Disaster board (a story)

[shyams]

This came up during one of the daylong tournaments of yesterday. I was South, the other three seats were occupied by bots.

 

[hv=pc=n&s=sj2h5d97432ct7654&d=s&v=e&b=3&a=p1sp2c(GF%20with%20!C)p2sd(takeout)3c3d(why%20not%3F%20%3A%5D)3s(rebiddable%20!S%20suit)d(!D%2B!H%20%26%20decent%20!Ss%20)p?]133|200[/hv]

The bidding proceeded innocuously for the first couple of rounds. That is until partner doubled and I decided to show my ♦ fit (never mind that it showed 7-10 total points).

 

The bidding now got really weird. What should I do over 3♠x? Surely I can't pass with this sad excuse of a hand. So I bid one more!

 

[hv=pc=n&s=sj2h5d97432ct7654&d=s&v=e&b=3&a=p1sp2c(GF%20with%20!C)p2sd(takeout)3c3d(why%20not%3F%20%3A%5D)3s(rebiddable%20!S%20suit)d(!D%2B!H%20%26%20decent%20!Ss%20)p4d(YOLO%3F)5cp6cp(chicken%3F%3F)pp]133|200[/hv]

 

And there you have it, opps bid a slam and I have to find a lead. If you held the South hand, which suit would you lead? Diamonds, your singleton heart, or a spade?

 

Decide before you unveil the spoiler.

 

 

 

I led my singleton ♥ hoping to get a quick ruff + (hopefully) some indication on what I will play after I ruff.

 

It was a disaster. The full hand was:

[hv=pc=n&s=sj2h5d97432ct7654&w=skqt953h982dq6ca3&n=sa8764hq643dakj8c&e=shkjt7dt5ckqj982&d=s&v=e&b=3&a=ppp6c(contract)ppp]300|333[/hv]

 

North played the ♥Q on trick 1, East won with the ♥A & promptly took a deep finesse in ♣! Yes, trick two went ♣9 - ♣4 - ♣3(!!) - ♠4.

Now, with the perfect lie of the cards (my spade Jack falling on the second round), East made all the tricks!

 

Out of 25-30 tables, mine was the only one that recorded such a huge score for E/W. Most tables played in 4♠x going down (-3 or -4, based on chosen defence), some others were punished in 5♦x as N/S. I alone found the sequence of bids and plays to allow 13 tricks in clubs!

 

[pilowsky]

This came up during one of the daylong tournaments of yesterday. I was South, the other three seats were occupied by bots.

 

[hv=pc=n&s=sj2h5d97432ct7654&d=s&v=e&b=3&a=p1sp2c(GF%20with%20!C)p2sd(takeout)3c3d(why%20not%3F%20%3A%5D)3s(rebiddable%20!S%20suit)d(!D%2B!H%20%26%20decent%20!Ss%20)p?]200|400[/hv]

The bidding proceeded innocuously for the first couple of rounds. That is until partner doubled and I decided to show my ♦ fit (never mind that it showed 7-10 total points).

 

The bidding now got really weird. What should I do over 3♠x? Surely I can't pass with this sad excuse of a hand. So I bid one more!

 

[hv=pc=n&s=sj2h5d97432ct7654&d=s&v=e&b=3&a=p1sp2c(GF%20with%20!C)p2sd(takeout)3c3d(why%20not%3F%20%3A%5D)3s(rebiddable%20!S%20suit)d(!D%2B!H%20%26%20decent%20!Ss%20)p4d(YOLO%3F)5cp6cp(chicken%3F%3F)pp]200|400[/hv]

 

And there you have it, opps bid a slam and I have to find a lead. If you held the South hand, which suit would you lead? Diamonds, your singleton heart, or a spade?

 

Decide before you unveil the spoiler.

 

 

 

I led my singleton ♥ hoping to get a quick ruff + (hopefully) some indication on what I will play after I ruff.

 

It was a disaster. The full hand was:

[hv=pc=n&s=sj2h5d97432ct7654&w=skqt953h982dq6ca3&n=sa8764hq643dakj8c&e=shkjt7dt5ckqj982&d=s&v=e&b=3&a=ppp6c(contract)ppp]300|333[/hv]

 

North played the ♥Q on trick 1, East won with the ♥A & promptly took a deep finesse in ♣! Yes, trick two went ♣9 - ♣4 - ♣3(!!) - ♠4.

Now, with the perfect lie of the cards (my spade Jack falling on the second round), East made all the tricks!

 

Out of 25-30 tables, mine was the only one that recorded such a huge score for E/W. Most tables played in 4♠x going down (-3 or -4, based on chosen defence), some others were punished in 5♦x as N/S. I alone found the sequence of bids and plays to allow 13 tricks in clubs!

 

 

Here's a real-time description of my thinking.

1. My first thought was to lead a singleton because that's what Bird an Anthias usually recommend.

2. My second thought was to lead a diamond because my partner didn't support my call and might be void.

3. My third thought was it was a Lightner double - I always say that now because my partner usually complains about my lead.

4. The double was major-oriented - lead a heart.

5. With thinking like this its no wonder I always do badly in defence.

6. Reread Kotov on how to play (think) like a Grandmaster. The best Chess book I ever read. Kotov's decision-making principles apply in all games.

 

 

 

After reading the spoiler, Interesting that the crafty East robot plays a 4th down lead.

I take it that the lesson is to keep quiet in defence?

 

 

[sfi]

 

That's the big danger with a heart lead - partner doesn't know when it's right to play low.

 

 

The declarer play is spectacular though.