I’m playing the Brianza Bridge Tournament on BBO with a great player, Octilia.
In our last match, board 7 I held ♠A7642-♥4-♦AK72-♣AQ4.
North seated while I was lulling my beautiful cards Est bid 1♣ showing 17+ HCP.
I was a little bit disappointed but I could easily bid 1♠.
West joined the conversation with a double, showing 4-6 points, my pard passed (you could bet on that) and Est bid a conclusive 4♥.
It is my turn, can you please help me?
Which is your bid? Pass, Dbl or what else (Nespresso???)?
I preferred Dbl that remained the final contract.
Normal lead is A♦ and dummy showed these cards:
♠QJTx-♥97–♦Q964-♣962
While I was counting my tricks, 1♦, 1♠, and 2♣ = 1 off, your pd played the three, and …. the player ruffed and played immediately the ♠K.
Ohhh Nooo, my first thinking was wrong, and on the second card, I had to make the right decision.
To duck or not to duck, this is the question. It’s one of the most common bridge saying.
What helped me playing a small ♠ was that if my pard had three ♠ cards she would probably bid 4♠.
Do you agree?
Never mind, pard played 9♠.
Now Est continued with ♠5 that I won with the Ace while your pd showed ♠3.
And Now?
Which is the best play you can do?
I guessed EST hand could be 2♠-8♥-3♣ , and to justify the 1♣ opening , with ♣K also.
Dummy now held: ♠QJ-♥9x-♦Qxx-♣xxx
I’m giving you other 30 seconds to get the right decision.
Do you think the dummy is now unreachable? If so, you put on the table ♦K …… and the tragedy is finally completed! (I also played this way)
Why?
Est ruffed ♦, played ♥A and a small ♥ to 9.
My pard held ♥8 and ♥5 and she was not able to get the trick…
Result ?
14 MP lost by my team.
Was this contract beatable?
The answer is ….. Yes!
Why?
Angy held the ♣K but I was not able to get this important info.
Is there a clear solution?
Yes, make a call :), Just kidding !
After a whole thinking night, I found a possible solution. It’s not easy to get, do you figure it out?
if ♦3 it’s a mandatory card to give the count, the key point is on ♠ cards.
Does it make sense to give the count to your partner at trick two when he already choose to duck the ♠K?
Now when he won with Ace the second ♠ card, he had a clear message.
Which one?
You gave him a miss-count !!!
It should be a great allowed signal to play a different suite and in this case ♣
Was it easy?
I don’t think so, and I wouldn’t have had the solution at the table, but it is a very tricky way to inform pd to play another suite.
And you?
Did you find the solution?
