Paradise West

Over the weekend I had the pleasure of playing bridge with my friends, new and old, on Vancouver Island. Victoria is very beautiful this time of the year.

Is this a opening hand in your book?

On Saturday. Open Pairs-1st session. Board 19 E-W vulnerable. Dealer South.

As south you hold,

♠ Void ♥ 843 ♦ KQJ95 ♣ KJ1097

Debbie Wastle playing with Sharon Eddy thought so, opened this hand 1♦

  

North Sharon
♠	AKQ962
♥	AKJ6
♦	2
♣	A4
South Debbie
♠
♥	843
♦	KQJ95
♣	KJ1097

 

 

 

West	North	East	South
			1♦
Pass	1♠	Pass	2♣
Pass	4NT	Pass	5♣
Pass	6NT	Pass	Pass
Pass

 

Sharon was still counting her points when Debbie opened one diamond. Took the simple and direct route via Blackwood. Discovered the partnership was missing one ace, settled in six no-trump.

These were the hands.

 

Dealer: South Vul: E-W		North Sharon
		♠	AKQ962
		♥	AKJ6
		♦	2
		♣	A4
West				East
♠	J108743			♠	5
♥	Q2			♥	10975
♦	A8643			♦	107
♣				♣	Q86532
		South Debbie
		♠
		♥	843
		♦	KQJ95
		♣	KJ1097

 

The lead was the heart five. With the friendly placement of the cards, made six no trump +990. That was good for 22.5 match points out of 31.

There were a few interesting situations on this hand.

-At some tables after two passes North bid one spade. South had a problem as they play two way reverse Drury. In their system two club-three card spade raise, two diamond-four card spade raise. They were snookered and could not bid their hands naturally.

-Those Norths that insisted on a spade game or higher spade contract were disappointed to find themselves making only nine tricks!

-After South passed, some West got to open two spades-weak, that gave North a headache. They got no higher then three no trumps.

-At other tables, after two passes, North got to open two club strong. They were hard pressed to locate South’s values for slam.