One Right
Playing in a Swiss team game against questionable opposition,
we are playing badly and losing. Nothing has gone right all
day when I pick up the best hand I have ever been dealt.
HHAND(---,AKQ1076,AQ10963,A)
The opponents do not leave us alone; RHO starts the auction
with a weak two in spades. I can show a two-suiter with the
reds by bidding CARD(4D), but that's not forcing and my hand
is way too good for that, so I start with the only 100% forcing
bid I have, CARD(3S). LHO raises me and partner and RHO pass,
so I have to find another bid:
BID4(West,North,East,South,
2S,3S,4S,Pass,
Pass,?)
Everyone seems to be bidding spades, and with a 1-loser hand, I
can do it again, so I raise to CARD(5S). Partner bids CARD(6C),
and I correct to CARD(6D), hoping to describe a huge red
two-suiter. I seem to have succeeded, because partner shrugs
and bids CARD(6H). All pass and partner gets a play problem.
HAND(VHAND(---,
AKQ1076,
AQ10963,
A)
,,,VHAND(
876,
932,
J8,
KQ532))
West leads a small spade and partner ruffs in dummy. Partner
is feeling pretty proud of herself for working out my hand but
is prone to failing to pay attention to the play after a confusing bidding
sequence. Fortunately, she is happy with this dummy (who would
not be?) and stops to think after West shows out on the CARD(HA).
After duly cursing, she smiles and places the CARD(H10) on the
table. East thinks about this for a little while and ducks, though
it doesn't matter. Partner draws trumps and concedes a trick to the
CARD(DK) for +980. Everyone on the team has done well; our teammates
saved in CARD(6S) for -500 and a ten IMP pickup.
Copyright © 1995 Jeff Goldsmith