Jennbridge: STAC hands

If you're ever going to post a 70% game you want to do it during STAC week so you can win or score a high finish in the Western Conference for a lot of masterpoints.  Larry Hansen and I fell short yesterday, but in looking over the results, here are a couple of  hands that caught my eye.

Bd. 13:  Beat this Slam!

You hold this hand as West and hear this bidding:
♠10652
♥KQJ
♦ 10
♣A10942

LHO (North) opens 1♦ , East passes, South responds 1♥  and you decide to double to show the black suits.  North rebids 1NT and South jumps to 6NT!  Everyone passes and your partner leads a spade.


OR...did you make the call that would defeat the slam?


Did you seize the opportunity to DOUBLE for a heart lead (dummy's first bid suit)?

Board 13 North Deals Both Vul	♠ K Q J ♥ 7 2 ♦ K J 9 8 4 3 ♣ J 5
♠ 10 6 5 2 ♥ K Q J ♦ 10 ♣ A 10 9 4 2	N W E S	♠ 9 7 4 3 ♥ 9 4 3 ♦ 7 6 5 ♣ 8 6 3
	♠ A 8 ♥ A 10 8 6 5 ♦ A Q 2 ♣ K Q 7

As you can see, a heart lead sinks the slam.  If you didn't double, you should review the "Boehm on Bridge" articles in the April and May Bridge Bulletins and brush up on Lightner doubles!
****************


Bd. 25:  Take 12 tricks!


As North, I opened 1NT, partner transferred to spades (a welcome sight!) and, counting our losers, we stayed out of slam.  (North has 7 losers and South has 8 losers--7 with LTC "adjustments").

Board 25 North Deals E-W Vul	♠ K J 10 9 6 ♥ J 10 4 ♦ K 3 ♣ A K 9
♠ 4 3 ♥ 6 3 2 ♦ A 8 5 2 ♣ Q J 5 2	N W E S	♠ Q ♥ Q 9 7 5 ♦ J 10 7 6 4 ♣ 6 4 3
	♠ A 8 7 5 2 ♥ A K 8 ♦ Q 9 ♣ 10 8 7

I got a heart lead and went up with the ace, noting RHO's discouraging card and making a mental note to finesse for the queen later.  I drew trumps, ran the jack of hearts for a successful finesse and noted that there was really only one chance for an extra trick.  If West held both the queen and jack of clubs I could bring in the club suit for no losers.  So, I led a club to the 9 and it held!  If West splits her honors I simply return to the board for a second finesse.


Most pairs apparently failed to notice the chance in the club suit and only scored 11 tricks.  In a pair game it pays to be alert to find that great prize:  the extra trick!


See you at the table!