Philadelphia, Part 6

Hi all

Here’s me closing the Philadelphia Series, Roth Open Swiss, round 1, deal 1. Barely awake, and Michael pushes me in a skinny 3NT. Hmmm, in a testosterone infused day dream, if all those skinny & skimpy contracts I play were actually scantily clad babes… Boy!, would my bridge life be the coolest ever. Cardboard reality, such an anticlimax.

West
North
East
South
1
11
pass
2NT
pass
3NT
a.p.
 
  1. Is this a vulnerable 1 overcall?
North
K962
75
AT875
K2
South
QJ4
AJT9
K4
Q764

There’s a glimmer of hope when my LHO decides to lead a fourth best . My Ace captures the Queen. An early inventory shows I have three solid tricks, so I need to set up six more. Two in and two in are easy, the rest should come from the minors, or something favourable in . I can count my LHO for almost everything outstanding. Now what?

I started by playing the King from hand and a low one via the Queen for … Wait a minute. Can I duck this? Should I take that Queen at face value? I start a small movie in my head. If I duck and West switches back to . I can’t really be hurt with whatever he switches to. But … the timing just feels wrong.

I decide to win it with dummy’s Ace, and switch back to . West wins his King and finds a switch necessary too: to a low . I ask for the King and slowly I creep towards my nine.

North
K962
T87
2
South
QJ4
T9
Q76

From here on it’s easy. I play a to my Queen and West wins his Ace. Back comes another and I let it run to my Jack. West follows to both my high and then a to dummy reveals the 4-2 split. I place West with a fourth round of and my Queen of is number 9.

Number 9! Cloud number 9. Number 9 dream. Perfume number 9. My mind is rattling with 9s in all forms and shapes. If there had been a crowd, it would have gone wild.

West Dealer
NS Vul
North
K962
54
AT875
K2
West
AT83
K873
Q6
AJ8
East
75
Q62
J932
T953
South
QJ4
AJT9
K4
Q764

Now I’m wondering. Was my play actually correct? Did stripping West from safe exits give me a return on investment?

Philadelphia, Part 5

Hi all

I’m back after a short break. But before the Santa Clara Regional begins, I have to finish up some Philadelphia stories. Here we go:

South
AKQJ
K9
AKQJ
A84

Not too shabby! I love it when I pick up my cards and the stream of face cards just doesn’t end.

West
North
East
South
 
 
 
11
pass
12
pass
2NT3
pass
34
pass
3
pass
45
pass
… 7NT6
a.p.
 
 
 
  1. Beowulf: 15-17 balanced, or stronger any shape
  2. 6+ hcp any shape
  3. 18-19 bal, GF
  4. Transfer
  5. Splinter
  6. That should be about right

I took some artistic liberty with 2NT, as it technically shows 18-19 balanced, but all I wanted to do was to establish a game force. I could always raise to slam myself if Geoff had no more than a simple raise to game.

Geoff did surprise me a couple of times during the bidding. First his positive response made my day a bit brighter (27-counts usually make me grin like a monkey in pairing season). And then his self-splinter over 3. At that point I figured Geoff had to hold very good trumps for a slam try opposite 18-19, because I’m holding everything else. Anyway, with my significant extras I had no problem emptying my bidding box.

West Dealer
NS Vul
North
5
AQJT854
87
T53
West
T643
62
T42
KQJ2
East
9872
73
9653
976
South
AKQJ
K9
AKQJ
A84

16 tricks from top. And a fistful of IMPs when the other table closed out in small slam.

Philadelphia, Part 4

Hi all

The picture below is courtesy Antony Lee (Bo Xiao on the left). I’m actually holding a coffee, but he sure did have a knack for eternalizing me holding my phone. Really! On all the pictures he took I was either checking BBO for the latest Spingold updates, texting my lovely wife, or giving in to my WordFeud addiction. Of course only outside the playing arena.


Here’s
a story on BridgeWinners that just left me awestruck, an enlightening and inspiring insight in the mind of Peter Fredin. The inferences and help I usually get from my opponents is more of caliber “sledgehammer”, not quite as subtle as Fredin’s analysis and projections. Take this one for example (Regional Pairs, July 18th):

South
T987
AKJT4
Q975
West
North
East
South
1
2
double
31
3
5
pass
62
a.p.
 
