There will be Blood

If you have seen the epic movie starring Daniel Day-Lewis you may recall that it is set in the town of Little Boston. That and the fact that at match points it is not unusual for someone’s blood to be spilt was sufficient inspiration for the title of this piece.

Here is my first gruesome offering:

Dealer: North Vul: North/South		North
		♠	J 5 3 2
		♥	9 5
		♦	J 6 5 2
		♣	A 8 6
West				East
♠	9 8 6			♠	A Q 10 4
♥	Q 8 6 3			♥	A K J 4 2
♦	Q 10 8 4			♦	7
♣	J 10			♣	K Q 2
		South
		♠	K 7
		♥	10 7
		♦	A K 9 3
		♣	9 7 5 4 3

Despite the warning note sounded by East’s 1NT I felt I had enough to compete. East’s double and the appearance of dummy (the Rabbi had a couple of clubs in with his spades) quickly shattered that illusion. -1100 proved to be a modest result.

Dealer: West Vul: North/South		North
		♠	A 10 8 7
		♥	A K 7 4
		♦	J 9 6
		♣	10 5
West				East
♠	J 6			♠	Q 4
♥	J 9 8			♥	Q 6 5 3
♦	K Q 8 5			♦	A 7 3 2
♣				♣	A 6 3
		South
		♠	K 9 5 3 2
		♥	10 2
		♦	10 4
		♣	Q 9 8 2

After West’s 10-13 NT and North’s majors showing overcall East intended his double for take out. When East took a different view it cost -870.

On my next deal the number was smaller, but the match points only went in one direction:

Dealer: West Vul: East/West		North
		♠	A Q 9 8
		♥	8 3
		♦	J 9 8 7 6 4
		♣	10
West				East
♠	K 7 6			♠
♥	K Q J			♥
♦	10 5			♦
♣	A 8 7 4 2			♣
		South
		♠	J 2
		♥	A 10 7 2
		♦	Q 2
		♣	K Q J 9 3

North led the eight of hearts and declarer won with the jack. When he played the ace of clubs and a low club South drew trumps, cashed the ace of hearts and exited with a spade for +300.

I’ll conclude with this neat effort:

Dealer: South Vul: None		North
		♠	A J 10 9 6
		♥	7 5
		♦	A J 8 3 2
		♣	8
West				East
♠	Q 8 7 5 4 2			♠	K
♥	8			♥	K Q J 10 6 4
♦	K Q 10 6			♦	7 4
♣	Q 9			♣	J 10 6 2
		South
		♠	3
		♥	A 9 3 2
		♦	9 5
		♣	A K 7 5 4 3

South cashed his top clubs and switched to the nine of diamonds. Declarer put up dummy’s king and when that was allowed to hold he played a spade. North took the ace and switched to a trump. South took the ace and played a club. North ruffed, cashed the ace of diamonds and could then play any of his remaining cards to promote South’s nine of hearts for +500.