Oct 09 2011
Five Level
Raleigh Swiss Teams
| Board 4 West Deals Both Vul |
♠ J ♥ 10 9 3 ♦ A 9 7 5 ♣ 9 8 7 5 2 |
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♠ A K 10 5 4
♥ A 7 6 5 2 ♦ K 3 ♣ 3 |
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♠ Q 6 3
♥ K Q J 8 4 ♦ J 10 8 ♣ Q 6 |
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| ♠ 9 8 7 2 ♥ — ♦ Q 6 4 2 ♣ A K J 10 4 |
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| West | North | East | South |
| Lance | Audrey | ||
| 1 ♠ | Pass | 1 N | 2 ♣ |
| 2 ♥ | 5 ♣ | 5 ♥ | Pass |
| Pass | Dbl | Pass | Pass |
| Pass |
This is a hand from the Raleigh Swiss that generated much discussion between Lance and myself. We are playing against good opponents, both vulnerable. After the forcing 1N, i butted in with 2C. Lance leaped to 5C, which actually makes (!) if i can guess to drop the doubleton diamond King. I don’t get the chance, though, as RHO bid 5H.Lance led his singleton spade. His reasoning was that i was a favorite to hold at least one of the major suit Aces for my vulnerable overcall. We’ve talked about this a lot, and he has a very mathematical approach to this double. He’s certainly right – if i have a major-suit Ace, he can see the set in his hand. He also reasoned that even if i don’t, we may still hold it to 5, which is only a 5-IMP loss if our teammates are making 5H undoubled. Unfortunately, in this case, declarer was able to pitch both clubs on the spades before guessing diamonds correctly, and he made 6, which is -1050 and an awful board.
I was actually a bit surprised by dummy’s quacky hand. Would you bid 5-over-5 with that?
I’m personally interested in how declarer would play if Lance led a small club on this deal. If i am being deceptive, i’ll win the club Ace regardless of which club declarer plays from dummy. Now if i lead back a low diamond, what should declarer do? It’s a guess, but if he puts the club King in my partner’s hand, maybe he’ll put the diamond Ace in mine and guess wrong. But, that would mean North doubled on a King and a Queen… would you believe that?
I’m a wimp about doubling sometimes, this hand included. Lance has convinced me it’s a lot closer than i originally thought, though. And one thing i absolutely love about Lance is his hand evaluation skills. 5C can make here even with my absolute minimum overcall; and if i have one of those Aces he hoped i’d have, we’re getting it a LOT.