Space Cadets versus Kansas City
back to
Home Planet
The Space Cadets played Kansas City in two installments on consecutive Thursdays. The first half saw Kaltica in very poor form. The second half saw his connection fail. Fortunately, Roaster filled in admirably in his absence. The boards were both exciting and instructional.
The comments that you see between the hands are intended for Kaltica's students. Please ignore them as you enjoy these records of the decisive hands in this match.

Kansas City
Space Cadets
JackS
Kaltica
Hag
Memory
Lurker
KSired
Najal
Maynard
Sailor
Roaster
kckids
TimG
Malcs
RBrough

Score
Kansas City
Space Cadets
1st Half
33
30
2nd Half
38
29
Total
71
59

Most Instructive Hands
1st Half - Board 11
1st Half - Board 12
2nd Half - Board 2
2nd Half - Board 5


Summary of Results - 1st Half
------- -- -------   --- ---- 

   Board    Kaltica's team          JackS's team               Score
   -----    ----------------------  ----------------------     -----
  TB.IMP  1 2D     (E)   2 =   -90, 2S     (E)   3 =  -140,   2 IMPS
  TN.IMP  2 3NT    (S)  -1 =  -100, 4H     (N)  -1 =  -100,   0 IMPS
  TN.IMP  3 4S     (W)  -4 =   400, 5C     (W)   5 =  -600,  14 IMPS
  TN.IMP  4 6D-X   (S)   6 =  1540, 5D     (S)   6 =   620,  14 IMPS
  TN.IMP  5 3NT    (S)   3 =   600, 3NT    (N)   3 =   600,   0 IMPS
  TN.IMP  6 2H     (N)  -1 =   -50, 2H     (N)   2 =   110,  -4 IMPS
  TN.IMP  7 3H-X   (S)  -4 = -1100, 4S     (E)   5 =  -650, -10 IMPS
  TN.IMP  8 3NT    (E)   5 =  -460, 4S     (E)  -1 =    50, -11 IMPS
  TN.IMP  9 4S     (S)  -1 =   -50, 4S     (S)  -1 =   -50,   0 IMPS
  TN.IMP 10 3NT    (W)   4 =  -630, 3NT    (W)   4 =  -630,   0 IMPS
  TN.IMP 11 2H     (N)  -1 =   -50, 2NT    (W)  -1 =    50,  -3 IMPS
  TN.IMP 12 3NT    (W)   3 =  -400, 3H-X   (N)  -1 =  -200,  -5 IMPS

   Total    Kaltica    30 IMPS,     jacks      33 IMPS

====================================================================

IMPs            north                     TB.IMP Board 1
Dlr: North      Kaltica
Vul: None       S A8                      west     north    east     south
                H Q942                    lurker   Kaltica  hag      ksired
                D 8643
                C Q93                              pass     1C       pass
    west                   east           1H       pass     1NT!     pass
    lurker                 hag            2C       pass     2D       (ppp)
    S QT96                 S K753
    H KT86                 H A5           Opening Lead: DK
    D QT92                 D AJ7          Result: +2
    C 2                    C T754         Score: -90,  IMPs:   2.00
                south                     Playing time: 10:56
                ksired
                S J42               1  2  3  4  5  6  7  8  9 10 11 12
                H J73            W  2  6  K-H8  Q  Q-ST  6  T  2 D9-DT
                D K5             N  3  2  4  9  A-D4  8 D6-HQ-C9  3  8
                C AKJ86          E  A-HA-H5 D7-S3  J  5  K S7  T  4
                                 S DK  3  7  J  2  5  J-S4 C8  J-CK

	What is interesting on this board is that NEITHER Responder
found the natural and "Maxi-Flex" 1D response to 1C.  E-W were
playing a very strange system, whereby 1NT did NOT deny a 4-card
Spade suit and 2C demanded a 2D rebid from Opener.  I might 
suggest some structural changes to any system that cannot find 
its 4-4 Spade fit here.  :)

