BEWARE OF TEXANS BEARING GIFTS by Adam Wildavsky

 

Eddie Wold made a super discard against me , unfortunately for him I've heard how good he is.

 

                           S JT865

Dlr: W                     H 972

Vul: Both                  D AQ

                           C JT8

                 S 3                S Q974

                 H K85              H A3

                 D J986             D KT72

                 C KQ943            C 765

                           S AK2

                           H QJT64

                           D 543

                           C A2

 

           WEST        NORTH       EAST        SOUTH

                       Seixas      Wold       Wildavsky

           Pass        Pass        Pass         1H

           Pass        2H          All Pass

 

West led the CK, and I won and led the HQ. Wold won and played a club back. He'd given count in clubs so his partner knew there was no ruff coming, so West switched to a diamond. When I finessed, Wold won and played a trump to his partner who continued trumps --Eddie pitched a spade!

I played a spade to my ace and a diamond to dummy's ace. Then I pitched my last diamond on the CJ, Now I led the SJ and had to guess whether to finesse or play for the drop. The earlier spade discard meant that I now knew that the finesse would win only if West had decided not to lead a singleton holding K-x-x of trumps. a lead most players would make.

Nevertheless I decided to finesse. I knew that Eddie could easily have made a discard in either minor. The spade discard gave me a losing option.  Since it was offered to me freely, it couldn't be right to take it. Nice try, though!  (Plus 140 was worth 32 on a 38 top.)

 

MY FAVORITE PARTNER By Adam Wildavsky

 

Gerry Seixas and I have been playing together for 15 years.  Here's one reason why:

 

                           S 3

Dlr: S                     H AT7532

Vul: E-W                   D T9

                           C J965

                  S J74               S AKQT865

                  H K4                H 6

                  D Q653              D J842

                  C A872              C 4

                           S 92

                           H QJ98

                           D AK7

                           C KQT3

 

          WEST       NORTH       EAST      SOUTH

                     Seixas              Wildavsky

                                            1C

         Pass        1H          4S        Pass

         Pass        5C          Pass      5H

          5S         Pass        Pass      Dbl

       All Pass

 

I opened 1C because we were playing weak Notrumps. Perhaps I should have doubled 4S, but as things went I was glad I hadn't! I led the DK and switched to the HQ.  Declarer played low from dummy and Gerry, knowing from the auction that I

had four hearts, overtook with the ace and played back a diamond for his ruff. How considerate! (Plus 500 was worth

37 on a 38 top.)

 

THE PLAY'S THE THING by Adam Wildavsky

 

My teammate Steve Gladyszak showed his excellent table presence as South on this hand.

 

      Dlr: E              S AT

      Vul: N-S            H 7532

                          D AQ9853

                          C Q

                  S 5                  S 3

                  H AQJ96              H KT84

                  D 762                D KJT4

                  C 9876               C K43

                          S KQJ98762

                          H --

                          D --

                          C AJT52

 

             WEST     NORTH     EAST     SOUTH

                      Pass       6S       Pass

              7S     All Pass

 

Steve opened an undisciplined 6S and his partner, John Saxe, made the book bid of 7S holding the ace of trumps. Steve noticed a hesitation on his right over the 7S call. West led the HA and Steve ruffed, played the CA, ruffed a small club and cashed the DA, pitching a club. He took a ruff back to his hand and led the CJ. When East ducked smoothly Steve thought back to the bidding.  What would give a player cause to think over 7S. How about three kings! Steve ruffed the club and brought home the slam. At my table the bidding went differently.

 

          WEST     NORTH    EAST      SOUTH

                   Pass      2C        2H

           3D       4H       4S       Pass

          4NT     Pass       6S       Pass

          7S      All Pass

 

What's the correct response to Blackwood with two voids anyway? My partner, Bob Heitzman, led the HA. At our table declarer took the percentage play of the ruffing finesse in clubs and went down one.  I'd have led a trump with my partner's hand. Look what happens! Declarer would have no choice but to take the straight club finesse, playing for K-x or K-x-x onside. Nice lead, Bob!