sorry. For a great report on our team, check out Buffy's blog at http://tyrrhena.livejournal.com
Daily bulletins are at http://www.bermudaregional.com
|
January 23rd, 2008
09:28 am
I leave for Bermuda tomorrow. Yay.
I've been playing lots of club bridge lately. Here's some of the interesting hands:
(1) Teams, red vs. white
Qx K9xxx -- KQxxxx
1C (a) (3N) 4S (P)
P (4N) P (P)
(b)
(a) Do you open 1C, 1H, or the green card?
(b) What's your call after opening 1C?
(2) MPs, all white
Jxx x KQxxx AJTx
1S - 2D; 3D - ?
We play a fast arrival style (yeah, I know, not best, but easiest)... is this a 3S or a 4S bid?
(3) MPs, all white
A JT987 Jxxx xxx
P - 1S; 1N - 2H; ?
What do you have to change about this hand to make it worth a 3H call?
(4) MPs, all red
KJ9x AQxx AJxx x
1D (X) 2S* (3H)
?
*: weak, generally 3-5 hcp
|
January 1st, 2008
01:34 pm - Success
We played in the A/X Swiss yesterday with Merlin Vilhauer platooning with Gary Zeiger and Brian Russell, two of the most fun members of the ACBL staff. They're both excellent directors. Gary was recently DIC of the San Francisco NABC, and is the directorial commentator for the ACBL's appeals casebooks. Brian is the go-to guy for setup at NABCs. There's a saying in bridge (that I may have just made up) that goes, "if you can't do, teach; if you can't play, direct." I didn't think that applied to B and Z, and I was right. Merlin had a rough day, but B and Z were very good. Meg and I played the best event we've had as a pair, and we won* the event, putting her well over 300. Way to go. Most players are forever striving for that last 2.17 gold, and finally go over in some crappy side game, or placing 3/4 in a bracket 11 KO. Not my girl. She makes LM by winning the premier event of the tournament. Hell yeah.
*OK, so we tied for the event. But we beat the team that tied us in our head-to-head match, so I'm claiming win.
|
December 30th, 2007
11:32 am - Re: No
I played in the Sideshow with Mike Develin last night. It was certainly an experience. Neither of us was at the top of our game, but we had a great time.
All hands matchpoints.
Favorable
-- KQ9 AKJ986 AK95
Partner opened a strong notrump in first chair. I decided to bid 3C, transfer to diamonds, and bid 4S, hoping he would field that as exclusion. My dummy in 3C was:
T86542 7653 -- 862
Making 3.
Unfavorable
8 9 AJT76 AKQJ84
I opened 1C in second chair.
(P) 1C (1S) P
(P) 2D (P) 2S
(P) 3D (P) 4D
(P) 4N (P) 5C [1/4]
(P) 5D (P) 6D
A spade was led, and dummy was AKT96 J654 Q853 --. The diamond hook was off for +1370.
(A) Favorable
K Q5 KJ754 T6532
RHO opens 1C. You bid 1D [do you? I would bid 2D], and partner advances with 1H. Your call.
(B) All white
53 A7 Q9742 9753
Partner opens 1S, you bid a pseudo-forcing 1N, pard rebids 2H, you prefer to 2S, and partner comes back with 3C. Your call.
(C) Favorable
97 AT7632 KT K75
1H (P) ?
(D) All red
KJ J42 AQ763 A53
(P) 3C (3S) 3N [do you?]
(4S) P (P) ?
|
December 28th, 2007
02:26 am - Reno Regional
Having a great time at the Reno Reeg. Playing with the girlfriend throughout.
All problems IMPs. Assume BWS.
(a) 7xxx AQxxxxx -- xx
Favorable
1S (P) ?
(b) Qxxxx xx QTxx xx
All white
P (P) 2D (X)
?
(c) KQJT9x AKT9xxx -- --
Unfavorable
P (1D) ?
What's your plan?
(d) AQxx Axx Jxx xxx
Unfavorable
(P) 1D (2C) X [do you?]
(3C) 3H (P) ?
|
December 7th, 2007
08:52 pm - Opponents silent.
What does this auction mean?
1H - 1N [forcing]
2N - 3S
|
07:13 pm - Equal white, teams
You end up in 3N after an auction best left unmentioned. Your dummy is:
J T98x Qxx J9xxx
You hold:
A9xx A Kxx AKQTx
LHO quickly leads the heart king. Any thoughts on finding trick #9?
Current Location: Silver Spring, MD
|
07:10 pm - Favorable, swiss
x KQT98x KQxxx Q
1H (1S) P (P)
2D? (P) 2S (P)
3H? (P) 4S (P)
?
(a) do you agree with 2D and 3H?
(b) your agreements here are "kickback when obvious".
Is it obviously kickback or does partner obviously have AK-8th of spades and a stick?
Current Location: Silver Spring, MD
|
November 12th, 2007
11:22 pm - System question, submitted by the girlfriend
We're playing Phantom Club, and we come up against a big club pair. Do we open with our favorite big club defense?
|
05:27 pm - All white; IMPs
Not your normal bidding question:
You hold Txxx xx xx Jxxxx. Partner has opened 2C strong, and through some irregularity, has become barred for the rest of the auction.
Your call.
|
November 8th, 2007
11:45 pm - One of the high points of my bridge career
So I gave another I/N lecture today. Subject: Suit preference signals. This one went off a lot better than yesterday's, and I had to pull up short to not go over the allotted time. After the lecture, I had several people compliment me on it, and one very nice lady talked to me for about five minutes about how much she enjoyed it and how informative it was. She said I was her favorite bridge lecturer... I feel very good about myself and my life right now. I'm going to volunteer to do a lot more of these.
|
12:16 pm - Virginia Beach Regional
I'm having a pretty good time here in Virginia Beach. There are plenty of friends but very little time to hang out with them.
I gave my first regional I/N lecture here yesterday. I thought I was awful but got some nice compliments afterwards. I think they want me to do another this evening. I hope they found someone else...
All red, BAM
9xxxx Ax QJxxxx --
Partner opens 1N. Your options:
(A) 2C, and over 2Red, bid 2S showing 5+ and invitational values;
(B) 2H (transfer) showing five spades and either weak or game-forcing values;
(C) 3C (transfer) showing six diamonds and either weak or game-forcing values (a new suit over 3D is shortness);
(D) 3D showing 6+ diamonds, invitational.
If B or C, what's your rebid, if any?
Current Location: Virginia Beach, VA
|
October 11th, 2007
02:53 pm - mini-update
see comments in last post for what happened at the table...
|
October 5th, 2007
02:17 am - here's a nice wtf hand...
all white at imps:
x AJx Axxx KJTxx
Partner opens 1S. You force to game with 2C, he bids 2N, you lift to 3N, and he bids 4S. What does partner have? What's your bid?
|
October 4th, 2007
11:45 am - Hands from the Seaside Regional
All hands IMPs.
(A) xxx xxxxx xx Jxx
all white
(4S) P (P) X (P) ?
4S is in a Namyats context.
(B) xx KJ9xxxx xxx x
What colors would you bid a natural 2H over RHO's first seat strong NT?
(C) AKT9x -- K9xx Txxx
favorable
1S - 1N (forcing) - 2D - 3N - ?
(D) Axxxx QJTxxx x A
all white
P (P) 1H [do you?] (3C) P (P) ?
|
|
|
