Tales from the Vienna Woods

March 19th, 2009  ~  mark horton  ~  1 Comment 

Some old friends from Austria needed someone to fill in for the first session of a Swiss teams.

Mentioning Austria one immediately thinks of Vienna, Strauss waltzes, Wiener Schnitzel and the Sound of Music. However, they also have some terrific bridge players, one of them being Andreas Babsch, who proceeded to produce some devastating bridge. Here are a couple of interesting deals:

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

South led the two of spades and declarer won in dummy and played a club to the queen and king. South switched to the ten of hearts and North won with the king of hearts and switched to a diamond, which went to the six, nine and queen.

Declarer drew trumps and played another club, but South won, played a heart to North’s ace and a diamond gave South two tricks in the suit for +50.

Have you spotted where declarer went wrong?

When North plays a diamond Declare must go up with the king. South can take the ace, but cannot then play the suit without giving up a trick. That gives declarer time to set up the clubs for a couple of diamond discards.

This example of a frozen suit seems quite appropriate.

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

North’s gentle psyche paid a handsome dividend as it picked off the suit in which East/West are cold for eleven tricks. 3cx had to go one down, but that scored up well with the +450 recorded at the other table.

Support your Local Partner

March 9th, 2009  ~  mark horton  ~  No Comments 

One of the most understated rules in bridge is to support partner when you have four cards in a suit they have bid. Generally speaking this tends to work well, even when you have a modest hand.

This deal from the Senior KO is a good example:

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

Had North opened 3♦ then the auction might have gone 3♠ -5♦ -5♠ , with South’s inevitable double producing a decent penalty despite East/West’s twelve card fit.

However, when he opted for the less aggressive alternative of a weak two East’s overcall gave South a problem –which suit should he introduce?

Reasoning that partner was unlikely to have primary heart support South decided to concentrate on the minors by introducing his clubs. When West contented himself with a modest raise North had an opportunity to support clubs, but rather than opt for a simple 4♣ North went ‘all in’ with a cue bid of 4♠ .

From South’s point of view a slam was not impossible, but one minor advantage of being a Senior is that you have had a few extra years to discover that partner’s hand has a nasty habit of failing to match your expectations – especially when you are in the slam zone.

West led a spade against 5♣ and declarer won in hand, pitching a heart from dummy. After cashing the top clubs the jack of diamonds ran to East’s ace and declarer claimed +400.

The auction followed a different course in the other room:

I confess I am amazed that South did not double West’s undisciplined Five Spades, and a cooperative defense saw declarer escape for one down – and a 5 IMP pick up.

Practice what you Preach

February 27th, 2009  ~  mark horton  ~  No Comments 

I have recommended that you should always support your partner when you have four cards in their suit. Here is an example where doing so paid an unexpected dividend:

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

With North/South ‘marked’ with a nine card fit West knew his partner held at most one spade, so he was happy to jump to slam.

After tricks one and two, so was the Rabbi!

As an aside suppose the auction went like this:

At least one South was unwise enough to double this contract. West retreated to 7cx and South doubled again.

He is still waiting for North to find a spade lead.

Misdefend this hand with me

February 17th, 2009  ~  mark horton  ~  No Comments 

Having penned a modestly well received book entitled Misplay these hands with me, it is not too difficult to envisage a couple of subsequent titles involving accidents in both bidding and defense.

This deal from the Senior KO could easily feature in all three categories:

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

* Inverted Raise

The only lead to genuinely defeat 3NT is a low spade – difficult but not totally impossible when you know dummy does not have a four card major.

When North starts with the ten of diamonds South wins the first trick with the queen, and does best to cash the ace of diamonds before switching to a major suit.

Let’s say South tries a heart and declarer wins in hand and plays a club. When North follows with the six declarer should cover with the seven. South can win, but declarer cannot be prevented from developing the two club tricks that are required to bring home the game.

If declarer makes the mistake of putting up dummy’s king of clubs, then South must unblock the jack, giving North the two entries he needs to establish the diamond suit and eventually cash the setting trick.

Alternatively declarer can win the heart switch in dummy and play a club to the queen, but if South happens to find a spade switch after taking two diamond tricks then declarer can win with dummy’s ace, but must then come to hand with a heart and play a low club, again finessing when North plays low.

In practice South decided not to cash the ace of diamonds before switching, so declarer was under no pressure and easily recorded +400.

At the other table the bidding was less than accurate:

3NT should have been a good heart raise.