 
 
  1. Fit showing
  2. “Choo-Choo”

When my LHO helped me out by bidding 3 it was quite obvious Michael was holding a stiff . All aboard the slam train! This was the full deal:

West Dealer
All Vul
North
5
53
K643
AKJ843
West
AQ32
976
AJ987
6
East
KJ64
Q82
JT52
T2
South
T987
AKJT4
Q975

The opponents started with two rounds of , Michael ruffed, cashed both top and entered a crossruff for twelve tricks, and almost all the matchpoints. Probably some other West was less … disciplined holding two Aces.

Philadelphia, Part 3

Hi all

So here’s a small … kink from Philadelphia. Setting: Second day of the Spingold. Let’s call my RHO “Mad Bross”. I ask his partner for their convention cards and he hands me one. I politely ask if they have a second one for my partner, where “Mad Bross” responds: “You can share, we play very vanilla.” I say that the rules require you to hand over two cc’s. At this point he spits out: “Are you f*cking kidding me?”.

Fortunately his partner smoothly defuses the situation and offers to fill out a second one if desired. I let it pass, but the dark cloud at the table does not leave.

In retrospect I didn’t handle it correctly. I should have called for the director, nobody should be subjected to profanities. One of the directors confirmed with me that “Mad Bross” would have been given a Zero Tolerance penalty just for that. After that it’s three strikes and you’re out. Even famous players have to obey the rules. My bad for missing out on an opportunity.

It wasn’t all one way traffic against team Diamond. We had some pickups and system successes too. Not enough to make the match in any way exciting, but still. Here’s one:

North
A
AK73
76
T97542
West
North
East
South
 
21
pass
2NT2
pass
3NT3
a.p.
 
  1. Exactly four card in an unbalanced hand, 8-12 hcp
  2. Natural and invitational+
  3. Accepting, bidding my minor would have been a sign off
North Dealer
All Vul
North
A
AK73
76
T97542
West
J875
T85
A84
A63
East
QT643
J94
KQT2
8
South
K92
Q62
J953
KQJ

On a passive lead Geoff set up the suit and wrapped up 11 tricks for +660. Now at the other table things were less … sophisticated. Four passes in succession and that’s 12 IMP, thank you!

Philadelphia, Part 2

Hi all

So when we qualified for the second day of the Spingold, we were seed #62. I would have loved to play Monaco, but we got matched up with team Diamond instead (Hampson & Greco, Gitelman & Moss and Diamond & Platnick). Urgh! Some heavyweights.

The first quarter I had some startup problems, defending sub-optimally, choosing to defend with a 7-5 in the Majors, and throwing the towel too early in partscore battles. It all adds up so quickly. After the first 16 boards we’re staring into a 50 IMP abyss. Sigh!

Here’s an impressive sequence to a borderline slam, Hampson and Greco showing off their tools and agreements.

West
North
East
South
 
2NT1
pass
32
pass
3
pass
43
pass
44
Double
pass5
pass
Redouble6
pass
47
pass
4NT8
pass
59
pass
6
a.p.
 
  1. 19-21
  2. Stayman
  3. Natural, slammish
  4. Keycards, are trumps
  5. “I worry about the position”
  6. “Don’t worry, I got it under control. Now show me your keycards!”
  7. One keycard
  8. Trump Queen?
  9. Yes, and the King

This was the full deal:

West Dealer
NS Vul
North
JT4
AQ63
KQ7
AK3
West
Q8762
K984
T62
4
East
93
52
AJ984
J965
South
AK5
JT7
53
QT872

As you can see 6 needs some work. Trumps splitting or the Jack onside (or stiff). King of onside and 3-3, or a squeeze against length and the Queen. Obviously Greco had no problem squeezing the life out of me. I don’t blame my team mates at all for not finding this slam.

Philadelphia, Part 1

Hi all

The Philadelphia NABC was awesome. I played lots and lots of bridge, I’d say about 50-60 deals per day for nine days straight. I did get to eat a Philly Cheese Steak, saw plenty of bronze statues around the city, the Liberty Bell, City Hall (close to the playing site), and that’s about it tourist wise. I’ve consumed some amazing food, even after being spoiled with all the great restaurants in Berkeley. And the beer… ohh… the beer. Gulden Draak 9000 from draft, I was in heaven.

I don’t have my paperwork in order yet, but I do have lots of nice deals. I had an amazing Nationals, we got to play team Diamond twice(!), more than respectable finishes in the Roth Open Swiss and the Fast Pairs, and I’ve amassed enough Platinum to play the Platinum Pairs next time. Yay! So here’s a random one where I was playing with Michael Bodell in the A/x Pairs Wednesday the 15th.

Michael has an uncanny talent for making exactly the right bid I want to hear.

