The Good, Bad and Ugly

By Kees Tammens

We have some new boards in the category ‘ Good’

Last round of the Girls: Austria versus the Netherlands

None Vul. Dealer South.
	ª Q 8 7 5 3 2 © 4 ¨ 7 § A K J 7 3
ª - © A K Q J 9 7 6 3 ¨ 8 § 2		ª 10 9 6 © 10 5 ¨ K J 10 5 4 3 § 6 5
	ª A K J © 8 2 ¨ A Q 6 2 § Q 9 8 4

West	North	East	South
-	-	-	1NT
4©	5ª	Pass	6ª
All Pass

Marleen van Ggelder for the Netherlands and Iris Grumm both for Austria came up with an imaginative 5ª after 4©. Courageous and intelligent. Of course this is not a bid asking especially for a heart control or for good trumps. It just meant: ”Partner: 4© puts me in a nasty position. I am not satisfied with game. Please estimate your hand in the frame of the bidding”. With ªAK the raise to slam was easy. As a kibitzer pointed out: “That is good bridge!”.

Another entry for the GOOD department

E/W Vul. Dealer South.
	ª K 10 7 © 10 6 5 3 ¨ 2 § Q 9 8 3 2
ª A J 9 6 2 © J 4 2 ¨ Q 9 8 7 § -		ª 8 3 © A K Q 9 7 ¨ K J 6 5 § K 6
	ª Q 5 4 © 8 ¨ A 10 4 3 § A J 10 5 4

West	North	East	South
-	-	-	1§
1ª	Dble	3NT	All Pass

South led §10(third best) for the §K from East. Declarer played ¨K for the ace in South who – probably something went wrong in signalling – switched to a heart; +630 for Serbia-Montenegro. 3NT seemed a fine result but there was more to come.

This was the other table with Serbia-Montenegro North/South.

West	North	East	South
-	-	-	3§
Pass	Pass	3©	Pass
4©	5§	Dble	All Pass

5 § turned out to be cold and +550 could be added to the 630 and 15 IMPs in the bag.

BAD

N/S Vul. Dealer East.
	ª A 9 3 2 © A J 8 ¨ 9 § K 8 7 5 3
ª J 5 © K Q 4 2 ¨ A Q 3 § Q 6 4 2		ª K Q 7 6 4 © 10 9 6 3 ¨ K 6 § A 10
	ª 10 6 © 7 5 ¨ J 10 8 7 5 4 2 § J 9

West	North	East	South
-	-	1ª	Pass
2§	Pass	2©	Pass
4 ©	All Pass

South led ¨J for ¨K in East. A trump for the king and ace in North, who played ªA and another spade, hoping for a ruff in South; but would not South, with a Yarborough, have started with his singleton spade had he held one?
The right move from North was certainly §8 to the third trick. It is almost impossible for declarer to let this run to §Q in dummy. He will take §A, play ©Q and try to discard his club loser on the ¨Q. North can ruff and take §K as the setting trick.

UGLY

N/S Vul Dealer North.
	ª 8 2 © A 10 8 7 6 2 ¨ 10 9 4 3 § 2
ª A 6 © K J ¨ - § A Q J 9 8 6 5 4 3		ª J 9 7 5 4 © Q 3 ¨ A Q J 6 § K 10
	ª K Q 10 3 © 9 5 4 ¨ K 8 7 5 2 § 7

West	North	East	South
-	Pass	1ª	Pass
2 §	Pass	2 ©(i)	Pass
3 §	Pass	3 ¨	Pass
5 ¨	All Pass

(i) Diamonds

Pessimists doubt the value of Exclusion Blackwood, and this board seemed to justify their view when it was passed out!

The Daily Bulletin would like to receive more entries in this competition. Don't be shy and please report any GOOD, BAD or UGLY hand to Brian Senior in the Bulletin room.