Hands that make the difference by Casi Tazi

1. Pressure bid pays off


E/W Vul. Dealer South.


                  NORTH
                  S Q J 9
                  H 10 4
                  D Q 10 7 5 3 2
                  C K Q  
     WEST                    EAST
     S K 5 4 2               S 7 3
     H K Q J 8 5 3           H A 9 7 6 2
     D -                     D J 9 8 6 4
     C J 7 4                 C 8
                  SOUTH
                  S A 10 8 6
                  H -
                  D A K
                  C A 10 9 6 5 3 2
    
WEST       NORTH     EAST     SOUTH
                              1C
2H        Dbl (1)    4H       5S (2)
All Pass

1) Negative double
2) Pick a slam -- 6C or 6S

After the pressure bid of 4H there was hardly any room for N-S to make the right judgment in the bidding. 5S went four light after the lead of the HK. At the other table the N/S pair succeeded in reaching a beautiful club slam via this smooth
auction:

     WEST      NORTH        EAST     SOUTH
                                     1C
     1H        Dbl (1)      3H       4C
     4H        Dbl (2)      Pass     4S
     Pass      5C           Pass     6C
     All Pass

1) 8-11 HCP, denies four spades or a notrump type of hand
2) 10-11 HCP, no wasted points in hearts


2. A difference of 2970 points


Game All. Dealer East.
          NORTH
          S K Q J x x x x
          H  x
          D -
          C A K Q 10 x

          SOUTH
          S A x x
          H A K x x
          D x x x x
          C J x

At table one the N/S pair again had a smooth auction. This time they went for the grand:

     WEST         NORTH        EAST         SOUTH
                               Pass         1D
     Pass         1S           Pass         1NT
     Pass         2C (1)       Pass         2H (2)
     Pass         4C (3)       Pass         4H (4)
     Pass         4NT (5)      Pass         5H (6)
     Pass         7S           Dbl (7)      All Pass

1) Checkback
2) three spades, minimum
3) cue
4) cue, denies diamond control
5) Blackwood
6) two aces without the trump king
7) ???

After the diamond lead, the play was a piece of cake. At table two the Americans had a huge misunderstanding when the auction ended in 5D played in N-S -- five down!

 

A good reflex by Cadi Tazi


Lili Khalil of Egypt was dealt the following hand as West:


                    S Q6
                    H A982
                    D 753
                    C KJ106


and she was on lead after this bidding:


WEST      NORTH     EAST      SOUTH
                              1C
Pass      1D        Pass      1NT
Pass      3NT       All Pass

She led the H2 and dummy went down:


                    S KJ74
                    H QJ4
                    D KQ62
                    C Q5

Declarer won the trick with the queen and played the S4 to his ace, then came back with a spade to the queen and king. Next came the H4 to the king. After thinking for a while, Lili visualized declarer's hand, deducing that he must have the DA – otherwise he would have played a diamond earlier. The only hope to beat the contract ws for partner to have the CA, so she switched to the C4. As a rsult the defense took four hearts and the HA for one down. The full hand:

                    NORTH
                    S KJ74
                    H QJ4
                    D KQ62
          WEST      C Q5      EAST
          S Q6                S 1083
          H A982              H 1075
          D 753               D J1086
          C KJ106             C A32
                    SOUTH
                    S A952
                    H K63
                    D A9
                    C 9876

In the other room they played 4S making without any problem after the opening lead of the SQ.