Bliss

Hi all

Thursday, November 20th. Browsing around on the internet looking for events and nice places in the neighbourhood I found out there’s a Belgian beer bar in Oakland. Some twenty minutes later Sanne and I arrived at The Trappist where they were celebrating the 25th anniversary of Chimay in the US. Too bad all the Chimay was gone already, but I think I have found my sanctuary. The Brother Thelonious I had brought a very bright smile to my face and spread familiar warmth throughout my body.

A game. I was watching Leerdam (old colleagues from Transfer Solutions) in the Intercity League and what I saw wasn’t very good. After eight boards they had to close a 50 imp gap. But in the second half of the match they blitzed their opponents ending the match 71-56 in their favour. Not bad for only sixteen boards *cough*.

South
AKT754
9642
T63

West
North
East
South
 
1
1
1
4
pass
pass
4
pass
pass
double
pass
5
5
double
a.p.

West led the Jack of and now Geert-Jan (ggoulash on BBO) could shine, for this was the deal:

North Dealer
NS Vul
North
QJ62
842
A8
AJ84
West
JT965
JT73
Q972
East
983
AKQ73
KQ5
K5
South
AKT754
9642
T63

He ruffed the lead, drew one round of trumps noticing the 0-3 split. Ace of and another one and the opponents tested him with more love. Next he negotiated two ruffs in dummy with the Queen and Jack. The play was virtually over, Geert-Jan had a complete count on East. This is the five card ending:

North Dealer
NS Vul
North
8
AJ84
West
T
Q972
East
9
Q7
K5
South
K7
T63

When Geert-Jan played a small from dummy East could have made life a bit more difficult by ducking, but when he rose with the King of , Geert-Jan simply drew the last trump and finessed against West’s Queen of  for 11 tricks. Nice!