            -------------------------------------------

IMPs            north                     TB.IMP Board 1
Dlr: North      jacks
Vul: None       S A8                      west     north    east     south
                H Q942                    MAYNARD  jacks    Memory   sailor
                D 8643
                C Q93                              pass     1C       pass
    west                   east           1H       pass     1S       pass
    MAYNARD                Memory         2S       (all pass)
    S QT96                 S K753
    H KT86                 H A5           Opening Lead: S4
    D QT92                 D AJ7          Result: +3
    C 2                    C T754         Score: -140,  IMPs:  -2.00
                south                     Playing time: 7:46
                sailor
                S J42                 1  2  3  4  5  6  7  8  9 10 11 12
                H J73              W  9  T-D2  Q-D9  Q-DT-H6  K-H8  2
                D K5               N  A-S8  8 D3  6  4 C3  2  4  9  9
                C AKJ86            E  3  5  J  7  A-D7 C4  A-H5 C5  7
                                   S S4  2  K-SJ  5 C6 C8  3  7  J-CA-CK

	A 1D reply to 1S is correct with 3 4-card suits.  Remember:  with
2 or 3 4-card suits bid the CHEAPEST first, facilitating Opener to
rebid in a higher suit if s/he has one.  Here, Memory's natural 1S
rebid located the 4-4 fit with ease.

=======================================================================

IMPs            north                     TN.IMP Board 3
Dlr: South      Kaltica
Vul: E-W        S AT64                    west     north    east     south
                H K3                      lurker   Kaltica  hag      ksired
                D J8732
                C T4                                                 2H
    west                   east           2NT      pass     3H       pass
    lurker                 hag            3S       pass     4S       (ppp)
    S Q8                   S K532
    H A742                 H 5            Opening Lead: D2
    D 54                   D KQT6         Result: -4
    C AKQ96                C J872         Score: 400,  IMPs:  14.00
                south                     Playing time: 7:01
                ksired
                S J97             1  2  3  4  5  6  7  8  9 10 11 12 13
                H QJT986       W  5  Q  4  A-S8  K-H2  A-H4 C6  7 C9 CQ
                D A9           N D2  A-D3  3  4  4  K  T S6-ST D7 D8 DJ
                C 53           E  K-S2  6  5  K-C7 S3-C2 C8  5 CJ DT DQ
                               S  9  7  A-HQ  9  5  6  3  8  J-HJ-HT-H9

	When the opponents have a long suit a holding such as Axxx is
NOT a good argument for playing in No Trump.  Opposite a likely
shortness in from partner the hand will often play much better in
a suit.  One should certainly not STRAIN to bid No Trump as West
did here with the 2NT overcall.  I much prefer Maynard's 5C overcall
at the other table--especially with TWO doubletons.  

            -------------------------------------------

IMPs            north                     TN.IMP Board 3
Dlr: South      jacks
Vul: E-W        S AT64                    west     north    east     south
                H K3                      MAYNARD  jacks    Memory   sailor
                D J8732
                C T4                                                 2H
    west                   east           3C       3H       4C       pass
    MAYNARD                Memory         5C       (all pass)
    S Q8                   S K532
    H A742                 H 5            Opening Lead: HK
    D 54                   D KQT6         Result: +5
    C AKQ96                C J872         Score: -600,  IMPs: -14.00
                south                     Playing time: 8:07
                sailor
                S J97                        1  2  3  4  5  6  7  8
                H QJT986                  W  A-D4  Q  5  2  8 C6-H4
                D A9                      N HK  2  A-D3  3  4  J CT
                C 53                      E  5  K-S2  T C2-SK-DQ CJ
                                          S  Q  9  7  A-HT  9 C5  6

	Here, natural bidding by E-W triumphs again.  Memory gladly
raised Maynard's Clubs, and might have bid 5C HERSELF if she had
held any Aces.

=====================================================================

IMPs            north                     TN.IMP Board 4
Dlr: West       Kaltica
Vul: Both       S KJ                      west     north    east     south
                H A5                      lurker   Kaltica  hag      ksired
                D J82
                C QJT986                  pass     1C       1S       2H
    west                   east           2S       pass     pass     3S
    lurker                 hag            4S       X        pass     6D
    S Q86543               S AT972        pass     pass     X        (ppp)
    H 92                   H 73
    D KQ                   D 97           Opening Lead: C4
    C 754                  C AK32         Result: +6
                south                     Score: 1540,  IMPs:  14.00
                ksired                    Playing time: 4:26
                S
                H KQJT864                    1  2  3  4
                D AT6543                  W C4  Q  K-S6
                C                         N  Q  2  8  K
                                          E  A  7  9  A
                                          S D4-DA-D3 D5

	Believe it or not, there is a conventional way to bid the
South hand IF IT HAD HELD ANOTHER DIAMOND HONOUR:  bid 2H over 
1S and then jump to 5D.  Since there are other forcing bids 
available to show Diamonds, and since 5D bypasses 4H, 5D MUST 
have a conventional meaning.  This tactic is called "Crash" 
(not to be confused with the CRASH convention over a 
forcing 1C).  5D asks partner to bid one level for every top 
honour in the two bid (i.e. red) suits.

