One weird thing about being a Bridge Expert…
Playing with Roxie I pick up S: — H: AKJ9xx D: Jx C: KJ875
Roxie opens 1 Spade in second seat and I bid 2 Hearts (game forcing). Roxie bids 2 Spades and I have an easy 3 Hearts bid (forcing, since I’ve already created a force). Roxie bids 4 Hearts, and I decide to push a bit with 5 Clubs. When Roxie bids 5 Diamonds I bid the slam. 6 Hearts.
LHO cashes the diamond ace, so the first hurdle is met.
Dummy S: AT9xxx H: Qx D: K8x C: Ax
My hand (repeated) S: — H: AKJ9xx D: Jx C: KJ875
I see that I have been a bit frisky, but this is a decent slam. I note that my diamond jack means that even if the diamond ace was wrong I’d still have a shot if LHO led small from the queen.
After winning the diamond Ace LHO continues a small diamond which I win with the king.
The issue is how to play the clubs. If I play the club ace and finesse the club jack and it wins (and doesn’t get ruffed) then I can ruff a club (in case they are 2=4) and claim …. unless LHO has the stiff 8 or 7 of hearts. Then I’d need to ruff with the queen and finesse the 9 on the way back. (And of course that might go down if LHO started with T8 or three cards to the eight).
This line also looses to Qx offside.
I could also play ace of clubs, king of clubs and ruff a club. But then I’d need to ruff high (in case clubs are 4-2) and so I’d also need 3-2 hearts and 3-3 clubs. But anyone could have the queen.
Another option is to simply run trumps. This is inferior in that I can’t pick up Qxxx onside, but the opponents may be under some pressure. They should just pitch diamonds and spades, but they may worry I have stiff spade and keep too many spades.
I’m not sure which option is right. One thing that sways me is that cashing the diamond ace is often a sign of someone who thinks they may have a slow trick, perhaps Txxx of hearts or the club queen. So while running the hearts may be slightly inferior, I decide to try it.
I start running the hearts with the queen and then small. RHO pitches a small spade, so LHO did have Txxx of hearts. When I play the third round of hearts RHO pitches the club four. On the fourth round RHO pitches another spade. On the fifth round RHO pitches the club 9.
What madness is this? RHO isn’t an expert, but he’s not a novice and I think noticed the auction. I have precious little outside of hearts (I could have the diamond queen and maybe a stiff spade honor) so I must have the club king to go slamming opposite no encouragement.
Could RHO have 94 doubleton of clubs? Yes, but then I can’t make against proper defense, because I’m one club spot short. But from T94 pitches might also look relatively safe. But now I can lead the jack and if LHO covers with the queen I can win and the tell falling means my K87x are all winners. But the one thing I cant do is play my last trump, because in that case LHO would not cover and the suit would block. I need the last trump in case LHO ducks because then after I win the club jack and play a small club to the ace I’ll need it for an entry back to my hand.
I’m stewing a bit because if RHO has pitched from Q94 or QT94 I’ll look monumentally silly. But backing my judgement I lead the club jack and float it when it isn’t covered.
NOPE. RHO started with QT9x of clubs and had in fact given away the contract by pitching the first club. I’m now down two because my communication is shot. 1
Still, the weird thing about bridge is that an expert can go down in a contract that the newest player would close their eyes, take a deep breath, finesse and then open their eyes to discover they’ve made it.
- (In fact I go down three because I’m so annoyed I forget to not ruff the next diamond; so that I can unblock my club ace when ruffing the diamond after that, but that is neither here or there)
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