South
AKT874
T654
74
8
West
North
East
South
pass
1
pass
11
2
2NT
pass
42
pass
… 5NT3
pass
6
a.p.
 
 
 
  1. No need to rush
  2. Splinter
  3. Pick a slam

My hand certainly is worth a distributional raise to 4, but I decided to take the slow route, visualizing my suit as a potential source of tricks. When Michael showed 18-19 balanced, I decided my hand was worth a slam try. Michael didn’t know what I was splintering for, but his 5NT said: “I don’t know what you’re looking for, but I’ve got it all…” This was the full deal:

West Dealer
– Vul
North
62
AKQ73
AT2
A96
West
J5
J2
K93
KQT742
East
Q93
98
QJ865
J53
South
AKT874
T654
74
8

When everything broke friendly Michael wrapped up all thirteen of them. A big fit and controls, the two main ingredients for cooking up a slam.

Philly

Hi all

In my mind I have prepared for Philly already (I’m flying tomorrow), but reality is less pretty. Instead of a packed bag I have a pile of laundry to sort through. Several Convention Cards but not the right ones. And I’m trying to figure out what to wear when it’s hot & humid outside, and bone-chilling cold in the playing arena. Wonderful!

So besides hosting the Summer NABC this year, I understand Philadelphia is known for steaks on sandwiches, something with independence and the constitution in the 1700s, brotherly love and Fairmount Park. Do share some more Philadelphia highlights when you see me. Or just drop by to say hi, I’d like that.

Not totally unprepared… In this bar they supposedly offer “Gulden Draak” from tap. Yummie!

Crows

Hi all

Some minor and Major events. Venus traveled across the sun earlier this month, appearing as a spectacular tiny black spot. Sanne and I saw The Beach Boys at the Greek Theatre, old men with Good Vibrations! The Danish brewer Mikkeller showcased some of his beers at The Trappist in Oakland. His #19 (referring to the total number of hops) is out of this world. And… finally I got to see The Avengers. Heh. Awesome!

I played with Michael Bodell in the 2 day Swiss in Sacramento (Mike Lawrence was there too). Our team had a very slow start with 0 VPs in the first round. But a collective group effort was enough to launch us into day 2 with some carry-over. I don’t know whether it was the lunch that turned our streak of wins into a downward spiral or what. But we ended with a dead average. Such sweat for nothing.

West
North
East
South
 
1
pass
1
pass
2
pass
3 (!)
pass
4
Double
a.p.
South
AK75
6
T852
AT73

So after Michael rebid his suit I was at a crossroads. The singleton calls for NT. But the hard values call for a trump contract. So I made the slight unorthodox raise to 3. Michael accepted and my RHO had his own opinion about the health and sanity of our contract.

This was the full deal.

North Dealer
NS Vul
North
Q82
AQJ973
Q73
6
West
JT9643
5
96
9854
East
KT842
AKJ4
KQJ2
South
AK75
6
T852
AT73

As dummy I witness the execution. I see the weight of two days of play resting on Michael’s shoulders already, the tumble finally stops at -1400. I can imagine my RHO standing at the bar, telling stories how he wanted to penalize 1, then in the rebound he wanted to shoot us again, but his patience paid off when we voluntarily bid game.

I hear the shrill squeal of crows. There must be some road kill for them to feast on, I think.

Snazzy

Hi all

My trip to The Netherlands was great. I saw my family again, got to hang out with wonderful friends, played both top and bottom bridge, bought some snazzy shoes and the 2 weeks just flew by. Of course I didn’t forget to bring treats back to Berkeley, so if you get to see me I might offer you a “stroopwafel” or black liquorice if you’re lucky.

Something totally random… my friend Wouter wore a t-shirt with the following text:

Haikus are easy
But sometimes they don’t make sense
Refrigerator

I think that’s just plain awesome!

Here’s a deal from a Friday night (Patton at BCO). I wasn’t successful in bringing the contract home, but in the post mortem I spotted a rare bird.

North
62
2
T87
AKJ9753
South
AKJT83
KJT5
A3
Q
West
North
East
South
 
 
 
1
pass
31
pass
4
a.p.
 
 
 
  1. Invitational with

Perhaps my jump to 4 was a bit … unilateral, in retrospect bidding 3NT certainly has some appeal.

Anyway, my LHO thinks about her lead for a while and then puts down the Ace. Hmmm, leading an unsupported Ace? A low follows and I rise with dummy’s Ace intending to pitch a couple losers in my hand. But… East ruffs.

