Nov 26 2008
Making Excuses
I hold Q AQxx Qxx J87xx. 3rd seat white on red in the 4th round of a local sectional swiss team event. CHO and RHO pass to me.
This isn’t much of a hand, but the vulnerability is attractive for me to open here. However, i can’t open 1C. Since our style is weak NT, rebidding 1N or 2M would show 15-17 points. Since that would be such a gross lie, i choose instead to open 1H. At least we have Drury agreements that should keep us low.
The auction proceeds
| CHO | RHO | me | LHO |
| Pass | Pass | 1H | X |
| XX | 1S | Pass | Pass |
| X | 2S | 3C | Pass |
| 5C | Pass | Pass | Pass |
Partner’s XX showed a maximum passed hand. I sensed i was in trouble at that point, so i passed 1S, intending to show that i didn’t have a rebid even though he showed a good hand. I took partner’s double of 1S as a “do something” double, and with an undisclosed 5-card suit i bid 3C over 2S. 5C was unexpected, although i’m not entirely surprised. At times i think i should really avoid opening light with this partner – it always gets me in trouble.
The lead is the AS and i see:
 98xx
|
 |
| Q
|
xx
Axx
AQT2Not the best contract in the world. I have a spade and diamond loser for sure, with possibly another diamond, a heart, a club, and i have to figure out what to do with my low hearts.
RHO signals encouragement with the TS, but LHO switches to a low diamond. Excellent! Only 1 diamond loser now – i duck and RHO plays the JD. I win with the QD and play a club to the Q. It wins! I am a little surprised, but pleased.
I proceed with a heart to the Q. If clubs are 2-2, i can ruff both small hearts in the dummy. The QH wins, again surprising and pleasing me. I play the AH and a small heart.
LHO pitches a low spade on the 3rd heart, not unexpected given her takeout double. I know she doesn’t have much in the way of points, though – RHO has shown up with KH and JD and strongly suggested the KS. What in the world is going on?
For now i ruff the heart low, ruff a spade to my hand and ruff my last heart. LHO pitches the JS on the 4th heart. I cash the AC hoping to be able to claim if the clubs are 2-2, but no RHO shows out. LHO appears to be 4243 shape with 11 points.
I’m lamenting that i’m going to go down when i notice i still have the 98 of spades in the dummy. Could those be set up for a trick? I can’t remember if the TS has been played, was it at Trick 1? I play the 9S and RHO plays the K. Ruff and overruffed by LHO. She leads another diamond and i put up the Ace. Sure enough, that 8S is good!
What a magical hand – two kings were onside and the opponents gave me two tricks during the play.
Partner later told me he hadn’t noticed i was a 3rd seat opener, and interpretted my pass of 1S as showing extras. This partner likes to make excuses, though.