Jim returns for another installment. The one-eyed master will be back soon.

JIM IS NOT MECKSTROTH

About six years ago, the US team put on one of the greatest comebacks in World Championship history by defeating a superb Italian team by one IMP. Ifollowed the final round on Vu-Graph with the US trailing by about 40 IMP’s. Jeff Meckstroth and Eric Rodwell were spectacular, making seemingly impossible contracts on several occasions. One hand in particular stood out. Rodwell and Meckstroth arrived in 3NT after Jeff bid 2 Hearts on his second call, alerted as “fourth suit forcing.” The LHO led a black card which Jeff won and he then led the HQ. LHO, who held four hearts to the ace, suspiciously eyed the queen and the three hearts on the board to the jack and played low. RHO, who held five hearts to the king, also played low, whereupon Meckstroth ran off seven more tricks making his contract. Needless to say, the Italian team in the other room never reached 3NT.

Now fast forward to the VFW building on County Line Road. I am partnered with John Bush and in third seat I hold a nifty 14 count, including Qx in spades. John opens the bidding and on my second call I bid 2 Spades, alerted as fourth suit forcing. After John takes another bid, I bid 3NT and LHO fumbles to make a lead (listen buster, if Meckstroth can bid hearts on a stiff queen, I can bid spades with a doubleton queen). LHO tables the Jack of Spades(!). I seek divine intervention but none is forthcoming as John’s dummy has only two small spades. Doug Macdaid (on my right) cashes the ace and king plus three other spades and I am dead meat. John gives me a look which can be best described as shocking. I ask my LHO if he did not respect my spade bid. After he replied that he did indeed respect my spade bid, I asked why he led the jack.

Now he gives me an answer that only a sadist could appreciate. “I led the wrong card. I should have led the jack of clubs.” he replies. Jim now takes out the ceremonial sword and disembowels himself. With the jack of clubs lead, I would have taken 11 tricks. Jim is not Meckstroth.

IT ONLY HURTS A LITTLE

One of the “pleasures” of playing with Adam Kaplan is getting excellent results on what look like impossible situations. In addition to a shape mind, Adam has youthful exuberance which knows no bounds. In a sectional in Clearwater, in second seat (they are red. we are white) I hold S-AQxxxx, H-x, D-xxx, C-xxx. RHO opens 2 Clubs (strong) and I bid 3 Spades, alerted as pre-emptive (of course I am being a pain). LHO bids 4 NT for the minors and Adam bids 7 Spades as RHO fumes. He doubles and LHO leads the Ace of Clubs. The dummy is a mirror image of my hand - S-KJxxxx, H-x, D-xxx, C-xxx. I take six tricks for down seven and -1,700 is a cold top, The opponents can make seven in any of the other three suits.

WHAT A PUSH

Adam and I had the great pleasure of teaming with Annabelle Hills and MaryAnn Dufresne in the St. Petersburg Sectional not too long ago. We finished second in the Bracket I Knockouts and had a very enjoyable tourney except for this beauty. Adam opens a weak NT (11-14) and I hold six hearts, five diamonds and singletons in both black suits. After I make a transfer bid, LHO bids spades and the SNL crowd takes over. We get to six diamonds doubled, down five for -1.400. When Annabelle and MaryAnn come to our table to compare scores, guess what? The opponents did the same thing and -1,400 is a push!

Sincerely, Jim Somma {easycomments}