Excuse me?

Back comes the Queen and I’m in reasonable trouble. I have a and two losers, and then there’s the issue with trump Queen too. I let all the information sink in, and I figure West has led the Ace for a peek. Her switch worked out miraculously, I can’t draw trumps anymore and enjoy dummy’s suit.

All is not lost, though. Dummy can take care of my losers. But when I set out to ruff both of them, West ruffs the second one in front of dummy and I’m down one, losing the Ace, a ruff, a ruff, and a . Sigh!

This was the full deal.

South Dealer
All Vul
North
62
2
T87
AKJ9753
West
74
A9
K642
T8642
East
Q95
Q87643
QJ95
South
AKJT83
KJT5
A3
Q

Now let me tell you that West’s Ace of handed me the contract. If, a big IF, I had assessed the deal correctly.

So Ace of , then a ruff and a switch for my Ace. Now I ruff exactly one in dummy and then I drop all trumps on the table. On the play of the last this is the position:

South Dealer
All Vul
North
T8
KJ
West
K64
T
East
Q8
J9
South
3
KJ
3

West can miss a , so can dummy, and East has to let go of a (else my suit comes in). Now I exit with my 3, and West has an insolvable problem. Playing low will get East placed, while rising will eat East’s Jack, skyrocketing dummy’s Ten to stardom. And I can shake hands again with the King who was locked away like Rapunzel.

I guess this bird is called a winkle squeeze with a stepping stone element.

Pathway

Hi all

My preparation for the Swiss teams last Sunday in Santa Clara consisted of hitting the freshly powdered & sunny slopes in Sugar Bowl on Saturday. Sanne and I took an obscenely early ski-bus to Tahoe and spent a wonderful day racing down amazing slopes (Trailblazer!). Of course I got wiped out in some unprepared pillow of fluff, where I had to clean the snow from the inside of my glasses. (Un)fortunately there are no pictures of that event…

Michael Bodell and I teamed up with Eugene (Bridge Winners) and Helen. The slow start was largely due to opponents stumbling into a vulnerable 3NT with a 6-4 fit. There were no ten tricks in a contract and some stiff King was required for there was no entry to take a finesse. Argh! We picked up some steam to end with 81 VP out of 7 matches (20 VP scale).

In round 5 after 6 boards I see only scores in the opponent’s column. We didn’t make a single contract and all theirs got home. Last board, we need a pickup. The opponents have an easy auction.

West
North
East
South
 
 
 
1
pass
2
pass
2NT
pass
3NT
a.p.
 

Michael leads the Ten. This is what I see:

North
AK
76542
J73
AQ6
 
East
8643
K8
Q4
J9754

Hmmm, hiding that poor 5 card suit, eh? I don’t know whether I would have done that myself.

Declarer takes his time and plays low in dummy to his Ace. It looks like Michael has led the highest one from an internal sequence. Do we have enough time to unblock our position? My holding suggests declarer will have 5 tricks there, so if South has the King 9 tricks are unavoidable. So I’ll assume Michael is holding that one. That means declarer has the Ace to get to opening values, and is either 5-2-3-3, 5-3-2-3 or 5-3-3-2.

Declarer crosses to the Ace and requests a low from dummy. The neurons in my brain are firing rapidly, new pathways emerge, logic clicks. If I play low declarer will for sure take some (double) finesse. Maybe Michael will win it but the position remains unresolved.

So I sacrifice my King by playing second hand high. This has unexpected results. Declarer wins his Ace but looks a little befuddled. With his entry removed prematurely he has to choose between setting up the in dummy and abandoning his , or give up the suit altogether. Or so I imagine his train of thought… His Jack wins the trick too, but Michael wins the third with his Queen.

North
K
76
J7
AQ6
 
East
864
Q
J974

Michael has a full grasp of the situation too, and plays a for my Queen. I get to nail the coffin closed by fixing declarer in dummy with a . Declarer loses track completely and ends up down 2.

South Dealer
NS Vul
North
AK
76542
J73
AQ6
West
95
Q93
KT9852
K2
East
8643
K8
Q4
J9754
South
QJT72
AJT
A6
T83

Our team mates brought home 4 with an overtrick, so we score up 13 IMP.

There were several routes available that would have led to success. E.g. declarer could have cashed both when fixed in dummy with the King, effectively strip squeezing and then end playing Michael in to lead away from the King. Or declarer, after winning the Ace, could have unblocked the other in dummy before playing again.

Recognizing that not inserting my King was not going to win either left or right, was my learning moment of the day.