Bridge player. IBPA member. CEO Hammond Software. Hammond Software developed ACBLscore+, now known as Bridgescore+.
Read more »You had taken today off. After your mid-afternoon beauty nap, you were headed to the local beach and while walking past the Reisinger room, saw a director accidentally drop a playing card on a snowflake's foot. Mortally wounded, the snowflake was headed off to the local emergency room. The director was looking desperate for a fill-in, so naturally you offered your services - it did take three requests but you know that the director was being polite - that and you were the only one around. You quickly agree on 2/1, 1430, UDCA - the usual stuff - and settle down to play. You may only be wearing your Speedos and nothing else, but it is behind screens so you can only offend one person every three boards. Good job you were not headed back to Polo Beach - that would have given them something to write about!
(For the purposes of scoring, I'm going to compare your result against the top nine placed teams, starting with Round 1 against the team that finished 9th, and working our way up to the top team for the final round - I decided this format before I knew the final places - you will be alternating between NS/EW. All NT ranges are 14+ to 17. For sake of trying to find a good decision point, I sometimes swap tables).
BAM is, in your opinion, the best format - you get to showcase all of your bridge skills - carding, card play and defense. Every call counts, every card counts. You would be glad if they offered the Reisinger format to the lesser mortals - those in the 0-10K range - so that you can explain to them the finer intracacies of bridge, but until they do, you must content yourself with the lesser experts.
You start against the Zhong team:
Board 1
2♥ is non-forcing.
Your call?
You choose to call 2♥. Let your partner know early that you are not afraid of your opponents. The opponents have a gadget where 3♣ shows diamonds. You are now on lead.
It is polite the first time you play with a new partner to lead his suit at trick 1, so you lead the ♠10.
Declarer wins with the ace, and plays two rounds of diamonds (click on the next button to follow play so far).
Your discard?
The spade situation is unclear to you. Partner may have the ace or king. You choose to discard the ♠3 so that the spade situation is clear to partner. He does not know if you started with a singleton or doubleton. Partner returns a spade won with declarer's ace. Partner must have 6 spades otherwise declarer would have ducked the spade. Declarer plays two rounds of hearts. You follow, dummy pitching diamonds. You can work out that the diamonds are not set up. You have seen 13 HCP from declarer. Only 2 HCP from partner. You know partner has 6 spades, 2 hearts, 3 diamonds, and therefore must have 2 clubs. It is possible that partner has 4 diamonds and is 6=2=4=1. Who has the ace of clubs, who has the king of clubs? They are split between partner and declarer.
Click on the Next button to follow the play.
You have won the trick with the queen of hearts.
Your lead?
Partner has pitched the two of spades. Therefore he does not have the ace of clubs. He must have the king of clubs. He would not pitch winners if he had the ace of clubs. The important question - who has the ten of clubs? If partner has it, you need to return a club. If partner does not have it, you need to return a heart. Or do you? If you return a heart, declarer will cash two hearts and partner, assuming he is 6-2-3-2 will have to pitch spades. Partner will be end played with the ace of diamonds, he can cash a spade but will have to give up the last two tricks leading away from Kx of clubs. Does it matter who has the ten of clubs?
Board 1
Score: If you played a club, score 1/2. If you returned a heart, score 0. At the other table, your opponent returned a club in the same situation. (In the actual play on this hand, the person who was in your seat returned a heart and lost the board as Gawrys set up the nice end play).
Full deal:
The first board was a mental workout. This is why you love BAM so much. You had to track every card, every bid and the deciding play was at trick 8.
Board 2
You reach 4♥. A trump is led.
What is your plan? Are you going to set up clubs, or spades, in what order, when do you pull trump, how are you going to handle transportation. Don't forget it's BAM.
Board 2
If you plan to try to set up spades first, you tie the board - they break 3-3. If you plan to set up clubs, you lose the board, the AJ are off-side
Score: 1/2 if you tried to set up spades first, 0 otherwise.
In the actual play of this board, EW started with a strong club. After East's 1♥ bid, South doubled with 3-2-4-4, 13 HCP. Declarer presumably thought South had 4 spades and went after clubs.
Full deal:
Board 3
Your call?
Board 3
3♠ is down 2. 5♣ makes. 4♦ makes. The other table played in 4♣ making 5.
Score: 1 if you pass or bid 5♣, 1/2 for bidding 4♣, 0 otherwise.
For this match, the auctions were similar up to the 4♣ bid. This hand was won on the bidding.