	Kenny used no such science on this hand.  He merely
concluded that with the opponents showing so much stuff in
Spades I must have SOME red card(s) for my opening 1C bid,
and blasted to 6D.  He was a little lucky. :)

            -------------------------------------------

IMPs            north                     TN.IMP Board 4
Dlr: West       jacks
Vul: Both       S KJ                      west     north    east     south
                H A5                      MAYNARD  jacks    Memory   naja1
                D J82
                C QJT986                  pass     1C       1S       2H
    west                   east           4S       X        pass     5D
    MAYNARD                Memory         (all pass)
    S Q86543               S AT972
    H 92                   H 73           Opening Lead: S4
    D KQ                   D 97           Result: +6
    C 754                  C AK32         Score: 620,  IMPs: -14.00
                south                     Playing time: 5:24
                naja1
                S                            1  2
                H KQJT864                 W S4  Q
                D AT6543                  N  J  2
                C                         E  A  7
                                          S D3-DA

	South here had even less to go on that Kenny did, and judged
that 5D would be as good a gamble as any.  Unlucky guess. :(

===================================================================

IMPs            north                     TN.IMP Board 6
Dlr: East       jacks
Vul: E-W        S T8                      west     north    east     south
                H KJT65                   MAYNARD  jacks    Memory   naja1
                D 2
                C KQ532                                     1D       1S
    west                   east           pass     2H       (all pass)
    MAYNARD                Memory
    S Q7                   S KJ93         Opening Lead: CJ
    H 74                   H AQ93         Result: +2
    D J9                   D KQT6         Score: 110,  IMPs:   4.00
    C AT98764              C J            Playing time: 7:48
                south
                naja1
                S A6542                   1  2  3  4  5  6  7  8  9 10
                H 82                   W  A-SQ  9  J  9  7 H7  T H4
                D A87543               N  3  8  2 H5-CK  T HJ-C2 H6-C5
                C                      E CJ  3  6  T H9-SK-SJ HQ-S9 HA
                                       S D3  A-DA-D4 S2  4  5 D5  6

	Wierd!  At THIS table West DIDN'T bid Clubs and East led them.
At the OTHER table West DID bid Clubs and East DIDN'T lead them!  On
the Club lead, North simply ducked and promoted his C-KQ.  West could
still beat 2H with a H-4 switch, leaving Declarer with some losing
Clubs.  But the weakness of Dummy's Spade holding seduced him! :(
 
            -------------------------------------------

IMPs            north                     TN.IMP Board 6
Dlr: East       Kaltica
Vul: E-W        S T8                      west     north    east     south
                H KJT65                   lurker   Kaltica  hag      ksired
                D 2
                C KQ532                                     1D       1S
    west                   east           2C!      2H       (all pass)
    lurker                 hag
    S Q7                   S KJ93         Opening Lead: DQ
    H 74                   H AQ93         Result: -1
    D J9                   D KQT6         Score: -50,  IMPs:  -4.00
    C AT98764              C J            Playing time: 8:24
                south
                ksired
                S A6542           1  2  3  4  5  6  7  8  9 10 11 12 13
                H 82           W  9  7  J  4 SQ  T  4  7 C6 C9  A-C8 C7
                D A87543       N  2  T H5-C2 H6-C3  T-HK  8 HJ-CK  Q C5
                C              E DQ  J-D6  J  T H9-H3  A-SK  3 S9 HQ-DK
                               S  A-S2  7 H2-D3 D4  8 S4  A-S5 S6 D5  8
 
	Despite the more testing D-K lead, Kaltica could and should
have made this one.  He simply had to CASH the Spade Ace before
West could pitch that second Spade!  At trick 4, after ruffing a
Diamond, Kaltica should RUFF a small Club and CASH the S-A.  By
ruffing a Spade or a Diamond back to his hand Kaltica might push
the board by making eight tricks.

