The Welsh Bridge Union St David's Day Simultaneous Pairs. Thursday 28th February 2019 Session # Dear Bridge Player

Transcription

1 The Welsh Bridge Union St David's Day Simultaneous Pairs Thursday 28th February 2019 Session # 6491 Dear Bridge Player Thank you for supporting the WBU Simultaneous Pairs - I hope you enjoyed the hands and the commentary. The funds raised from this event will support the WBU and its work with the development of bridge in Wales. Please tell your friends at other clubs who may not have played in this event that we will be running another one in September as we normally do and we would love to have them join us - as with this one, it will be run over a week, with five sets of hands available, one for each day, so you can play every night if you want to and we certainly hope you will try and play more than once! The results of this event can be found at - just click on the link to Sims and you will see how to find them. Best wishes - and enjoy your bridge! Anna Gudge WBU Simultaneous Pairs Organiser Mill Cottage Voy Stromness Orkney KW16 3HX anna@ecats.co.uk 1

2 Board 1. Love All. Dealer North. [ K ] 9 4 { 10 8 } [ [ J 9 ] 10 8 ] A K { J 5 3 { 7 4 } A K J 9 3 } Q [ A Q ] Q J 5 2 { A K Q } 2 For most the North hand will be too weak for a weak 2[ opening so South will get to open 1{. Many Norths will respond then repeat their suit over South s 2] reverse. Now 3{ is the winning action from South as North can pass it, while a raise to 3[ puts the partnership too high dummy can be forced to ruff a club and declarer s communications are a mess, holding him to eight tricks. If North does not respond to 1{, East will balance with 1] and now North can compete safely, having already limited his hand. Board 2. N/S Vul. Dealer East. [ Q 9 ] { Q 10 } A Q [ [ K J 3 ] K ] A Q 8 { { A 5 2 } J 4 } [ A ] J { K J } K 5 The cards lie very well for N/S, so that they cannot be defeated in 4[. However, there is no reason to get to that level and 2[ is likely to be the popular spot. If East opens 1NT, South can show use a twosuited defence and get to 2[, while if East opens 1} South will overcall 1[ then show the diamonds at his next turn. In either case, it is hard to see why anyone should get past the two level. Board 3. E/W Vul. Dealer South. 2 [ ] A K 10 7 { K Q 4 } Q 9 5 [ 9 7 [ K Q J ] Q J 8 ] 3 2 { { 8 2 } J } [ A 2 ] { A J 10 5 } A K 2 There are twelve tricks available to N/S in either hearts or no trump. If South opens 1NT, North may raise to 3NT, while a 1}/{ opening will naturally get a 1] response and probably lead to 4] there is no reason to reach the very poor slam. In 4], it is normal to pick up the hearts without loss, while in 3NT, there is time to do likewise on a non-spade lead, but on a spade lead some will duck a spade then play hearts from the top and hold themselves to 11 tricks. This lead is only likely where East has got in a spade bid. Board 4. Game All. Dealer West. [ 4 ] A { J 6 5 } [ 7 2 [ A K 3 ] K Q 9 2 ] J 8 { K Q { 7 2 } A 5 } K J [ Q J ] 10 6 { A 10 3 } Q After 1{ Pass 2}, South will often overcall, perhaps with 3[, weak. Nothing he does should prevent East from bidding 3NT, which will end the auction. If East ducks the first spade, he will cost himself a lot of matchpoints, as everything is so well placed that 11 tricks are possible after winning the first spade, whichever red suit declarer chooses to play on. With spades likely to be 7-1 if there has been a 3[ overcall, there is no reason to duck. Board 5. N/S Vul. Dealer North. [ 8 5 ] J { A K Q } Q [ K 10 9 [ ] A Q 10 3 ] { 3 2 { 10 } J } K 8 4 [ A Q J 6 ] K 7 4 { J } A 6 N/S should get a free run to the contract of their choice, perhaps: 1{ 1[ 2{ 3NT. Superficially, heart leads would appear to establish tricks for the defence and hold declarer to nine

