As I said in my previous story about the Brooksville Sectional, I had two excellent partners (Adam Kaplan on Thursday and Richard Wan on Friday) and we scored very well as the result of the many gifts handed out by our opponents. Here are a couple more to chew on.

On Thursday, Adam and I are white, the opponents red (my favorite setting) and in first seat I hold: ♠xx, ♥xxx, ♦AKxxxx, ♣Ax. I bid 1♦ and LHO doubles (presumably she has the majors). Adam redoubles promising both majors and RHO bids 2♣. I rebid my diamonds, and after two passes, RHO bids 3♣ (oblivious to partner’s takeout double). After two passes, Adam doubles and the carnage begins. I cash my ace-king combination as Adam pitches a low spade (suit preference) on the king. With dummy holding the king-jack in spades, brilliant me leads a spade. Adam takes the ace-queen and I ruff the third spade. I give Adam a diamond ruff and eventually I get the CA for down three and a cold top of +800.

Adam has the nerves of a Mississippi Riverboat gambler and the talent to match. They are red, we are white, and in third seat, I hold: ♠Axxx, ♥Qxx, ♦xx, ♣Axxx. Adam opens 3♠ and RHO goes into the tank before bidding 3NT. Well, I know who has the SK and 15-17 HCP. But we are white and they are red, so I bid 4♠. Now it’s LHO who ponders her bid and she finally passes. RHO wants to take another bid but he has said everything about his hand the first time, so he doubles. As I table the dummy, I jokingly ask Adam if I had enough to raise him. He says nothing but simply makes the bid. His hand was: ♠QJ109876, ♥x, ♦J10xx, ♣x. The defense takes two diamonds and one heart as Adam hooks the SK. Believe it or not, they can make 3NT and 6♣. 6♥ will go down on the CA lead and a ruff - WOW!

On Friday morning, Richard and I are having an excellent round and the lady on my left contributes greatly. They are red, we are white, and in first seat I hold: ♠xx, ♥AJxx, ♦Jxx, ♣AJxx. I pass, LHO passes, and Richard opens 1♠. RHO bids 2♦, and I make a negative double (please Richard have four hearts). LHO passes, Richard bids 2♠, and RHO bids 3♦. I assume Richard has a six-card spade suit and less than four hearts, so I bid 3♠. Now, LHO makes one of those bids you dream about - vulnerable and holding virtually nothing - she bids 4♦. Her partner makes an audible gasp because he knows what’s coming after Richard passes. I can’t wait to get the red card on the table and RHO is flummoxed. I lead the of CA and dummy has: ♠xx, ♥xx, ♦xxxx, ♣Kxxxxx. Richard drops the queen and I continue with a small club. After seeing the dummy, RHO is completely disheveled and he plays the king. Richard ruffs, cashes the ace-king of spades, then the ace of hearts. I encourage and Richard leads another heart. I take the jack and force declarer to ruff my HK. RHO still has a club loser and down four is a cool +1,100. Now, the irony is that Richard did have four hearts and we can make a small slam in either major. Richard’s hand was ♠AKxxxxx, ♥Kxxx, ♦x, ♣Q. We find out that fact when we return from lunch. We check the individual board scores and the couple next to us wonder why they didn’t get a top after bidding and making 6♥. I don’t want to rain on anybody’s parade but I point out our +1,100 score and explain what happened. They just shake their heads in disbelief.

Sincerely, Jim Somma