======================================================================

IMPs            north                     TN.IMP Board 7
Dlr: South      jacks
Vul: Both       S 2                       west     north    east     south
                H J3                      MAYNARD  jacks    Memory   naja1
                D QJT96
                C J9652                                              2H
    west                   east           pass     2NT!     pass     3H
    MAYNARD                Memory         pass     pass     3S       pass
    S JT73                 S AK954        4S       (all pass)
    H K765                 H 4
    D A32                  D K84          Opening Lead: C8
    C A3                   C KQT4         Result: +5
                south                     Score: -650,  IMPs:  10.00
                naja1                     Playing time: 5:25
                S Q86
                H AQT982             1  2  3  4  5  6  7  8  9 10 11
                D 75              W  3  3  A-S7  A-D2 D3 H5  6  T
                C 87              N  2  2  6 DQ  5  9  6  9  3 DT
                                  E  T-SA-D4  K-C4  K-CK-CQ-H4  4
                                  S C8  6  7  8  7  5 H2 H8  A-SQ-HQ

	This hand illustrates the difference in rules between OKBridge
and ACBL live bridge.  I *believe* that North's psychic 2NT would be 
illegal in current ACBL ruling.  Fortunately, OKBridge has no such
silly restrictions.  Memory did well to expose the psyche with her
3S bid, but might have done even better with a balancing double!  It
is *my* experience that it is usually better to show THREE suits
(i.e. Clubs, Diamonds AND Spades via a double) than ONE (as with 
3S).  But it is hard NOT to bid such a good Spade suit! :( 

            -------------------------------------------


IMPs            north                     TN.IMP Board 7
Dlr: South      Kaltica
Vul: Both       S 2                       west     north    east     south
                H J3                      lurker   Kaltica  hag      ksired
                D QJT96
                C J9652                                              2H
    west                   east           pass     3C       pass     3H
    lurker                 hag            pass     pass     X        (ppp)
    S JT73                 S AK954
    H K765                 H 4            Opening Lead: ST
    D A32                  D K84          Result: -4
    C A3                   C KQT4         Score: -1100,  IMPs: -10.00
                south                     Playing time: 6:23
                ksired
                S Q86             1  2  3  4  5  6  7  8  9 10 11 12 13
                H AQT982       W ST  5  3  A-CA-C3  7 D3  K-D2 SJ  6  7
                D 75           N  2  3 HJ-DQ  2  5 C6  9 D6  9  J DT DJ
                C 87           E  K-H4  5  4  4  T-SA-CK S4  K-CQ D8 S9
                               S  6  A-S8  7  7  8  Q HT-H8  5 H9-HQ-H2

	Hag found a very successful double here in spite of the fact 
that his LHO had bid his only non-Spade suit!  Odd.  I would have
expected a 3S bid from HAG and and double from MEMORY!  Lurker was
also fortunate in guessing to leave the takeout double in.

	The defence SHOULD have cashed ALL its non-Heart winners
before playing a 3rd Club for a possible trump promotion.  Failure
to do so allowed KSired to PREVENT a trump promotion by TOSSING HIS
DIAMOND LOSER ON THE C-K at trick 8.  When KSired did NOT throw
his Diamond loser West was permitted to use Diamonds to re-enter
East's hand for a SECOND Club and a SECOND trump promotion, making
his 7 a winner.  -800 would not have been as serious considering
the +650 at the other table (lose 4 IMPs instead of 10).  :(

======================================================================

IMPs            north                     TN.IMP Board 8
Dlr: West       jacks
Vul: None       S AJ3                     west     north    east     south
                H 98532                   MAYNARD  jacks    Memory   naja1
                D T8
                C T74                     1D       pass     1S       X
    west                   east           2S       3H       4S       (ppp)
    MAYNARD                Memory
    S K75                  S Q842         Opening Lead: HQ
    H K6                   H A4           Result: -1
    D AK9632               D J54          Score: 50,  IMPs:  11.00
    C J6                   C KQ92         Playing time: 6:21
                south
                naja1
                S T96          1  2  3  4  5  6  7  8  9 10 11 12 13
                H QJT7      W  6  J-DA-S5  6 S7-HK-SK  K-D9 D2 D3 D6
                D Q7        N  2  4  8  3  7  T  3  A-DT H5  9 SJ-H8
                C A853      E  A-C2  4  Q-CK  9  4  2  J  5 S4-CQ S8
                            S HQ  5  7  6  A-C3  7  9  Q ST-HJ  8  T

	North's imaginative 3H bid raised enough doubts about the 
Heart suit in E-W's mind to steer them out of the cold 3NT and
into the much more precarious 4S.  Neverthess, Memory should
have made 4S by playing a trump towards the King, DUCKING
a trump on the second round, and then winning the THIRD round
of trumps with the Queen before running the Diamonds (unblocking
the D-J under the D-AK).