Full deal:
Board 4
Your team mate has been impressed so far. Your opponents less so. You should have brought a towel. The director has brought some paper towels for your modesty.
New opponents. You are now playing the Rajadhyaksha team.
Your call?
Board 4
Your team mates set 3NT by 3 tricks. +300. 3♥ is going down 2. 4♠ makes. You should win this board because of what happened at the other table.
Score: 1 if you pass or double or bid any number of spades, 1/2 if you bid 3NT.
It is possible to make 3NT as E/W - declarer held up three rounds of hearts and then finessed the queen of spades and the defense took their heart tricks.
Full deal:
Board 5
Your call?
Board 5
The limit is 8 tricks in spades and no trumps, but nine in diamonds. They bid and made 3♦ at the other table.
Score: 0 if you bid 3♠ or 3NT, 1/2 if you bid 3♦, 1 if you passed.
Full deal:
Board 6
If you duck, another diamond is played. If you play the queen, you lose to the king and another diamond is played.
Plan the rest of play, including how you play each suit.
Board 6
You are missing 18 HCP. Your RHO has AK of diamonds. There was no spade lead so your LHO probably does not have a singleton. There was no 2♠ overcall by RHO, so spades are likely 2-5.
The board is won/lost on the play of the club suit. If you play for your RHO to have 10x then you win the board; anything else you lose the board. Venkatrao Koneru found the correct play at the other table and took 12 tricks in hearts. Tough opponents.
Score: 1/2 if you played for the 10x of clubs with your RHO, 0 otherwise.
Full deal:
New oppoonents. You are now playing the Zimmermann team.
Board 7
Day dreaming about the beach.
Board 7
Oops. You were off day dreaming about the beach. But you scored a push in 3NT+1. Nothing to the bidding or the play. Only the true experts know when to take a nap during a board.
Score: 1/2.
Full deal:
Board 8
You have had chance to read the hospital bound player's card. You have a gadget available. Double by a passed hand shows 9-11 HCP balanced. Any suit is natural. Don't be persuaded by the text, you can also pass.
Your call?
Board 8
If you pass, they will play and make 1NT, -90 for you. If you bid 2♦, you will play there, down 1, -50. If you use your gadget, partner will bid 2♥ and be down 2, -100. It was 2♦ at the other table.
Score: 1/2 if you bid 2♦, 0 otherwise.
Full deal:
Board 9
Your call?
Board 9
5♣ is the top spot.
Score: 1/2 if you bid 5♣, 0 otherwise.
Tough opponents that round.
Full deal:
New opponents. You are now playing the Kasle team.
Board 10
2♥ is weak.
Your lead?
Board 10
If you lead a heart or diamond, you hold them to 10 tricks. If you lead a club (or the queen of spades), they make an overtrick.
Score: 1/2 if you lead a heart or diamond, 0 otherwise.
Full deal:
Board 11
Your call?
If you did not bid 1♠, skip to the next screen.
If you bid 1♠, the auction continues:
Your call?
Board 11
The other table went to 4♠ on a 4-3 fit with the KQJx of trumps off-side. Down 3. Your team mates brought back +150.
If you bid 1NT, you play there. You take 8 tricks. Win the board. If you bid 3NT, you play there. Same 8 tricks. Win the board. If you bid to 4♠ push.
Score: 1 if you bid 1NT, 2NT or 3NT. 1/2 if you bid spades and went to 4♠.
Full deal:
Board 12
Your bid?
Board 12
Doesn't matter. You get to 4♠. Same at the other table. Boring board. Time for a coffee or some other form of pick-me-up. Board 12 was boring.
Score: 1/2
Full deal:
New opponents. You are now playing the Lee team.
Board 13
Your call?
Board 13
If you passed, skip this page.
Your call?
Board 13
Your team mates defended 3♦ making bringing back -110. You need to score better than 110. If you passed you lost the board. If you doubled 1♠ you win the board. If you pass, partner will correct to 2♦ and you push the board.
Score: 0 if you originally passed, 1 if you doubled 1♠, 1/2 otherwise.
Full deal:
Board 14
This is a multiple choice board.
2♣ would show the majors.
Your call?
If you did not bid, take the East hand:
Your call?
Board 14
This was a multiple choice. If you bid 2♣ over 1NT to show the majors, you will end up playing 3♥ and win the board.
If you passed, then we put you at the other table for the decision. Over the double of 3♦ did you pass, or bid 3NT? 3♦ is going down 1 trick. You will get +100. If you bid 3NT, you are going down.
You know that you would never open 1NT without an ace, but it's not the place to tell your teammates that.
