Ten-point hands

[nikos59]

There was an article in an old Bridge World about a

(facetiously suggested) variation of bridge where every

player would be dealt exactly 10 points. I had such

an exhibit last night; in fact, we had already agreed

that this would be the last hand...

 

[hv=d=n&v=n&n=saq973ha8d8753c43&w=s654hj1043dak104cq7&e=s108h75dqj62cak1086&s=skj2hkq962d9cj952]399|300|Scoring: IMP[/hv]

 

... and I had very much enjoyed the interaction with partner

(a pickup one) so I was in high spirits and so I opened

1S as North (although I would probably open it regardless,

what do you think?) then East overcalled 2C, pard said 2H,

I retreated to 2S and pard raised to game.

 

Game can be beaten, but...

East led ace of clubs, then shifted correctly to a trump. Dummy (South)

won the king and played the D9. West won the ace and cashed the

queen of clubs. No harm so far, but now he must play a trump!

Alas, the lure of a setting trick in hearts was perhaps too strong

(although it is hardly possible that I would open without even the

heart ace!) for he played a heart. Now I won, crossruffed diamonds

and clubs and then drew trumps and claimed.

 

As it was to be expected, the hand was thrown in at 9 out of the

16 tables.

[inquiry]

North is a ZAR 26 count, one more than needed to open when holdng spades. I would open.

 

In support of spades, south has 13 Zar distribution, 10 ZAR hcp, 2 ZAR control, 2 for fitting honors, coming to 27 before adding for ruffing values, so I would force to game.

 

Not all games that should make, make, and not all games that should be down go down.

[EricK]

North is a ZAR 26 count, one more than needed to open when holdng spades. I would open.

 

In support of spades, south has 13 Zar distribution, 10 ZAR hcp, 2 ZAR control, 2 for fitting honors, coming to 27 before adding for ruffing values, so I would force to game.

 

Not all games that should make, make, and not all games that should be down go down.

I think I have seen a quote from Martin Hoffman along the lines of "Most games which made could have been beaten and most games which were beaten could have been made".

 

Obviously he is referring to hands where there is some "play", but I think the point is valid.

 

Eric

[Guest Jlall]

I would not open the north hand. make the ace of hearts the ace of diamonds and you could make a case. Once again the honor location is important. Note in zar count the 2 hands would get to game, as inqury said, and would be easily set by opps who were intermediates or better.

[csaba]

I would not open the north hand

 

I would. If 2 1/2 quick tricks was good enough for Culbertson, it's good enough for me ;)