            -------------------------------------------

IMPs            north                     TN.IMP Board 8
Dlr: West       Kaltica
Vul: None       S AJ3                     west     north    east     south
                H 98532                   lurker   Kaltica  hag      ksired
                D T8
                C T74                     1D       pass     1S       pass
    west                   east           2S       pass     3NT      (ppp)
    lurker                 hag
    S K75                  S Q842         Opening Lead: HQ
    H K6                   H A4           Result: +5
    D AK9632               D J54          Score: -460,  IMPs: -11.00
    C J6                   C KQ92         Playing time: 5:45
                south
                ksired
                S T96                        1  2  3  4  5  6  7  8
                H QJT7                    W  6  A-CJ-C6  K-D2 S5
                D Q7                      N  5  8  4  7  2  T  T
                C A853                    E  A-D4  2  Q  4  J-CK-C9
                                          S HQ  Q  3  A-HJ  7  5  8

	With silent opponents, E-W cruised to 3NT, making 5NT when
the Diamonds broke 2-2.  Well done, E-W !

===================================================================


IMPs            north                     TN.IMP Board 11
Dlr: South      jacks
Vul: None       S 2                       west     north    east     south
                H AK86                    MAYNARD  jacks    Memory   naja1
                D AQT75
                C 632                                                pass
    west                   east           1H       2D       2S       pass
    MAYNARD                Memory         2NT      (all pass)
    S A3                   S KT854
    H JT43                 H 92           Opening Lead: D5
    D K42                  D 863          Result: -1
    C A854                 C KQ7          Score: 50,  IMPs:   3.00
                south                     Playing time: 4:17
                naja1
                S QJ976                      1  2  3  4  5  6  7
                H Q75                     W  K-C4  5  A-C8-SA-S3
                D J9                      N D5  2  3  6 H6  2 H8
                C JT9                     E  3  K-CQ-C7 D6  4  K
                                          S  J  J  T  9 S6  7  9

	The free 2S bid in SAYC is FORCING for one round.  This, in
my opinion, is one of that largest flaws in standard practice.  A
NON-FORCING 2S call if FAR more descriptive of THIS hand and FAR
more useful in competitive auctions.  2S would go down here only
because of the 5-1 trump break.  On a more likely 4-2 Spade split
2S would make while 2NT always fails on trick short.

            -------------------------------------------

IMPs            north                     TN.IMP Board 11
Dlr: South      Kaltica
Vul: None       S 2                       west     north    east     south
                H AK86                    lurker   Kaltica  hag      ksired
                D AQT75
                C 632                                                pass
    west                   east           1C       1H       1S       2H
    lurker                 hag            (all pass)
    S A3                   S KT854
    H JT43                 H 92           Opening Lead: CQ
    D K42                  D 863          Result: -1
    C A854                 C KQ7          Score: -50,  IMPs:  -3.00
                south                     Playing time: 4:12
                ksired
                S QJ976          1  2  3  4  5  6  7  8  9 10 11 12 13
                H Q75         W  5  4  A-SA-S3  3  4  2  4  K  T HJ-C8
                D J9          N  2  3  6  2 H6-HA-H8  5  Q-DA-HK-DT D7
                C JT9         E CQ-CK-C7  4  5  2  9  3  6  8 S8 ST SK
                              S  9  T  J  6  7  5  Q-D9-DJ S9  7 SJ SQ

	Kaltica misplayed this hand at trick 11.  He had seen East 
show in to 3 Diamonds, 3 Clubs and 2 Hearts, and heard East bid
1S, showing 5 Spades.  Kaltica, therefore, should KNOW that WEST
had the two remaining trumps and the 13th Club!  Hence, Kaltica,
with D-107 and H-K left, should play a good Diamond, NOT the H-K.
West could RUFF this good Diamond, but would then have to choose
between giving Declarer a ruff-and-sluff with the 13th Club or
return a Heart and have Declarer claim the last two trick, making 2H.

	Remember:  COUNT your opponent's hands whenever possible!

