2009

Hi all

Here’s a britishism that cracked me up: What is a Sleeping Police Officer?
Answer at the end of the article.

Last Saturday Elenalani and I played an afternoon game in Fremont. The playsite was hidden deep in a gigantic home for the elderly. In the deal below the opponents had a short auction: 1 – 5NT – 6NT. It’s not very scientific, but it got them to the right spot.

Sitting South I started a from my sequence and saw declarer scramble together twelve tricks via a finesse. Declarer looked at the score sheet with $ signs in his eyes. Seconds later he had come down from his pink cloud when he found out about half the field had made thirteen tricks, some of them had even bid a grand. Looking for an excuse he asked us what he did wrong.

I rolled up my sleeves, cleaned my glasses and teacher Jannes arrived at the table. I could have commented on the defensive skills of the majority present, or have said something incomprehensible like: Thirteen are cold on a non-simultaneous double squeeze with as pivot suit. But I chose to be a little more helpful.

I explained that after the lead he could hook the immediately. Then after cashing the Ace run all the and pitch a from hand. Leading to this position:

As you can see South got squeezed out of the suit two tricks earlier than North, who’s in trouble when both top hit the table. Eventually AK3 is good for three tricks. The look in his eyes was priceless when he understood the squeeze.

A Sleeping Police Officer is what they call a speed bump in the UK.

Hi all

This deal is from the Oakland sectional a couple weeks ago. I’ve consulted with friends, experts and expert friends about getting to the right spot. Sour times, nobody has been able to provide a sensible path to 6 .

Only the Jack of is a wasted card, all other cards pull their full weight to make 6  laydown. This was our auction:

 

1

1

DBL

2

3

3

3NT

Maybe there are good-bad tricks (that I’m never really able to understand) available that can convey North’s playing strength. Maybe North can take a slightly aggressive approach by bidding 3 instead of 3 , which should show a very good suit/solid with extras. Maybe I should have bid more than 3NT. The road to the best contract is paved with good intentions, or something like that…

East suffered from temporary ataraxia, I guess. He pulled that vulnerable 3 bid from another dimension, looking at those ultra minimum values in a flat hand. On the other hand I think that West’s 2 was a bit timid, in my opinion West holds enough distribution and trumps for a jump to 3 .

I got a lead for East’s Queen and I ducked smoothly. East threw me a strange look for I had bid 3NT with confidence. He returned another in my Ace-Jack and I pitched both from dummy. On the run of dummy’s West got squeezed out of his red suits like a ripe lemon. Twelve juicy tricks and my play won the imp that saved us a victory point.

Hi all

Here’s another deal from Oakland. This time my partner Geoff H. was at the helm of a slam.

 

1

pass

1

pass

2NT

pass

6 1

1. Unscientific

I’m the first one to agree my jump to slam was unnecessary and unscientific. At least I can say I was accurate. I saw problems arise when I would start with 4 (allowing partner to cooperate, or sign off in 4NT or 5 ), because I would bypass the cuebid. After a minute and a half of deep thought I just caved and jumped to 6 seeing no solution to my bidding problems. This is what Geoff could see:

When East led a into Geoff’s Ace – Queen all troubles were gone. He drew trumps, led a to his Queen and when that won the trick was able to pitch his loser on dummy’s high for a nice +1390.

Had East led something passive (like a or a trump), Geoff would still have come home though. After drawing trumps he would lead a towards his Queen, if West ducks than the loser goes away on dummy’s long . If West rises then the King and the 13th provide a parking spot for both losing . And if the Ace of proves to be offside, you have the finesse as ultimate resort.

Hi all

The teams tournament in El Cerrito was a big success. I teamed up with Drew Hoskins, and with Hansa & Andrew as teammates we rolled to victory after a blitz in the last round. The team with Ron Smith came close, but not close enough.

Here’s a deal where Drew and I were exactly on the same wavelength. The relaxed smoothness of the auction is what I like best here.

 

1

pass

1

pass

2

pass

4 1

pass

4 2

pass

4NT

pass

5 3

pass

5 4

pass

5NT5

pass

6

1. Slam try
2. Cue
3. Two keycards
4. Looking for the grand
5. I have extras, but probably not what you’re looking for ( King)

There was nothing to the play.