Conference turris::bridge

1924.0. "DEC A wins big (from Alan Frantz)" by MOIRA::FAIMAN (Wandrer, du M�der, du bist zu Haus) Wed Feb 05 1997 14:45

In the Rte 128 league last night the Digital A team scored a full 30-0 VP
blitz against one of the poorer teams.  We won the first half 44-4 IMPs, and
the second half was 71-18.  We switched opponents at the half, and the
shell-shocked pair who arrived at our table had not scored a single plus
during their set against Bill and Bob.  It was not until Board 15 that they
got their first plus in a routine 3NT game, pushed at the other table.  We
finished quickly and they simply left their scorecard behind, not even
staying to compare results.  With the league reorganized into a single
flight, there are severe mismatches.

I'll post details of four hands.  Board 13 was our only double digit loss,
but we made it up on boards 14, 19, and 21 where we gained a total of 46
IMPS.

Board 13                     North  S- JT875
Dlr: North                          H- 3
Vul: Both                           D- JT532
	West-	S- Q64              C- Q9        East-  S- AK9
		H- Q75					H- JT642
		D- 76					D- K
		C- AJ742     South  S- 32		C- KT86
				    H- AK98
				    D- AQ984
				    C- 53

The bidding at our table: P-1H-2D-2H-3D-3H-AP, where it hardly seemed I
should go on to 4H on my flattish 9HCP opposite at most 15.  The defense was
AD, KH, AH, and another diamond.  Kotok failed to note RHO had discarded on
the second heart, so he drew one more trump, correctly played for 2-2 clubs
and then falsely claimed, having to give up a trick to the trump he forgot
was out.  +140 instead of +170.  Bill and Bob gave up -790 in 4H doubled, but
believe they could have beaten it.  With better play at both tables, we would
be +370 for a 9 IMP gain instead of the 12 IMP loss. 

Board 14                     North  S- J3
Dlr: East                           H- J6
Vul: None                           D- JT9752
	 West-  S- A82              C- 863       East-  S- K7
		H- AQT95				H- K87
		D- 643					D- AQ
		C- K9        South  S- QT9654		C- AJ7542
				    H- 432
				    D- K8
				    C- QT

Kotok and I got to use the full power of our strong club agreements in the
following uncontested auction:  1C(Precision, 16+HCP)-1H(5+ hearts, 9+HCP,
game forcing)-2H(Trump suit or gamma  asking bid)-3C(5 trumps with two of the
top three honors)-3Dcue-3Scue-4Ccue-5Ccue denies DK and SK-5Scue still shows
interest in a grand-6C!! shows 3rd round club control-7H!  The opening lead
was a diamond, rising with ace, drawing trumps, KC-AC-claim.  So we scored up
+1510 while the other table stopped in 5C for -440.  Winning 14 IMPs.

Board 19                     North  S- 973
Dlr: South                          H- JT65
Vul: E-W                            D- Q65
	 West-  S- JT52             C- KQ7       East-  S- AKQ864
		H- 84					H- K7
		D- AKT98				D- J7
		C- 5         South  S- void		C- T62
				    H- AQ932
				    D- 32
				    C- AJ9843

The bidding at our table was 1C-1D-a tortured 1NT-2S-3H-4S!-AP  The defense
failed to take the heart A and Kotok made 680.  At the other table, Bill did
not quit so easily on the South hand, scoring up +450 in hearts for a double
game swing and another 15 IMPs. 

Board 21                         North  S- AKJ92 
Dlr: North                      	H- void
Vul: N-S                           	D- A42
                 West-  S- QT87    	C- AT652     East-  S- 3
		 	H- AJT982			    H- Q764
			D- 5				    D- KT87
			C- QJ  	 South  S- 654	 	    C- K984
					H- K53
					D- QJ963
					C- 73

The bidding at our table was strange: 1S-P-2D??-2H-3C-3H-3S-X-4S(quickly
before hearing that I had said double instead of pass)-P-P-X-AP.  Kotok led a
4th best heart and I correctly chose to play the H9 which was ruffed.
 Declarer played  AC and a small club to my CJ.  I led a diamond ducked to
Kotok's DK, and Alan put through the HQ tapping declarer for the second time.
 Club ruff and overruff was followed by a third heart tap.  Declarer now
erred in trying to draw trump and when that did not succeed, I was in with my
last trump to cash three good hearts and collect +1100.  Meanwhile, with a
much different auction where West never bid hearts, Bob got a diamond lead
against 4S and *made* it for +620, and a 17 IMP gain.

The next session is position night, and we will presumably get to play
against Mitre-A, one of the few other strong teams in the league.  No fish to
shoot in the next barrel.
						-- Alan

  Board 13 was my fault.  When declarer led towards HQ, I should duck,
 of course.  I have to get DA + 3 trumps.

  bb