==================================================================


IMPs            north                     TN.IMP Board 12
Dlr: West       jacks
Vul: N-S        S Q985                    west     north    east     south
                H AQ85                    MAYNARD  jacks    Memory   naja1
                D T87
                C Q6                      1D       pass     1S       pass
    west                   east           1NT      pass     2D       pass
    MAYNARD                Memory         pass     2H       3D       3H
    S T3                   S AK74         pass     pass     X        (ppp)
    H T74                  H 3
    D KQ96                 D AJ532        Opening Lead: SA
    C AKJT                 C 982          Result: -1
                south                     Score: -200,  IMPs:   5.00
                naja1                     Playing time: 6:05
                S J62
                H KJ962                      1  2  3  4  5  6  7  8  9 10
                D 4                       W  T  3 H4-CK-CA-CT  7  T  J D6
                C 7543                    N  5  Q  9  6  Q HA-H5  8 HQ-S8
                                          E SA-SK-S4  2  8  9  3 D5 D2  7
                                          S  2  6  J  3  4  5  K-HJ-C7 D4

	Memory did well to double 3H here.  She cashed the S-AK
and returned the S-4 for partner to ruff.  But when giving partner
a ruff, one should make a SUIT PREFERENCE signal.  The S-4 (the
LOWER of her Spade spots) asked for a CLUB return.  When Maynard
dutifully played three rounds of Clubs, Declarer ruffed the 3rd
round, drew trumps and claimed down one, toss Dummy's Diamond
on his good S-Q.  Instead of the S-4, Memory should have played
the S-7, asking for a return of the HIGHER of the two non-trump
suits (i.e. Diamonds) so that she could cash her D-Ace for down
TWO.  That would give the Space Cadets +500 versus the -400 at
the other table, winning 3 IMPs instead of losing 5.  :(

            -------------------------------------------

IMPs            north                     TN.IMP Board 12
Dlr: West       Kaltica
Vul: N-S        S Q985                    west     north    east     south
                H AQ85                    lurker   Kaltica  hag      ksired
                D T87
                C Q6                      1D       pass     1S       pass
    west                   east           1NT      pass     3NT      (ppp)
    lurker                 hag
    S T3                   S AK74         Opening Lead: H5
    H T74                  H 3            Result: +3
    D KQ96                 D AJ532        Score: -400,  IMPs:  -5.00
    C AKJT                 C 982          Playing time: 3:30
                south
                ksired
                S J62                        1  2  3  4  5
                H KJ962                   W  4  7  T CT
                D 4                       N H5  8-HA-HQ-S5
                C 7543                    E  3 C2 S4 S7
                                          S  K-H6  2  9

	Kaltica misdefended here.  Having lead the Heart 5 and knowing
that Declarer could have at most 3 Hearts, Kaltica has to play the
H-A at trick two, following by the H-Q and then the H-8 to UNBLOCK
the Heart suit for his partner.  But this would LOSE a Heart trick
if West had started with H-J1074.  So, how should Kaltica have 
known that Declarer did NOT have H-J1074?  He had TWO clues:  
partner's 4th Highest H-6 return (which, if we apply the Rule of
11, leaves Declarer only TWO cards higher than the H-6);  and the
fact that with H-J1074 Declarer would have SPLIT his H-J10 to
PREVENT the run of four Heart tricks in the first place! :(

	The Rule of Eleven is applied whenever anyone leads a
4th Best card.  Subtract the spot card (the 6 here) from 11
and that will tell you how many cards ABOVE that spot card
are NOT in the leader's hand.  With THREE such cards above
the 6 in his own hand, Kaltica should KNOW that Declarer
has only two--and one of them (the H-7) was played at
trick 2!  And, of course, had South started with H-K109x
(leaving Declarer H-J7xx) he would have returned the H-10
to force the H-Jack.  

