Misc World Wide (!) Pairs Game
No Afternoon Game, Friday, June 1
 Tournament Hands -- Part II |
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| Jim Somma | ||||||
| Wednesday, July 30, 2008 | ||||||
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When you are having a good round of bridge, just remember that some poor souls are having their lunches handed to them. This was the case several years ago when my late partner Dan Cunningham and I played in the Safety Harbor Regional.
The cards were running hot for East-West and Dan and I were playing well. As we approached the final table of the Open Pairs event, I could hear the North-South pair bickering about past hands. Things hadn’t gone well for Barney and Harry (two New York businessmen) and they were going to get worse - much worse.
On board one, they are red, Harry deals and passes, and I hold: S-KQ10x, H-xx, D-Ax, C-AQxxx. I open a Precision 2 Clubs which Dan alerts. Barney bids 2 Spades and Dan doubles (negative with values). Harry passes and I bid 2NT, promising double stopper in Spades. Barney bids 3 Spades and I double. Dan leads, and as Harry tables the dummy, he says, “Which of my green cards was more encouraging?” A nifty +800 gets us off and running. The clouds hovering over Barney and Harry are getting darker and it’s starting to rain. I hold: S-Jx, H-void, D-AKQJxxx, C-AKxx on board two, and I open a Precision Club which Dan alerts. Barney bids 1 Heart and Dan bids 1 Spade (at least 5 Spades at least 9 HCP). I take a very “scientific” approach and bid 6 Diamonds. Barney leads the Ace of Hearts and Dan tables this dummy: S-AQ10xx, H-Kxx, D-xxx, C-xx. I ruff the opening lead, pull trumps in two rounds, and let the Jack of Spades ride. It holds and the rest is easy. I finesse the Queen of Spades and discard my two low clubs on the Ace of Spades and King of Hearts. “The man bids 6 Diamonds and you lead the Ace of Hearts?” Harry asks with a snarl. “Oy vey!” For Barney and Harry, the rains are torrential, the levees have broken, and they are about to be swept into the Gulf of Mexico. On board three, after two passes, Harry smiles broadly and bids 1 Heart. WOW, I think Harry is about to go -500 because I hold: S-Axx, H-KQ10xx, D-xx, C-Axx. I pass, Barney bids 1 NT forcing, and Harry bids 3 Hearts! Make that -800. After some soul-searching, Barney bids 4 Hearts, I double and lead a low diamond. Barney tables a 10-count dummy with two little hearts. Harry senses what is going to happen and plays slowly. We have taken three tricks and with four left to play I am assured of three more trump tricks. As Harry mulls his next lead, an elegantly dressed woman enters the playing area. She is dressed to the nines and has enough baubles, bangles, and beads on to outfit a small jewelry store.
She approaches the table, taps Harry on the shoulder, and says, “So Harry, are you done yet?” Harry is in no mood for niceties and barely glancing backwards says, “So Ethel, go buy something.” I try to contain my laughter but Barney guffaws loudly. I end Harry’s torture by exposing my hand and claim three more trump tricks. Harry looks at my hand and agrees. Is it any wonder this is Adam’s favorite story. “So Ethel, go buy something.” Oy vey!! Sincerely, Jim Somma {easycomments}
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