3 tricks, however, in practice he can always come to an overtrick. The problem for the defence is that both defenders must keep two clubs and West must keep two spades, plus a heart to get to partner s hand. Six rounds of diamonds leaves them unable to retain sufficient flexibility to come to more than three tricks. Board 6. E/W Vul. Dealer East. [ ] A Q 6 3 { 2 } A J [ A Q [ K J 8 ] J 9 ] 5 4 { A J 4 { } Q 8 5 } [ 6 5 ] K { K Q 9 7 } K 2 It appears normal to reach 4] on the N/S cards. Assuming a 1] opening from South and 1[ overcall, North will raise to game, either via a 4{ splinter or a fit jump in clubs, according to system. Only if South does not open is there any danger of missing the game, and even then it can be reached easily enough. Ten tricks are normal, but overtricks are possible if West does not lead spades immediately which may not be attractive from his holding. Board 7. Game All. Dealer South. [ A K ] K Q 6 { Q 5 2 } A 10 [ Q [ J 5 ] ] 9 { { A 10 8 } } K Q [ 8 6 ] A J { K J 9 3 } J 6] is a very good contract, and a successful one, but it may not be easy to reach unless South opens 1]. That may be too much for many players, but certainly I would be uncomfortable opening 2] with a hand of this potential. If South opens 2] then the likely outcome is 4], while if hen opens 1] then admits to a diamond side-suit North will love his hand and may well drive to slam. North will know that his red honourss are very valuable and that his black honours are fast tricks, leaving no losers in those suits perfect. Board 8. Love All. Dealer West. [ A 5 ] A Q 5 { } Q 9 8 [ K 8 [ 7 ] K 10 3 ] J { A Q J 6 5 { K } A 3 2 } K J [ Q J ] 7 { 9 3 } 6 5 It will begin 1{ Pass 1], and now South has a 4[ bid. True, if partner turns up with no help, you could be down four, but you would bid 3[ with a spade fewer, and this hand has no defence at all, so is ideal for a big pre-empt to make life difficult for the opposition. 4[ is down one on a minor-suit lead but can be made on a major-suit lead by taking both major-suit finesses. But West may double 4[ to show a good hand and East remove to 5} because of his distribution. 5} and 5] are both doomed to defeat. Board 9. E/W Vul. Dealer North. [ J 10 ] 5 { A Q } Q [ K 9 2 [ A ] J 6 ] { { K 2 } A J } K 4 3 [ Q ] A K Q { J 3 } 6 With better intermediates in the suit, I would be tempted to open 3{ with this distribution of the North hand and at this vulnerability. Partner would not thank me for that on this occasion and it would take us past our safety level as N/S can make only 2{ or 2], the latter being where they will naturally end up if North passes as dealer. I have a thing about pre-empting with 6-4 shape it often provides extra playing strength so with {AQ109xx }J10xx, I would surely open 3{, though I appreciate that this is hardly a mainstream approach. 3