Summary of Results - 2nd Half
------- -- -------   --- ----

   Board    rbrough's team          jacks's team               Score
   -----    ----------------------  ----------------------     -----
  TN.IMP  1 3NT    (N)   3 =   400, 4C     (N)   4 =   130,   7 IMPS
  TN.IMP  2 4H     (S)  -1 =  -100, 4S-X   (W)  -4 =   800, -14 IMPS
  TN.IMP  3 1NT    (E)   1 =   -90, 1NT    (E)  -1 =   100,  -5 IMPS
  TN.IMP  4 4H     (W)   4 =  -620, 4H     (E)   4 =  -620,   0 IMPS
  TN.IMP  5 4S     (E)   5 =  -450, 3NT    (E)  -1 =    50, -11 IMPS
  TN.IMP  6 5NT    (W)  -1 =   100, 4H     (W)   5 =  -650,  13 IMPS
  TN.IMP  7 3NT    (E)   4 =  -630, 3NT    (E)   4 =  -630,   0 IMPS
  TN.IMP  8 4S     (E)   6 =  -480, 4S     (E)   6 =  -480,   0 IMPS
  TN.IMP  9 4H     (S)  -1 =   -50, 2C     (N)   5 =   150,  -5 IMPS
  TN.IMP 10 1NT    (W)   3 =  -150, 1NT    (W)   1 =   -90,  -2 IMPS
  TN.IMP 11 4S     (S)   4 =   420, 4S     (S)   5 =   450,  -1 IMPS
  TN.IMP 12 4S     (N)   4 =   620, 3S     (N)   5 =   200,   9 IMPS

   1st Half    rbrough    30 IMPs,     jacks      33 IMPs	
   2nd Half    rbrough    29 IMPS,     jacks      38 IMPS
    Total:     rbrough    59 IMPs,     jacks      71 IMPs

=====================================================================

IMPs            north                     TN.IMP Board 1
Dlr: North      rbrough
Vul: None       S Q6                      west     north    east     south
                H A5                      Malcs    rbrough  kckids   TimG
                D AKJ4
                C AT973                            1C       X        3C!
    west                   east           pass     3NT      (all pass)
    Malcs                  kckids
    S J9742                S AKT5         Opening Lead: SA
    H 94                   H KQ7          Result: +3
    D T976                 D Q853         Score: 400,  IMPs:   7.00
    C Q2                   C J6           Playing time: 5:39
                south
                TimG
                S 83                1  2  3  4  5  6  7  8  9 10 11 12
                H JT8632         W  2  9  2  Q H9 S4 H4  6  7 S7  T-S9
                D 2              N  6  J-CT  A-C9-C7-C3-DA-DK-HA-D4  Q
                C K854           E SA-D5  6  J S5 D3 D8  Q ST  7 HQ  K
                                 S  3  2  K-C4  8  5 H2 H3 H6  8 S8

	The defence SHOULD take the first 5 Spade tricks here, but
could not convey the notion that, while Malcs did NOT have the
S-Queen, he DID have enough of them to guarantee her fall.  Malc's
S-2 was intended as encouraging (they play "UDCA"--Upside Down
Count & Attitude) here.  East must have thought it was count, 
showing FOUR according to their methods.  There is only ONE way 
to know for sure:  Malcs must bid over 3S the pre-emptive 3C!  
No, Malcs doesn't have many HCPs, but he has TWO doubletons 
and is NOT vulnerable.

            -------------------------------------------

IMPs            north                     TN.IMP Board 1
Dlr: North      jacks
Vul: None       S Q6                      west     north    east     south
                H A5                      MAYNARD  jacks    ksired   sailor
                D AKJ4
                C AT973                            1C       X        1H
    west                   east           1S       2D       2S       3C
    MAYNARD                ksired         pass     pass     3S       4C
    S J9742                S AKT5         (all pass)
    H 94                   H KQ7
    D T976                 D Q853         Opening Lead: SA
    C Q2                   C J6           Result: +4
                south                     Score: 130,  IMPs:  -7.00
                sailor                    Playing time: 11:03
                S 83
                H JT8632                     1  2  3  4  5  6
                D 2                       W  7  9  2  6  7  Q
                C K854                    N  6  Q  3  A-D4  A
                                          E SA-SK-CJ  3  5  6
                                          S  3  8  K-D2 C4-C5

	Here E-W would NOT have had any problem beating 3NT here.
North feared his doubleton Spade with good reason:  those two
quick losers, coupled with a Heart, would beat 5C.  Nice stop,
N-S!

	Many like to play that any lead of an Ace asks for
COUNT, while any lead of a King, Queen or Jack asks for
ATTITUDE.  This conventional understanding is called 
"KATARACT":  King ATitude, Ace Requests A CounT, in the
Ward vernacular.

