From the Commentator's Table


At the end of a long day the players were understandably not in the best of form. Tiredness can manifest itself in many ways. Here are two examples where it was bidding judgement that was affected.

Dealer East. NS Game
spade 10 2
heart
diamond K 10 8 7 6 5 4 2
club K 9 6
spade J 9 6 4 spade A K Q 8 7
heart J 9 heart 10 8 5 4
diamond Q J diamond A 9 3
club A 10 8 4 3 club 2
spade 5 3
heart A K Q 7 6 3 2
diamond
club Q J 7 5

West North East South

1spade 4heart
4spade All Pass

Four Hearts is a practical bid that often works well on this sort of hand.

West North East South

1spade 2heart
3spade Pass Pass 4heart
Pass Pass 4spade Pass
Pass Dble All Pass

Here South adopted a more subtle approach, but felt compelled to bid 4heart at her second turn. East really ought to have doubled, but allowing the opponents to provoke her into bidding 4spade worked well.

South led the heartA and when North didn't ruff and play a diamond the defenders could only come to three tricks. Whilst North should probably get it right, South might have done better to lead the heartK, or perhaps even the heartQ?

Dealer South. EW Game
spade A J 7 4
heart K 3 2
diamond 8 6
club 10 8 5 4
spade K spade 8 2
heart J 9 5 4 heart Q 10 8 7
diamond Q 7 4 diamond A 10 9 2
club A K 9 7 2 club J 6 3
spade Q 10 9 6 4 3
heart A 6
diamond K J 5 3
club Q

West North East South

1spade
Dble 2NT Pass 4spade
All Pass

North's aggressive 'good raise' worked well, making it easy for South to bid the cold game.

West North East South

1spade
Dble 2spade Pass Pass
Dble Pass 3heart Pass
Pass 3spade All Pass

Here North was more conservative on the first round. We have a feeling that the majority choice would be 3spade. Even so, South's failure to bid again is remarkable. Clearly she was not aware of the advice of the American star Jeff Meckstroth, 'When you have a six card major and partner supports you - bid game!' When West doubled again, North might have redoubled to suggest he had a maximum for his previous bid, but when he subsequently bid 3spade South should have raised to game, not least because her opponents could have passed the hand out in 2spade!

Results Contents
Teams, Round 5
Teams, Round 6
Teams, Round 7
Teams, Round 8
Teams, Round 9
Deeper Thoughts
Heart Break, by Jan van Cleef
From the Commentator's table
Last Minute Fit
Eloping with Trumps
From the Commentator's table 2



Return to Top of page To Front Page