When North led a diamond South took two tricks and switched to a club. When North put up the ace declarer’s hopes rose, but quickly fell when the 5-1 trump break came to light.

Misbid (some of) these Hands with Me

February 7th, 2009  ~  mark horton  ~  No Comments 

There is no doubt that slam bidding is one of the most testing areas of the game, even for experienced partnerships. Here are a few adventures from the final of the BAM teams:

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

With E/W competing so vigorously in spades all South’s high cards rated to be useful, hence the jump to 6♦.

On a spade lead declarer ruffs, draws trumps, plays four rounds of clubs, ruffing when the suit fails to divide and then ruffs a spade. Now, with West counted for a 6-4-2-1 distribution declarer plays the jack of hearts from dummy, running it if East plays low. When West wins and returns a heart declarer has a decision to make, but should probably get it right.

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

The scientific approach would be for North to bid 4♥ over 3♥ , hoping South could produce a black suit cue bid, but 4NT was an understandable alternative.

With the king of spades onside this contract cannot be defeated.

East/West’s activity saw North/South reach a delicate contract. 4♠ can be made, but declarer lost his way and finished one down.

	Dealer: West
	Vul: None
South
♠	A J 10
♥	J 7 4 3
♦	A 3
♣	A K 7 5

You have the South cards and we can treat this as a two part problem. First, what do you do if West passes and your partner opens 3♥ ?

Second, suppose the opening bid is 4♥ ?

In the first case there is no real reason to do more than raise to game, as for a slam to be good you probably need partner to not only have very good trumps – say ♥ AKxxxxx – but also a second round diamond control.

In the second case you might simply jump to 6♥ , but there must be some risk (and there are others) that a diamond lead will be awkward unless partner has a control in that suit. One way to find out is to bid 5♣ over 4♥ . That asks partner to cue bid a first round diamond control, or jump to 6♥ with a second round control.

If you wanted a spade control you would bid 5♦ over 4♥ – once again bidding the suit below the one that you need partner to control.

However, this is not a perfect solution, as if partner has ♥ AKxxxxxx and two small diamonds you clearly want to be in 6♥ , but give South two small diamonds and this neat convention may be the only way to reach a laydown slam.

On this occasion as you will see when I reveal the full deal, anything other than 4♥ is too high if East leads a diamond:

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

Little Deuce Coup

January 27th, 2009  ~  mark horton  ~  No Comments 

Little Deuce Coupe was the Beach Boys fourth album – the title track happens to be on the CD of their greatest hits that I keep in the car for summer days.

In the Myles Walsh Stratified Mixed Pairs Nancy Maidman showed a lot of faith in her partner’s not inconsiderable playing skills. As that happened to be Bulgaria’s International star Valio Kovachev, it was not misplaced.

What is more, although the same contract was attempted at several tables only Nancy’s partner found a route to twelve tricks.

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

South led the king of diamonds and declarer won with the ace and in case North held a singleton queen led the eight of hearts from dummy, the jack losing to South’s queen.

Declarer ruffed the diamond return, and played the jack of spades, running it when South did not cover. Now came a heart to the ten, a successful club finesse, and three more trumps. This was the situation when declarer led his last trump:

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

In order to retain a guard in spades South had to throw a club. Declarer discarded dummy’s nine of spades and North threw a diamond. Now declarer played a spade to the king and when he tabled the ace of spades North was faced by this unenviable position:

		North
		♠	–
		♥	–
		♦	Q
		♣	K 9
West				East
♠	A			♠	4
♥	–			♥	–
♦	2			♦	–
♣	8			♣	A 2
		South
		♠	Q 5
		♥	–
		♦	–
		♣	J

Discarding a diamond would allow declarer to score a trick with the deliberately preserved two, and North’s actual choice of a club saw declarer cross to the ace of clubs and take the last trick with the lowest card in the other minor suit to complete a perfect example of a non simultaneous double squeeze.

That brilliant piece of card reading may put Valio in the melting pot for hand of the year. If South had found the equally brilliant play of ducking the jack of hearts then the potential award might be going somewhere else!

Hold the Front Page

January 17th, 2009  ~  mark horton  ~  No Comments 

Norway’s Jon Sveindal is not only a top class player, he also writes a long running bridge column. He has been collecting some excellent stories here in Boston, as you will be able to discern form the following deal played in the Keohane North American Swiss Teams:

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

West led the jack of diamonds and declarer won with the queen and played a heart to dummy’s queen. East won and returned a diamond, so declarer won, crossed to dummy’s ace of hearts and played a spade, hoping to find East with sxAQ doubleton.