Score: 1, if you bid 2♣ to show the majors, you win the board. If you did not bid, take the other seat. If you passed the double of 3♦, you win the board. If you bid to 3NT, you lose the board.
Full deal:
Board 15
Your call?
Board 15
They stopped in 2♠ at the other table, making 3. If you bid 2NT, 9 tricks are theoretically available but not in practice.
Score: 1/2 if you passed, 0 otherwise.
Full deal:
New opponents. You are now playing the Fleisher team.
Board 16
Your 3♣ showed an intermediate raise.
Your call?
Board 16
The board is decided on your call. If you bid 4♦, they double you and you are down 1. If you pass, you lose the board. If you double, you win the board as 3♠ is going down 1. Partner has KJxx in spades and leaves the double in. Same auction at both tables until the third round.
Score: 1/2 if you double, 0 otherwise.
Full deal:
Board 17
Your call?
Board 17
If you bid 4♠ you will win the board. In the actual match, both Easts passed. Declarer takes 10 tricks in hearts. You are down 2 in spades.
Score: 1 if you bid 4♠, 1/2 if you passed, 0 if you doubled.
Full deal:
Board 18
Your lead?
Board 18
They led the A♠ at the other table (different auction). Declarer now takes 9 tricks. If you led a heart or a diamond, declarer only takes 8 tricks.
Score: 1 if you lead a heart or diamond; 1/2 otherwise.
Full deal:
New opponents. You are now playing the Rosenthal team.
Board 19
Your call?
Board 19
Your opponents passed it out. If you bid, you win the board.
Score: 1 if you bid, 1/2 otherwise.
Full deal:
Board 20
Yes, partner bid diamonds.
Your call?
Board 20
They played at 3♦ at the other table, making 4. No-one guesses the stiff king offside.
Score: 1/2 if you stopped in 4♦ or below, 0 if you bid 3NT or more than 4♦.
Full deal:
Board 21
Your call?
Board 21
Your opponents opened the hand and ended up in 1NT, making 3.
Score: 0 if you passed, 1/2 if you bid 1♠.
Full deal:
New opponents. You are now playing the Mittelman team.
Board 22
1NT is 14+ to 17.
Your call?
Board 22
If you open the bidding 1♣, there is a 2♥ overcall by your LHO, partner doubles, you bid 2NT and play there. Making 2. +120.
If you open the bidding 1NT, there is a 2♦ overcall (showing hearts) on your left. Partner doubles the final contract of 2♥, down 3. +500.
Those were the actions in the real match.
Score: 1 if you opened 1NT, 1/2 if you opened 1♣. (I had these the wrnog way round originally).
Full deal:
Board 23
Your play?
Board 23
You need to play a heart before declarer's heart loser goes away on the diamonds.
Score: 1/2 if you returned a heart, 0 otherwise.
Full deal:
Board 24
Your call?
Board 24
If you bid 4♠, you will make it and tie the board. If you don't, you will lose the board.
Score: 1/2 if you bid 4♠, 0 otherwise.
Full deal:
New opponents. You are now playing the Blass team. It's Barometer so you know how you are doing, and how everyone else is doing. The kibitizers have all come to your table for the final round. Clearly word of your muscular physique has spread. Either that, or one or both of you is in contention for winning the event.
Board 25
Your call?
Board 25
If you open the bidding with 1♠, they end up in 3NT. Your partner has 1 HCP so declarer will drop your stiff king of diamonds. You only take 2 tricks. If you pass, they will end up in 3NT, but go down 1.
Score: 0 if opened the bidding, 1/2 if you passed.
Full deal:
Board 26
Your lead?
Board 26
If you lead a spade, declarer has AKJ. If you lead a heart, partner has five of them and you set the contract. They played 5♦ making at the other table.
Score: 1 if you lead a heart, 0 otherwise.
Full deal:
Board 27
Your call?
Board 27
If you pass, partner takes ten tricks (misguesses the ♦Q). If you bid 3♠, he will bid 3NT and will likely make.
Score: 0 if you passed, 1/2 if you bid 3♠ or 3NT.
Full deal:
The most you can score is 19/27. There are some flat boards and boards that are lost at the other table.
The photographers are coming over.... one of you has won the event.
You have been sitting for 3+ hours. You always leave a tidy table, so you pick up the paper towels, and, lacking pockets, you stuff them in the only place you can think of. You stand up ready to leave, and that's when the photographer's flash goes off. You don't realize the impact that the paper towels had until you see the photograph in the morning. You might have to start going to another beach.
