Jun 16 2010

Either Way

podrey @ 6:33 pm

♠ A 6 2
♥ A K 8 7 3 2
♦ K T 6
♣ J
N
W E
S
♠ 8 7 4 3
♥ T
♦ A Q 4 2
♣ A Q 9 5

West North East South
1 ♥ Pass 1 ♣
Pass 2 ♥ Pass 2 N
Pass 3 N All pass

This hand came up in the semi-finals of a knockout at the Raleigh Regional.  We were playing against a young pro team and their client.  The first half hadn’t gone so well for us, but we were hoping to make a comeback.  On this hand, we had a normal auction to 3NT.

The ♣4 was led and the Jack won in the dummy, RHO following with the eight.  If the hearts break 3-3, i shall have no problems, so i start working on that suit by leading low to my Ten.  LHO wins the Queen.  After a brief moment, she switches to the bitch of spades.

We’re playing IMPs, so my goal is to make the contract.  At matchpoints, one might be tempted to win and bank on the hearts running to get 11 tricks.  But i decide i can duck a couple of spades to tighten up the endgame, just in case the hearts don’t run.  And maybe spades are 3-3 instead.

I duck the spade, and RHO signals with an encouraging deuce.  LHO continues with the spade nine, and i duck again.  RHO overtakes this with the Ten and knocks out the spade Ace, while LHO throws the club deuce.  I continue with the two top hearts, pitching a spade and a club from hand.  LHO follows to Ace, but pitches another club on the King.

LHO was 2-2 in the majors, and from the club spots it appears she started with five or six. If she started with six, the diamonds are 3-3.  Or she could be 4-5 in the minors.  Either way, i have her on an endplay.  I cash three rounds of diamonds, ending in hand as RHO shows out.  I play the fourth round of diamonds, and she wins the Jack, but i’ve already shown her my hand to claim with the remaining ♣AQ.

We won IMPs on this board (the opponents at the other table reached 4♠ on a different auction), but sadly it wasn’t enough.  We qualified for the BAM, but decided to take a night off instead.

♠ A 6 2
♥ A K 8 7 3 2
♦ K T 6
♣ J
♠ Q 9
♥ Q 9
♦ J 8 7 5
♣ K T 7 4 2
N
W E
S
♠ K J T 2
♥ J 6 5 4
♦ 9 3
♣ 8 6 3
♠ 8 7 4 3
♥ T
♦ A Q 4 2
♣A Q 9 5