However, when East produced a low spade declarer changed tack and went up with the king of spades. The appearance of the queen enabled declarer to knock out the ace of spades and claim the contract.

Business as Usual

January 7th, 2009  ~  mark horton  ~  No Comments 

The BAM teams is a terrific event, with a galaxy of World, European and National Champions taking part. Here are a few deals that contained a point of interest:

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

East led the nine of spades and declarer had the rare pleasure of playing two aces on the same trick, discarding dummy’s club whilst winning in hand. He then played the jack of diamonds, covered by the king and ace. Three rounds of trumps put him in hand to take another diamond finesse.

The logic behind North’s pass was impeccable but badly flawed. On a spade lead declarer had the consolation of taking all the tricks.

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

I’m sure you will agree its difficult for North to bid 3NT over 3♠ .

4♠ is very tricky, and I failed to find the winning line (partner is getting used to it by now).

On a diamond lead declarer must win in hand and play a club. Say West wins and exits with a club. Declarer must put up dummy’s king and then play a spade to the nine (or jack). West wins and has no good move.

One thing I have learnt about this game is that no matter how poor your result, in a team game you should never despair.

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

This comedy is easily explained once you know that against a strong NT double would show a major and a minor. Unfortunately this was a weak NT and the double was meant to be for penalties.

I regret to tell you that declarer did not make the best of the play (again!) and down four, -200 did not look too promising.

Two Hearts was not alerted at the table, but it was clear to East that South intended it as a transfer. Nevertheless East was out for blood and when West found the devastating lead of a low diamond the defenders were assured of all their tricks and a 500 penalty.

I was accused by one of my teammates of making a Bourgeois bid on this deal, but it brought home the bacon:

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

With North as declarer it was impossible for East to find the lead to hold declarer to eleven tricks and West was annoyed with himself for bidding as without the intervention North will transfer and West will be on lead.

Blocking Play

December 28th, 2008  ~  mark horton  ~  No Comments 

In American football, blocking is a legal move occurring when one player obstructs another player’s path with his body. The purpose of blocking is to prevent defensive players tackling the ball carrier, or to protect the quarterback, in the pass, in the backfield hand-off to other backs, or when the quarterback attempts to run (rush) with the ball himself.

Blocking play is also a legal move in bridge, but whilst it can be a great move for declarer it is generally something to be avoided by the defenders.

(You may recall an excellent series of books by Terence Reese and Roger Trezel, one of which was entitled Blocking, Unblocking and Safety Plays in Bridge.)

This combination came up in the Senior KO:

		North
		♠	9 7 2
West				East
♠	A 5			♠	Q 10 4
		South
		♠	K J 8 6 3

Defending a notrump contract if you start this suit by leading the seven or two and the first trick is completed by the ten, jack and ace, make sure the next time you lead from the North hand you play the nine. Otherwise, when declarer puts up the queen and South wins with the king you will be in the way.

This spectacular example of what might be the bridge equivalent of bridge hari-kari comes from the BAM Teams:

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

South’s tactical move in the bidding did not appear to have turned out too well when West produced the two of hearts at trick one. A delighted East decided to put up the ace, and continued with the queen. When West failed to overtake the heart suit was fatally blocked.

Hard Day’s Night

December 18th, 2008  ~  mark horton  ~  No Comments 

After a tough day at the table and doubtless a restless night’s sleep as the deals continue to occupy your thoughts what better way to get your brain back into gear for today’s contests that to tackle a couple of problems over breakfast. Try these two from the final of the BAM teams:

				East
				♠	6
				♥	10 8 5 4 3 2
				♦	A K 8 6
				♣	10 4

After two passes you decide to open 3♥ and the auction proceeds as follows:

What do you lead?

Let’s say you opt for a top diamond (in expert circles the ace asks for attitude).

				East
				♠	6
				♥	10 8 5 4 3 2
				♦	A K 8 6
				♣	10 4
		South
		♠	A K J 9 4
		♥	A 7 6
		♦	Q J 9
		♣	J 9

The first trick is completed by the nine, two (discouraging) and three. Now what?

Here is the full deal:

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

If you do anything other than play a club declarer can get home. For example, suppose you switch to a heart. Declarer wins in hand and knocks out the king of diamonds. He wins the return in dummy, cashes a top spade, unblocks the diamonds, comes to hand with a heart and cashes the ten of diamonds.  With all the vital black cards West has no defence.