My mentor, Henry Francis, said that duplicate bridge is played with three senses. Then he pointed to his head,
nose, and stomach.


 

We analyze with our brain, but we also sense something is “fishy” about a deal, and finally we make many decisions based on a “gut” reaction. Bridge players make those decisions on every hand, the excellent ones seemingly see through the backs of the cards.
 

SHOULD I HAVE BID 6?

In fourth seat, you hold: S-Jxxx, H-xxxx, D-Qxx, C-Kx. LHO passes and partner bids 1 Spade. After RHO bids 2 Hearts, you raise to 2 Spades, and LHO bids 3 Hearts. Partner bids 3 Spades, and after RHO passes, you ponder your next bid. What do you bid? Adam Kaplan had no problem putting Jim in a 4 Spade contract, making six. I held: S-AKQxxx, H-void, D-K109xx, C-Qx. My LHO led a heart - what a surprise. I ruff, draw two rounds of trumps, and lead the D10. This is covered by LHO’s jack, dummy’s queen, and taken by RHO’s ace. RHO returned another heart which I ruffed. I cashed the king and nine of hearts and when the suit broke favorably, I pitch dummy’s clubs.

When I asked Adam why he bid 4 Spades, he responded in his usual analytical fashion. “You have a two-suited hand, either five or six-five, so you’re probably void in hearts. Beside spades, your other HCP must be in the minors.” By the way, although our combined HCP is 20, our losing trick count is 13. Subtract 13 from 24 = 11 which is how many tricks we should have taken. I can’t help it if LHO didn’t cash his CA.

THE DEFENSE NEVER RESTS

On November 6, 2001, my late partner Dan Cunningham and I had the best game ever at the Countryside Community Center. The Tuesday morning session started out costing me another $1 because it was a District-wide STAC game. Dan and I sit E-W against Ulker Mutlu on my left and Bud Dean on my right. Ulker is a Grand LM with over 10,000 MP’s and Bud is an Emerald LM with over 7,500 MP’s. What a way to start a round. On the first board, I hold: S-Ax, H-AJ9xx, D-xxx, C-xxx. Ulker opens a 15-17 NT, Dan passes, and Bud bids 2 Hearts, alerted as a transfer. I double and Ulker bids 2 Spades.

Bud bids 3 NT which is passed out. Dan leads the three of hearts and the dummy has: S-KQxxx, H-102, D-Kxx, C-Kxx. Dan and I are playing 3rd and 5th best leads. I win the ace and lead the HJ, pinning the 10. Ulker ducks and I continue with the nine of hearts (suit preference for spades). Ulker’s queen falls to Dan’s king. Dan leads a spade to my ace and I cash two more hearts for down one. On the next board, after three passes, Ulker bids 1 Club, Dan bids 1 Spade, and Bud bids 2 Hearts. Ulker bids 3 Diamonds, and after Dan passes, Bud bids 3 NT which I double. Dan’s eyebrows are scrapping the ceiling but he passes. My hand is: S-92, H-AQ10x, D-xxx, C-QJ109, I lead the nine of spades and dummy shows: S-xx, H-xx, D-AKxx, C-AKxxx. Bud ducks Dan’s ten and, reading my double perfectly,
Dan leads a heart covered by the nine and my ten. I lead my last spade and Bud takes Dan’s queen with the ace.

Bud leads a club to dummy and lets my jack win. I return a diamond which Bud wins with his queen. Bud plays a diamond to the board and cashes three more diamonds and the two top clubs. When he leads another heart I take the last three tricks for down two. “You gentlemen know how to play defense,” Ulker says. It’s that kind of a day and we finish with a 74.70%, best in District 9. As a reward, we get a bonus of 20 silver points.

How sweet it is.

Sincerely, Jim Somma{easycomments}