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Hand played on |
26th April 2007 |
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Board number 21 |
Men's Pairs Championship |
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Dealer |
North |
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Vulnerability |
NS Vulnerable |
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Submitted by |
John Williams |
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North ♠ J9875 ♥ 72 ♦ 543 ♣ 942 |
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West ♠ K ♥ Q6 ♦ AKJ9 ♣ AQJ876 |
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East ♠ QT43 ♥ AJT543 ♦ T2 ♣ 3 |
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North |
Bidding:
East |
South |
West |
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South ♠ A62 ♥ K98 ♦ Q876 ♣ KT5 |
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No End |
No |
1♦ |
3NT |
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Board 21 last night caused some amusement at our table and perhaps shows that bidding that does not give too much away sometimes reaps dividends.
I sat West and after two passes South opened 1♦ (we do not play weak two's but even so with four spades a 2♥ opening from E is unadvisable). Playing a weak 1NT South's bid was a bit surprising but as he explained afterwards it is a safer bid on a fairly weak hand with no filling. In fact if he does open 1NT I double, and then N/S could suffer a big penalty whatever they do. Unable to find a sensible scientific bid over 1♦, I overcalled 3NT, the final contract although I would not criticize my partner had he bid 4♥.
A diamond was led to the 2, 6 and 9. Perhaps I should have played the 10 but I was hoping to see the Q played to give me an extra entry to table. I now played the heart Q, which held, South not wishing to allow me to make all my hearts. So I now played the spade K which also held since South does not know it is singleton. I now finessed the ♥10, which was stupid as South must have the K. South took his K to lead a low club. I carefully played the Q and then the club A. South not wishing to get end played decided to play the club K under the A and trust his partner to have the knave. Many club tricks later he discarded the spade A to make the last diamond trick. Final result 3NT+2 for a lucky board. Curiously neither the ♠ A or ♥ A or ♣ K made a trick!!!
John C Williams, 27th April 2007