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.

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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 4

, 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, 3

. LHO raises me and partner and RHO pass, so I have to find another bid:

West	North	East	South
2	3	4	Pass
Pass	?

Everyone seems to be bidding spades, and with a 1-loser hand, I can do it again, so I raise to 5

. Partner bids 6

, and I correct to 6

, hoping to describe a huge red two-suiter. I seem to have succeeded, because partner shrugs and bids 6

. All pass and partner gets a play problem.

	--- AKQ1076 AQ10963 A

	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

A. After duly cursing, she smiles and places the

10 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

K for +980. Everyone on the team has done well; our teammates saved in 6

for -500 and a ten IMP pickup.