Dec 22 2008
A Lesson
It’s STaC week at the local dup’s, and i’m playing with my favorite partner. Things are not going so well for us mid-way through the game. On this hand, i pick up KJx AKTxx A8 KTx. A right fair hand, to say the least.
Partner opens 1NT, which we play as 11-14. I’m contemplating how best to bid this hand. It could be right to simply bid 3NT, but i’m not ready to give up on slam. This partner is excellent at hand evaluation, so i decide to transfer to hearts, then bid 4NT. That describes my hand pretty well. Partner will know he needs fitting heart cards in addition to a max or other source of tricks.
I bid 2D, as planned, but there my plan for the auction falls apart. LHO doubles 2D and partner redoubles. We have an agreement about this redouble: “they have made a mistake.” Partner will usually have five diamonds and is encouraging me to pass if i can stand it. With 18 friends and AX of diamonds, i can.
The bidding has been:
| CHO | RHO | me | LHO |
| 1NT | Pass | 2♦ | X |
| XX | Pass | Pass | Pass |
The final contract is 2DXX and i get to play it. LHO leads the 8H, and i see:
| ♠ Q8
♥ Q6 ♦ KT6532 ♣ AQ6 |
| ♠ KJ4
♥ AKT32 ♦ A8 ♣ KT2 |
Ahem. We are redoubled at the two level in our only eight-card fit, and we have 31 points between us. This doesn’t suck.
I win the heart in hand and play the AD, expecting RHO to show out. But he FOLLOWS. OMG! Pretty lead-direct, sweetheart. Well, she has learned a lesson on this hand. I play the 8D and she forgets to split her honors, so i insert the T, RHO showing out. Knockout the one losing diamond and the spade Ace. Making 11 tricks.
The score is big enough to be a year in which some bridge players were born. +1960.