4 Board 10. Game All. Dealer East. [ A ] A K 5 { J } A Q [ K [ 10 5 ] ] J 10 9 { Q 6 2 { A 8 3 } } K [ Q J 2 ] Q { K 5 4 } J 4 3 This one looks like everyone s 3NT, normally played by North. After a club lead, declarer can pick up three spade tricks by leading the queen then the jack to pin the doubleton ten, but the defence is a tempo ahead so that he cannot take more than one diamond winner, and even that requires a winning guess in the suit. If his first diamond play is to run the jack a likely choice as it pays off with at least two tricks when it succeeds, as against only one by playing low to the king he may even be held to eight tricks if he fails to pick up the spades. Board 11. Love All. Dealer South. [ 8 5 ] A K { } Q 7 [ Q [ ] Q 5 ] { J 7 6 { A K Q 8 } J } [ A K J 3 ] J 9 3 { 3 2 } A K 5 2 4] should be the popular spot, perhaps after a 1NT opening and transfer sequence South will have no trouble in preferring 4] to 3NT when looking at three-card heart support and a weak doubleton in a side-suit. It takes a trump lead to stop the overtrick. That puts the defence ahead in the race, while any other lead permits declarer to take a diamond ruff in the South hand for his eleventh trick. If North plays 3NT, the defence will not find it easy to take their four diamond tricks. Board 12. N/S Vul. Dealer West. [ ] A J 7 5 { } Q 8 4 [ [ K 10 2 ] ] K Q { 2 { Q J 8 } K J } 6 2 [ A Q J 6 ] { A K } A 10 5 It looks normal for East open 1] in third seat, South to double, and West to make a preemptive raise. If South doubles again, North has to bid 3NT to win the matchpoints as passing for penalties, the only other option, nets only 300. East leads the ]K and, if declarer wins, takes the spade finesse and plays three rounds of diamonds, a club switch holds him to nine. If he ducks trick one and East finds the club switch, he makes ten by using the ]A and }Q as entries to finesse twice in diamonds, successful but an improbable line of play. Board 13. Game All. Dealer North. [ Q ] Q { J 5 } Q J [ J [ K 7 ] A 6 ] { { A K 6 2 } 10 7 } A K 8 5 [ A ] K J 8 { Q } 9 2 Double dummy, E/W can make 4[, but that requires that declarer lead a low spade from the West hand to pick up the bare queen, rather than lead the jack to play for queen-doubleton onside, a far more likely holding. In reality, this should be everyone s spade partscore, with the vulnerability dissuading N/S from competing too far on a deal where they are outgunned and N/S have the boss suit. The normal result should be +140 to E/W. 4

5 Board 14. Love All. Dealer East. [ ] K J 8 7 { } A J [ K Q J [ A 6 5 ] Q ] { 3 { J 6 4 } K Q } [ ] A { A K Q } N/S can make 7], but nobody is likely to bid that and it is a lucky make anyway. Left with plenty of bidding space, N/S will surely find the heart fit and usually play game for But what if West overcalls 4[ over the 1{ opener, making the pressure bid because he has heard his partner pass and fears the opposition have a big red-suit fit? Anything could happen now. N/S may defend 4[ doubled for an inadequate 300, may lose the heart fit and play 5{, or may get to 5/6]. Board 15. N/S Vul. Dealer South. [ J 4 ] J { 9 } [ A 10 9 [ K Q 8 3 ] 10 ] K Q { A { Q } A Q J 9 5 } K 8 2 [ ] A { K J 6 4 } 6 The popular contract should be 3NT, perhaps reached via: 1} 1{ 3{ 3NT. East s lack of a single key card should prevent his going on a slam hunt despite finding a fit and extra values in partner s hand. There are 11 tricks, no more and no less, except if South leads a diamond, which I suppose is just about possible on a different auction. Anyone who does look for slam and has to stop off in 5{ will score very poorly. Board 16. E/W Vul. Dealer West. [ K Q J ] { 10 } Q 5 [ 8 7 [ A 6 ] K J 9 3 ] A Q 5 { K { A J 8 } 9 3 } A K [ ] 10 4 { Q } J After a spade lead, E/W can make either 6{ or 6NT if declarer gets the diamonds right, cashing the ace then running the jack. However, very few will play slam. Left to themselves, E/W will play 3NT after a 2NT or 2} opening by East. But they should not be left to themselves. Surely that spade suit is worth a 2[ opening, ignoring the four-card heart suit. The hearts are weak and the spades playable opposite a void, so to pass would show far too rigid an approach. Still, 3NT is the likely spot, but it becomes a little less clearcut. Board 17. Love All. Dealer North. [ A Q 6 3 ] { J } A 10 5 [ 5 4 [ J 10 2 ] K ] A J { 9 5 { Q 4 } } K J 2 [ K ] Q 10 4 { A K 10 } Q 9 6 This time N/S can make a slam, and 6[ is a pretty good contract, but few are likely to get there. The problem is that the South hand, with moderate spades, totally balanced, and with two queens facing likely shortage, just doesn t look like a slam-going hand. 12 tricks are easy and, after a heart lead, declarer could take a second heart ruff and make all 13 tricks for what i would expect to be a very good score. Board 18. N/S Vul. Dealer East. [ K 5 4 ] K 6 2 { 10 4 } A K [ Q J [ A 9 2 ] Q 10 ] { 9 { Q } Q J } 9 [ 7 3 ] A J 7 5 { A K J 3 2 } 7 3 With a combined 26-count and a stopper in every suit, it is normal for N/S to play 3NT. However, the bad breaks in both minors mean that declarer will have to drop the ]Q to succeed. 5

