Yosemite

Hi all

No news regarding my ACBL/masterpoints problem. Tomorrow we’ll be heading to Yosemite park for a short break. Don’t be jealous, you can have our magnificent views on your screen too, here.

A week ago I played with my old Viking partner René at Quick Tricks in San Francisco. We didn’t play any Norsk gadgets, because we hadn’t played together in ages. But some of the old agreements were still very alive and present. We both remembered playing unleaddirecting doubles for a solid (but a little boring) top.

Here’s a nice little partscore:

South
6
KJ84
KQJ85
AQ7

 
West and North are silent but East opens a 11-15 NT in 3rd seat. I have to decide whether to double or show the natural way. I was a bit afraid partner might run (possibly to ) if I doubled so I bid 2 to clean up my own mess. Everybody is fine with that. West kicks off with the 9.

North
JT7542
T3
6
K863

South
6
KJ84
KQJ85
AQ7

 
I ask for the  Ten in dummy and East wins with the Ace. Back comes a small trump and my King wins the trick. I don’t see any reason not to draw trump and my Queen loses to East’s Ace. East’s King of wins and I ruff the second round, making a mental note when West drops the Ace. I get a small shake when my Jack draws just one small trump, East showing out.

I ponder for a while, and then the solution hits me. West is 2-3-5-3 (or 2-2-5-4 if East is insane).

I play three rounds of to see what distribution West has. If he has four I can ruff a with my remaining small trump, thus scoring two tricks in + two ruffs + three tricks and the King of . If he holds only three I can try to ruff a , then if West overruffs he’s forced to play into my tenace for the same number of tricks.

West Dealer
All Vul
North
JT7542
T3
6
K863
West
A8
962
T9432
J94
East
KQ93
AQ75
A7
T52
South
6
KJ84
KQJ85
AQ7

I was happy with +90.