tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-26947137.post-9408107552047561242007-10-23T14:27:00.000+02:002007-12-02T10:33:57.813+01:00Unlucky? Yes!The new competition season has started 4 weeks ago. At this moment we're not scoring the way we would like to. Most of the time we all play well, but "luck" is not on our side! Many imps are lost because of extremely bad splits (5-0 trump splits for example), or opponents playing 1<span class='spades'>♠</span> with 24HCP while our teammates go -2 in 3NT. The following hand is a perfect example.<br /><br />Opponents blasted blind to slam as follows (we were silent):<br />2NT! - 3<span class='diamonds'>♦</span>!<br />4<span class='spades'>♠</span> - 6<span class='spades'>♠</span><br /><br />2NT = either weak with both minors, or strong with one Major<br />3<span class='diamonds'>♦</span> = to play when opener has the minors<br />4<span class='spades'>♠</span> = GF with long and solid <span class='spades'>♠</span>s<br /><br />The hands were:<br /><span class='spades'>♠</span> T8<br /><span class='hearts'>♥</span> AKTxx<br /><span class='diamonds'>♦</span> 9xxxxx<br /><span class='clubs'>♣</span> -<br /><br /><span class='spades'>♠</span> AKQ9xxx<br /><span class='hearts'>♥</span> x<br /><span class='diamonds'>♦</span> -<br /><span class='clubs'>♣</span> KQTxx<br /><br />North can't know they won't lose a single trick in <span class='diamonds'>♦</span>, but still bid slam because he had "2 tricks".<br /><br />The contract may not be as easy as it looks. A trump lead for example is annoying, but not fatal. Can you construct possible holdings in <span class='clubs'>♣</span> for EW?<br /><br />At the table, my partner lead <span class='clubs'>♣</span>A so declarer made +1. However, even if he leads a trump the contract is still laydown thanks to amazing splits. Look at the full hand:<br /><br /><div style="text-align:center;width:100%"><table class="firmit_template_deal" style="width:250px"><tr><td><table class="firmit_template_info"><tr><td class="firmit_template_info_td">Dealer:</td><td class="firmit_template_info_td">South</td></tr><tr><td class="firmit_template_info_td">Vul:</td><td class="firmit_template_info_td">None</td></tr><tr><td class="firmit_template_info_td">Scoring:</td><td class="firmit_template_info_td">imps</td></tr><tr></tr></table></td><td><table class="firmit_template_seat"><tr><td class="firmit_template_seat_td1"><span class='spades'>♠</span></td><td class="firmit_template_seat_td2">T8</td></tr><tr><td class="firmit_template_seat_td1"><span class='hearts'>♥</span></td><td class="firmit_template_seat_td2">AKTxx</td></tr><tr><td class="firmit_template_seat_td1"><span class='diamonds'>♦</span></td><td class="firmit_template_seat_td2">9xxxxx</td></tr><tr><td class="firmit_template_seat_td1"><span class='clubs'>♣</span></td><td class="firmit_template_seat_td2">-</td></tr></table></td><td></td></tr><tr><td><table class="firmit_template_seat"><tr><td class="firmit_template_seat_td1"><span class='spades'>♠</span></td><td class="firmit_template_seat_td2">Jxx</td></tr><tr><td class="firmit_template_seat_td1"><span class='hearts'>♥</span></td><td class="firmit_template_seat_td2">J9xxx</td></tr><tr><td class="firmit_template_seat_td1"><span class='diamonds'>♦</span></td><td class="firmit_template_seat_td2">KTx</td></tr><tr><td class="firmit_template_seat_td1"><span class='clubs'>♣</span></td><td class="firmit_template_seat_td2">Ax</td></tr></table></td><td></td><td><table class="firmit_template_seat"><tr><td class="firmit_template_seat_td1"><span class='spades'>♠</span></td><td class="firmit_template_seat_td2">x</td></tr><tr><td class="firmit_template_seat_td1"><span class='hearts'>♥</span></td><td class="firmit_template_seat_td2">Qx</td></tr><tr><td class="firmit_template_seat_td1"><span class='diamonds'>♦</span></td><td class="firmit_template_seat_td2">AQJx</td></tr><tr><td class="firmit_template_seat_td1"><span class='clubs'>♣</span></td><td class="firmit_template_seat_td2">J9xxxx</td></tr></table></td></tr><tr><td></td><td><table class="firmit_template_seat"><tr><td class="firmit_template_seat_td1"><span class='spades'>♠</span></td><td class="firmit_template_seat_td2">AKQ9xxx</td></tr><tr><td class="firmit_template_seat_td1"><span class='hearts'>♥</span></td><td class="firmit_template_seat_td2">x</td></tr><tr><td class="firmit_template_seat_td1"><span class='diamonds'>♦</span></td><td class="firmit_template_seat_td2">-</td></tr><tr><td class="firmit_template_seat_td1"><span class='clubs'>♣</span></td><td class="firmit_template_seat_td2">KQTxx</td></tr></table></td><td></td></tr></table></div><br />After a trump lead, declarer can ruff a low <span class='clubs'>♣</span> and later on let the <span class='clubs'>♣</span>A come down on another low <span class='clubs'>♣</span>. His <span class='clubs'>♣</span>T can be discarded on <span class='hearts'>♥</span>K. This line only makes when one of the EW players has a doubleton with the Ace, and guess what: that's exactly the way the suit split in our hands... What are the chances?Freehttp://www.blogger.com/profile/15121114182464630256noreply@blogger.com