Razorback DBC

1. Doug, Charlie, Ronnie, and Maggie
2. Joe, John, Bob, and Sandy
3. Ves, Roger, Sam, and Tom

Another Six Spades I opened 1 NT third hand holding: Q 8 7 K 7 2 A K Q J 6 3 A (It is not a standard 1 NT, but I would rather play 1 NT than 2/3D.) My partner transferred me to spades, jumped to 4S, and I bid 6S. Dummy held: A K 9 6 4 5 4 7 5 K 6 3 2 LHO led the heart ace and continued with a diamond. I took it in my hand and cashed the spade queen with both following. Note that if RHO showed out I could pick up the suit. I then led to the spade king and RHO showed out so I went down one. I would have made six with a five/zero split, and I think I should have made it with the four/one split. When LHO cashed the heart ace behind the 1 NT hand I should have inferred that she thought she might have a spade trick and I should have played her for four to the J 10. I would welcome comments.

1. Doug & Charlie
2. Jannie & Mike
3. Ada & Diane

North/South Handicap-Pairs Recap Click on photo for larger image. Use browser back button to return.

1. Tom & George
2. Jon & Deanna
3. Mike & Kaye

East/West Handicap-Pairs Recap Click on photo for larger image. Use browser back button to return.

My hand was: Void A Q J x A Q J x x x Q x x Partner dealt and opened 1S. I bid 2D. Partner bid 5D. I read partner for 18-20 dummy points for diamonds. Something like: A K Q xx 10 9 K x x x K x (or even A x) [With six good spades, I would have expected a 3S bid.] I bid 6D expecting the contract to depend on the heart finesse. Partner held: A K x x x x 10 9 K x x x x I was expecting a bit more. The opening lead was the club ace followed by a small heart. So six rolled. When we played it nobody else had bid six. Getting there should be straightforward. The bidding should go: 1S/2D/5C (splinter)/6D. The splinter bid shows good diamond support and a singleton or void in clubs. The splinter bid would let me show delayed spade support (if I had some) or cue bid the heart ace that would imply spade support and suggesting a spade slam.

1. Joe & John 2/3. Ves & Roger 2/3. Doug & Charlie 4. Diane & Marion 5. Beryl & Brian June 15th Recap - Regular Pairs Click on photo for larger image. Use browser back button to return.

A little more on finesses and a note on inferences My hand: A Q J 9 8 7 Void Axx 10 9 7 4 Partners hand: K 5 Q J 7 5 4 Kx K J x x The field was in four making five. We were in four spades making six. [With 21 working HCP is it possible to get to six?] It looks like you have two finesses to take, but since the club ace is a sure looser and you have all the club spots all you have to worry about is the club queen. So how did the field loose two club tricks when the queen is in the pocket? I do not know the details, but I do not think they played the percentages. From my seat the play was straightforward: I took the diamond lead in my hand and led a small club LHO flew with the ace. From this I inferred that LHO also had the queen, else it should be let ride to RHOs queen. [I should have played diamond king, diamond ace, diamond ruff, spade K, heart ruff, pulled trumps, and then made the club play. Some serious students of the game are capable of smoothly flying with the ace and then leading away from the queen. Now I would have to worry about ace doubleton, loosing the finesse to the queen, and (since I had not pulled trumps) getting a club ruffed. Although with ace doubleton it might have been led.] I took the diamond return on the board, ruffed a heart to my hand, ruffed my last diamond with the five, cashed the spade king, ruffed a heart back to my hand, pulled trumps, led the 10 for another club finesse, and dropped the queen on the next round, to make six.

Six diamonds Sitting south I dealt and held: K Q X, A K 10 9, Q 10 9 8 7 6, void. I bid 1D, partner bid 1S, I bid 2H (a reverse), partner bid 3NT. Her 3NT promised two diamonds, a club stopper, and likely two hearts. If she has the diamond ace or king and the spade ace we are odds on for six diamonds. I bid six diamonds down one loosing the diamond and spade aces. Partner has: J 9 8 6 4, x x, K J, A K x x. The jump to 3NT used up valuable bidding space. After my reverse, 3C would be forcing to game and warn me about the wasted club assets, or 2S would show the five-card suit. Over 3C or 2S I would bid 4S making five. On a club lead 3NT makes three. Comments?

1. 51 - Joe
2. 41 - Ves
3. 32 - Marina
4. 30 - Mike F
5. 30 - Becky
6. 28 - David
7. 25 - Marion
8. 23 - Kaye
9. 15 - Beryl
10. 12 - Roger
11. 12 - John J

Winner in last night's Scramble Game; 1. David & Joe 2. Mike F. & Ada 3. Roger & Ves 4/5. George D. & Becky 4/5. Beryl & Ronnie Scramble Recap - Note that boards 3 and 4 are switchesd on the recap. Click on photo for larger image. Use browser back button to return.

June 1, 2005 Regular Pairs Game Click on photo for larger image. Use browser back button to return.

1. John & Joe
2. Doug & Charlie
3. Dick & Bill
4. Cathy & Jody
5. Beryl & Ada