Better Bridge in Barry County
By
Gerald Stein
|
|
North
♠ Q J 8
♥ 2
♦ Q 9 7 2
♣ A K J 4 3
|
|
|
West
♠ 9 6 5 2
♥ J 7 3
♦ 10 8 5 4 3
♣ 8
|
|
East
♠ K 10 7 4 3
♥ 9 8 4
♦ A K J 6
♣ 10
|
|
|
South
♠ A
♥ A K Q 10 6 5
♦ ---
♣ Q 9 7 6 5 2
|
|
|
Dealer:
Vulnerable:
Lead:
|
West
North/South
K♦
|
|
North
1♣
3NT
5♣
Pass
|
East
1♠
Pass
Pass
Pass
|
South
3♥
4♣
6♣
|
West
Pass
Pass
Pass
Pass
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
Captain M. North had just returned from the Wonder
Storage Company. He had been summoned to visit the boat storage company to see
about the condition of the Barry County Bridge Barge. Stored there last winter,
the Barry County Bridge Barge had taken local bridge players up and down the mighty
Thornapple River on bridge-and-nature cruises. Now it sounded like the future
of the Barry County Bridge Barge might be in jeopardy. The Wonder Storage
Company had recently phoned to say that the roof had collapsed during the heavy
winter snow storms and that Captain North should visit as soon as possible.
Captain North, having lived in Barry County long
enough, knew the wise thing was to always have a back-up plan in case of the
inevitable problems that life throws our way from time to time. This was one of
those times. Captain North knew that it would be too late in the spring to
order a new boat, so the Barry County Bridge Barge would have to undergo some
major repairs and some cosmetic ones as well. With damage to the console and
the punctured seats that surrounded the perimeter, Captain North knew he might
have to be on dry land for part of the bridge touring season. If so, that is
the way it would have to be. Captain North was quite philosophical about his
decision. “What will be, will be,” he thought.
Turning his attention elsewhere for some momentary
relief, Captain North scanned today’s hand and whistled softly. “Hmmmm…looks
like I am not the only one to make alternate plans. It looks like North and
South have some major decision-making to do with the cards they are holding.”
With West as the dealer and little there, North
opened the bidding with 1♣ promising at least three clubs and at least 12 high
card points. East with a shortage in clubs and 11 high card points and five
spades threw in a 1♠ overcall. South was in a quandary with a very
distributional hand. With excellent hearts and six of them, South jumped with a
free bid promising rebiddable hearts and at least 15 or more total points.
After West passed, North suggested 3NT informing
South that she had a stopper in spades. East passed, and South, not liking the
no trump idea with a singleton spade and a void in diamonds, knew that no trump
would be a certain disaster, almost as bad as having a roof fall in on your
boat. South bid 4♣ informing North that she had five or more clubs plus the
rebiddable hearts. North had not much more to say and moved to 5♣. South with
the powerful hearts had to make a decision at this point. Would the contract be
in clubs or in hearts and how high should the contract be?
This is what South knew: there was a definite fit in
the club suit. North did not seem interested in the heart suit. Six clubs
seemed like a reasonable bid, but what about a 7C bid with the void, the
singleton A♠, and the long hearts? Decisions, decisions, decisions. What was a
bridge player to do?
Like Captain North, South decided to take the best
course of action of what she knew for sure. With the clubs, there was a good
fit. The hearts were doubtful. Six is good and seven is risky. South opted for placing
the contract at 6♣, and all passed.
On the play of the hand, the K♦ was the lead from East. It was immediately trumped
by North in the South hand. With trumps drawn in one round, it was clear that
the long hearts would take care of any losers in the North hand. North was able
to claim all thirteen tricks.
The scoring on this hand for bidding and making six
clubs and one overtrick was 1390, a respectable score and one that nine tables
found for 61.5%. Those three South declarers who ventured onto a 6♥ contract were brave indeed, and they were justly
rewarded making the same thirteen tricks but making a score of 1460 and an
impressive 84.6%. The bravest of all were the three who went to 7♣ and took
home all of the winnings with a score of 2140 and a 96.2%.
Captain North nodded approvingly. “Six clubs was a
good decision for most of the players. It was reasonable, there was a good club
fit, and the strong hearts helped the losers go away.” He glanced outside at
the warming April weather. “Soon it will be May, and the bridge players will
want to be near the outdoors, water, and the greenery of Barry County countryside.
Perhaps there is a spot in Barry County that will help ease the pain until the
Barry County Bridge Barge is back on the Thornapple River. Hmmm…” he mused. “Perhaps
a club house at one of the beautiful Barry County golf courses might be a
perfect site…”
Gerald Stein
April 24, 2014
Number of words: 983
Bridge Notes: A class called “Eight Bridge Conventions
You Should Know and Use” will be offered through the Life Long Learning program
at Kellogg Community College during the four Wednesday evenings in May. Give
them a call for more details.
No comments:
Post a Comment