The importance of the Nine of Spades

[kenrexford]

Last night, at least six hands in a row resulted in great scores for us, and we always had the Nine of Spades. Several times, the holding of the Nine of Spades justified our action, albeit sometimes in jest.

 

The first four were somewhat silliness. I bid somewhat aggressively on the first, made a tight spade contract because of the Nine of Spades, and joked that I bid it because I had the Nine of Spades.

 

On the second, we bid a routine game that made. I noted that Dummy held the Nine of Spades again.

 

On the third, I jump overcalled 2♠ after P-1♣-? when white on red, and they missed their heart slam. I held 9xxxx in spades. The whole table started laughing.

 

Fourth board. I showed the opponents under the table that I held the Nine of Spades. Sure enough, I overcalled 1♠ (on a four-piece) for a good result.

 

Next round, weirder.

 

On the first, I held ♠AK9 ♥Kx ♦AKQJ10x ♣9x. I opened 2♣, heard 2♦(GF) from partner, bid 2NT, heard 3♦(Transfer), bid 3♦, heard 4♣, bid 4NT(Blackwood), heard 5♥, and stopped to think.

 

Even if partner lacked any Kings, I did have the Nine of Spades. This, and the Nine of Clubs, each looked like possible squeeze positions if needed. 7NT.

 

Partner held, of course, ♠J8x ♥AQxxx ♦x ♣AJ10x. As you can guess, the hand came down to a squeeze, with both black Nines playing critical roles. We also happened to be redoubled, vulnerable, making. +2980, I think.

 

Board six. I had warned them about the Nine of Spades before the round started, so all is fair.

 

Holding: ♠KQ109 ♥KJxx ♦Jx ♣Axx. After 1♣-1♦-2♣ to me, I doubled for the majors. Partner rebid 2♦, and the opponents competed to 3♣. Normally, I might have questions here. But, I held the Nine of Spades. So, 3NT, doubled, and of course redoubled.

 

Partner held an extremely ugly: ♠xxx ♥Axx ♦A98xx ♣xx.

 

The opening club lead was ducked. Fearing the Bath Coup, a diamond switch. His partner, not wanting to set up my diamonds prematurely, ducked the King, and I won the Jack. Now to spades. I played the spade Queen, winning. Across to dummy in hearts, and small to the Nine of Spades, losing to the Jack.

 

Now the club Queen and a third club, won by me, I cleared the spade Ace (to the left). Somewhat not endplayed, LHO exited with a small heart, me winning the Jack. On the last spade, LHO was pseudo-squeezed, elected the incorrect heart pitch, and the hearts ran, for +800.

 

I'm sure that the Nine of Spades was protecting me all night, but I only could follow its influence in these six hands in a row.