Jeff Lehman

Two declares from NAP District Finals

My two favorite declarations from the recent NAP district final.

On the first, I am not at all sure that I played this hand the best way, but it worked out nicely.

I opened 1NT on 53, AQ4, AJ, KJ9876.  (Board 7, 2nd  final.)  Partner thought for a while and then raised to 3NT.

Opening lead was a spade, and I awaited dummy’s appearance to see if that suit was stopped.

No problem there …

N
North
AKQ
832
K9542
Q2
♠4 
S
South
53
AQ4
AJ
KJ9876

 

… but I wish LHO had led a red card … 

I guess partner was considering whether to bid puppet Stayman.  I think he chose wisely to avoid Puppet and just bid 3NT, for two reasons: he has extra values and his side suit doubleton includes an honor. 

If clubs split, I have 11 top tricks after losing to A.  That sounds like the recipe for a squeeze.  But is that the best play, or something so mundane as a red suit finesse best?  Or should I cash the A early just in case I see the Q, and then take the heart finesse?

Well, first let’s knock out the A and be sure the club suit is running.  The A appeared on the second round and that suit split.  Back came another spade.  I now have only one dummy entry remaining.

I finally decided not to just take the heart finesse.  So, I cashed the last high spade and led a diamond to my ace to run the club suit.  Turned out that RHO held both the K and diamond length, and I scored up +490.

 

On the second, I failed to account for the possibility of an unexpected call by my LHO.

Vul v. not, I opened 1 on AQJ95, T, AJT84, Q4.  (Board 16, 1st final.)  LHO bid 2, hearts and a minor.  Partner bid 3, showing a limit raise or better (possibly an aggressive choice, when 3 would be a constructive raise).  RHO passed and I saw no reason to disclose my side suit and so just bid 4.  Now, my LHO surprised me by bidding 5.  Partner passed and I was ruing not having shown my side suit so that partner could judge whether we have a two-suited fit.  Well, if partner had not doubled, how could I with a stiff heart?  I competed to 5, ending the bidding.

LHO began with two rounds of high hearts, my ruffing the second.

Having been shortened once, I did not think I could withstand a 5-0 trump split.  Still, LHO had to have extreme shape for this 5 call.  Perhaps he was 2=6=0=5 or 1=6=1=5.  I decided to play for the latter.  A (each following), then a diamond toward dummy as LHO followed with the 9 as I won the king.  A diamond to my eight, winning as LHO pitched a club.  Q, K, diamond to the ten, J, A and claim +650.

 
16
E-W
West
N
North
2
AKQJ96
9
K9852
 
W
West
AQJ95
10
AJ1084
Q4
A
E
East
K76
742
K72
A1063
 
S
South
10843
853
Q653
J7
 

 

 


1 Comment

Mark WhitmanNovember 15th, 2013 at 5:10 pm

On the second hand, it looks like you almost claimed too early. Switch the heart 6 and 8 between the two defenders’ hands and it looks like you would have had a squeeze for 12 tricks. Very well played in any case.

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