6 He may well do so, not so much because he sees the ten fall on the first round, as that could be a falsecard from many different holdings, but because he will often have reached a position where he wants to keep West out of the lead. Board 19. E/W Vul. Dealer South. [ Q ] K 10 { K } 10 2 [ A K [ ] J 4 ] { Q 4 3 { A J } K Q 9 } J 7 3 [ J 4 3 ] A Q 7 3 { 8 } A South opens 1} ans West overcalls 1[. Now North may try 1NT and play there, yet it is E/W who can make 1NT. A diamond lead quickly puts paid to 1NT by North. If North passes in the hope of defending 1[ doubled, South may pas sit out as he is minimum and not so short in spades, and it is N/S who can make 1[. This is a messy little partscore Board where many different contracts and results are possible. As usual on such deals, the key is to get a plus score. Board 20. Game All. Dealer West. [ A 10 8 ] { } Q [ K Q 4 3 [ 6 ] A K J ] { J 7 2 { A K } A K 10 } J 6 [ J ] Q 10 3 { Q 5 3 } 9 7 This could be a very unlucky deal for E/W, as the good bidders, who reach the excellent slam, either 6{ or, better, 6NT, will fail while the bad bidders stop in 3NT and score very well. West has a 2NT opening and East is well worth a slam try, precisely what depending on his methods. Slam is doomed by the unfortunate diamond position. In 3NT, a spade lead gets three tricks for the defence, but that is an unlikely choice and 11 tricks on a club or heart lead is a far more likely outcome. Board 21. N/S Vul. Dealer North. [ ] { } [ A K Q J 4 [ 8 5 ] K ] J 6 { A 7 { Q } 10 6 } A Q 2 [ 10 2 ] A Q 3 2 { K J } K J If South opens 1{ and West doubles, East has the options of responding 1NT, over which West bids 2[ and a final contract of 3NT is reached, or of passing for penalties, attracted by the vulnerability. 3NT should be made easily enough, but it is the pas that wins the Board. If N/S stick it out in 1{ doubled, they should concede 800. If they wriggle their way into 2} doubled, that should be three down, also 800, while the play in 1] doubled is too complex to discuss here, but certainly the contract is defeated. Board 22. E/W Vul. Dealer East. [ A ] J 9 3 { A 3 } J [ 10 9 [ Q 2 ] A ] K Q 10 6 { { K J 10 9 } A 4 } Q 8 6 [ K J ] 5 4 { Q 5 } K This is a competitive partscore deal on which E/W can make nine tricks in a red suit, with a winning diamond guess, but E/W have nine in spades. Whether east opens 1NT or one of a suit, South will trade on his non-vulnerable status to compete, perhaps showing spades and another if his methods permit it over 1NT. It is normal for North to compete up to the three level now, holding four-card spade support and some useful values, so the most common outcome may be +140 to N/S. 6

7 Board 23. Game All. Dealer South. [ K J 9 2 ] A J 10 6 { J 2 } K J 4 [ 8 3 [ 6 5 ] K 8 ] Q { K Q { A } A 8 2 } Q 6 5 [ A Q ] { 3 } West opens 1{ and North doubles. It is a stylistic thing how east deals with his hand now. Some will bid 1], others raise to either 2{ or 3{. South should be willing to compete with 2[ or 3[ as necessary over the diamond raises, while he may jump to 2[ over 1]. True, he has only 6 HCP, but 2[ would be considered quite normal holding 8/9 HCP and a four-card suit, and this hand looks just as good to my eyes. A spade contract makes nine tricks, while E/W also have nine tricks in diamonds. Board 24. Love All. Dealer West. [ K 10 8 ] Q J 6 2 { 2 } A Q [ [ A J ] K ] 4 3 { 9 3 { A K 10 7 } K J 5 2 } 10 4 [ Q 5 ] A 9 5 { Q J } 8 3 North will open 1} and East overcall 1[. Now style comes into South s decision. He is not really strong enough for 2{, yet if double would promise four hearts he will have to pass. West raises to 2[ and that comes back to South, who now chooses between double and 3{. N/S cannot make anything at the three level, but it is asking too much of North to pass a double, though 1[ can be held to seven tricks. If South doubles 1[, North may bid 3] whether or not his partner promised the suit, and fail by a trick, the sane fate as awaits South in 3{. Board 25. E/W Vul. Dealer North. [ A K J 10 2 ] J 10 3 { 6 3 } J 10 6 [ [ 5 4 ] K ] A Q { 10 { K Q } A Q 9 } K [ Q 7 6 ] 7 4 { A J } To defeat 4], N/S must play a third round of spades after cashing their diamond winner. That creates a trump trick for North as dummy has to ruff. It is easy for North to see this, but less so for South. If the {A is not cashed, declare can ruff the third spade, cash the ] A, cross to the }A to cash the ]K, then play four rounds of clubs to get rid of the diamond loser. All this may be more likely in 3] than 4], but anyone who finds the defence to save the overtrick will surely earn a rich reward in matchpoints. Board 26. Game All. Dealer East. [ ] 8 { A K Q } 10 4 [ 7 [ A ] K J ] A 7 5 { J 5 2 { } K 8 6 } A 3 [ K Q J 6 ] Q 6 2 { } Q J E/W s combined 20 HCP allows them to make either 3NT or 4] with a successful heart play, though few will reach either contract. If East opens 1NT and South shows spades and another, North might well bid the spade game, whatever West s contribution to the auction, and that is three down and a good score for E/W. With the high cards evenly split, and three distributional hands at the table, there will be many different auctions and contracts. As so often, a plus score should score OK. 7

8 Board 27. Love All. Dealer South. [ 6 2 ] K { A K } A 8 [ K Q 9 [ A 5 3 ] J 3 ] A Q { J { 5 } Q } 9 4 [ J ] { Q 9 2 } K J N/S can make 4{ or 3[ but, with the high cards fairly well divided and East having the one really long suit, it is more likely that East will be declarer in either 3] or 4], particularly after West may have shown his spade and diamond stoppers by bidding 1NT after 1{ 1] 1[ round the table, which would discourage N/S from competing too vigorously. 4] contract is slightly unlucky. True, it requires the heart finesse but, after North has opened the bidding, that is odds on to succeed, and it is only the four-zero split that beats the game. Board 28. N/S Vul. Dealer West. [ A ] A J 8 { A J } K Q 5 2 [ Q 8 [ K ] ] 7 3 { K { Q 6 } A 8 } J [ J ] K Q { } West may be able to open a weak 2{, over which North will double then bid no trump to show 19+ balanced. If West passes North will open 1{ and East may overcall 1[, South make a negative double, and North force to game. Or East may go quietly with his 6 HCP and N/S have an uninterrupted run to 4]. 11 tricks can be made on any defence but, as a trump lead makes a second spade ruff awkward, the eleventh trick may have to come from a black-suit squeeze against East. WBU Calendar March 2nd Camrose Weekend Mar 1 Mar 3 all-day Webber Cup Mar 1:00 pm Mar 11:00 am National Champion of Champions Mar 17 all-day April Senior Camrose Teltscher Trophy Apr 5 Apr 7 all-day Lady Milne Apr 12 Apr 14 all-day June WBU AGM Jun 10:30 am Jun 5:00 pm EBL Open Championships 2019 Jun 15 Jun 29 all-day Teams of Eight Jun 16 all-day August Welsh & Cambria Cups Aug 11:00 am Aug 5:00 pm September WBU Simultaneous Pairs 2-6 September Welsh Foursomes Sep 11:00 am Sep 5:00 pm October World Transnational Teams Sep 14 - Sep 28 Proposed New WBU Congress Oct 11:00 am Oct 5:00 pm The WBU Calendar can be found at : which has full details of the various venues for these events. 8