Summer Festival of Bridge Blog 9

Posted 21 January 2010 by Ron

Try these problems:

East dealer : Nil vulnerable

West	North	East	South
- - -	- - -	4	Pass
Pass	?

What would you do as North with:

A K Q 9 7 4
10 8
Q 9
7 4 2

2. South dealer : East-West vulnerable

West	North	East	South
- - -	- - -	- - -	Pass
Pass	?

What would you do as North with:

Q J 10 8 6 3 2
Q
7 3
K 6 4

(Solutions later)

Yesterday started well with a 25-5 win, followed by an 18-12. That took us to fourth spot, but a 5-25 loss to the BLOOM team in Round 9 dropped us to 13th. We need a good day today to make the cut and reach the National Open Teams finals.

For more results, see the www.abf.com.au website.

Back to today’s problems:
1. Round 9 : Board 14

East dealer : Nil vulnerable

North
A K Q 9 7 4
10 8
Q 9
7 4 2

West
6 5 3
A 3
K 7 6 5 3
K J 8

East
8
K Q J 9 7 4
J
Q 10 9 5 3

South
J 10 2
6 5 2
A 10 8 4 2
A 6

At one table the bidding went 4 : Pass : Pass : Pass. The winning decision is for North to bid 4. On some days this can cost heaps as West’s strength is unknown, but here 4 is cold and 4 should be only one down.

At the other table East opened 3 and North ended in 4. The K was led, overtaken by the ace and a heart came back East won and played a third heart. North won, drew trumps and led the Q. That was –420 at both of our tables for –13 Imps.

2. Round 9 : Board 19

South dealer : East-West vulnerable

North
Q J 10 8 6 3 2
Q
7 3
K 6 4

West
4
K 10 6
Q J 9
Q J 10 8 7 2

East
A K 7
A 9 8 3 2
K 10 8 2
3

South
9 5
J 7 5 4
A 6 5 4
A 9 5

At one table:

West	North	East	South
- - -	- - -	- - -	Pass
Pass	3	Pass	Pass
Dble	Pass	4	All Pass

Lead: 9
East lost a heart, a diamond and a club for +620. The winning decision is for North to open 4, probably passed out or doubled, –300, or for South to take the save in 4.

At the other table: