During the Holy week games on Wednesday, April 8 and Thursday, April 9, 2015 both played at the Tweddell residence, Lynn Gavino and myself topped the Manila Pen and on Bataan Day our gracious host Cris Tweddell topped with our visitor from Texas, Charlie Lanni.
I will feature a deal which is very unusual. Imagine my partner was dealt all thirteen cards in spades starting from the Ace to the deuce.
Here is Board 17: North
♠
♥10875
♦98432
♣8654
West East
♠ ♠
♥ AKQJ ♥ 96432
♦ AKQJ ♦ 10765
♣ AKQJ10 ♣ 9732
South
♠ AKQJ1098765432
♥
♦
♣
My partner Lynn Gavino was sitting South and was the dealer. Gavino bid straightaway seven bid. West doubled the contract and was passed.
Results for the 5 tables that played were:
7NT redbl by W and made 2,280
7♠ dbl by ♠ and made 1770
7♠ by ♠ and made (at two tables) 1510
6♠ dbl by ♠ and made 1310
-oOo-
My previous column last Thursday was incomplete. I repeat the account of the final match Lavazza vs. Diamon. Board 27.
Sometimes a hand looks trivial, but suddenly a trill arises and unveils the harmony.
The Bocchi’s 6-4 two suiter major is more than enough to open in any position, not only in third, but it needs to be ready to undervalue it if the partner doesn’t give the suitable responses. After the 1♠ response by Madala, it becomes very enticing a jump to game or at least an inviting 3♠, but it wouldn’t be any harmonic. The matter is simple: to get game, North needs that South has at least good 9-10 points by heads; if South actually had such values, he shouldn’t pass, therefore needn’t neither jumps nor invites.
Madala’s 2NT response has a well outlined shape: he’s balanced and has at least a little hearth support, hardly less than Qx.
Hampson led ♣K; Greco took and switched to diamond, cashing ace and king, then played spade; Bocchi took and cleared trumps, then played hearts by heads, and not even he needed to trump the third hearth. Well sung. Norberto and Agustin.
West North East South
Hampson Bocchi Greco Madala
Pass
Pass 1♥ Pass 1♠
Pass 2♠ Pass 2NT
Pass 4♠ All Pass
North
♠ KQ73
♥AJ9864
♦J3
♣2
West East
♠65 ♠842
♥753 ♥Q10
♦10974 ♦AK862
♣KQ107 ♣AJ6
South
♠ AJ109
♥K2
♦Q5
♣98543
In the other room the auction was different. Diamond, in south, opened 1♦ (conventional), Platnick responded 1♥ and Zia entered the auction with 1NT, hindering opponents, who never found the spade fit and ended in 4♥. It was a worse contract because it now needs the trump finesse. Zia led diamonds and cashed even the club ace, then played spades. Platnick started hearths by knave; Zia must cover: because his 1NT he couldn’t longer hide his points, then, at least, hides his ten (Zia always does hide something to opponents). Now Platnick tried the finesse to ten, failing.
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