=====================================================================


IMPs            north                     TN.IMP Board 2
Dlr: East       jacks
Vul: N-S        S J6                      west     north    east     south
                H AK                      MAYNARD  jacks    ksired   sailor
                D Q95
                C AKQ532                                    pass     1H
    west                   east           1S       2C       3S       pass
    MAYNARD                ksired         4S       X        (all pass)
    S K987                 S AT53
    H                      H QT753        Opening Lead: HK
    D T7632                D J8           Result: -4
    C T987                 C J4           Score: 800,  IMPs:  14.00
                south                     Playing time: 7:25
                sailor
                S Q42                        1  2  3  4  5  6  7  8  9 10
                H J98642                  W S7-D2  8  9  3 C7  T D6 S8-SK
                D AK4                     N HK  5  Q-CA-DQ  A-CK S6-C2  J
                C 6                       E  3  8  4  J  J  5 ST  7 HT  3
                                          S  4  K-C6 D4  A-H6 SQ-H9 S4  2

	The Law of Total Tricks states that in competitive or 
sacrificial situations, the partnership should bid ONE trick for 
each trump they hold between them.  West, then, should not even
consider 4S here, since he is already 1 Spade short of what East 
expects for West's 1S overcall.  That said, East, too, overbid with 
3S.  With such great defence against any Heart contract--and knowing 
that West might get excited with a likely shortness in Hearts--East
should bid no more than 2S over 2C.  But doesn't the Law of Total
Tricks dictate that KSired should bid 3S, expecting nine Spades?
Yes, but the Law does not allow for 5-card holdings in the enemy
suit.  Indeed, some might consider PASSING with the East hand, 
sensing that the opponents might be headed for trouble.

            -------------------------------------------

IMPs            north                     TN.IMP Board 2
Dlr: East       rbrough
Vul: N-S        S J6                      west     north    east     south
                H AK                      Malcs    rbrough  kckids   TimG
                D Q95
                C AKQ532                                    pass     pass
    west                   east           pass     1C       pass     1H
    Malcs                  kckids         pass     3C       pass     3D
    S K987                 S AT53         pass     4C       pass     4H
    H                      H QT753        (all pass)
    D T7632                D J8
    C T987                 C J4           Opening Lead: S8
                south                     Result: -1
                TimG                      Score: -100,  IMPs: -14.00
                S Q42                     Playing time: 9:01
                H J98642
                D AK4          1  2  3  4  5  6  7  8  9 10 11 12 13
                C 6         W S8  K-S7 S9  7  8  7  2  9  3 CT D6 DT
                            N  6  J D5  A-CA-C2  9  Q-C3 C5  K-CK CQ
                            E  A-S3  T  3  J  4  J  8 S5 H5-H7 HT  Q
                            S  2  4  Q-H2  6 H4-DA-D4 H6-DK  8 HJ-H9


	Again, N-S missed the perfect spot of 3NT here.  Their only
real chance to reach it would come if North were to bid 3S over
3D, hoping South can bid 3NT with a Spade stopper.  Since 3S
could NOT be natural (North would have bid Spades LAST turn) and
since North would presumeably bid 3NT himself if HE had a Spade
guard, 3S must, by process of elimination, ask South for a Spade
guard.  

	Remember:  when you have MINOR suit length, GUN FOR 3NT 
wherever possible.

=====================================================================

IMPs            north                     TN.IMP Board 3
Dlr: South      jacks
Vul: E-W        S 82                      west     north    east     south
                H AK982                   MAYNARD  jacks    ksired   sailor
                D Q95
                C K65                                                pass
    west                   east           1D       1H       1NT      (ppp)
    MAYNARD                ksired
    S AJ95                 S K73          Opening Lead: H7
    H Q64                  H JT53         Result: -1
    D KT62                 D 8            Score: 100,  IMPs:   5.00
    C Q2                   C A8743        Playing time: 9:25
                south
                sailor
                S QT64             1  2  3  4  5  6  7  8  9 10 11 12
                H 7             W  4  Q  2  K-HQ  6  2  J-H6 DT S5
                D AJ743         N  8  K-D5  9  K-DQ-C6  2  A-C5 H2
                C JT9           E  J-C4  8 C3  3 C7  A-S3  5  8 HT
                                S H7  9  A-D4 D3  7  T  4 S6  J-DJ-ST
	
	North made a BRILLIANT Diamond shift at trick 4 here, setting
up that suit for the setting trick.  To counter this, Declarer had
to CONTINUE Clubs or take a double finesse with the S-9 in order
to make his contract.  This being a very friendly hand, either
strategy would have worked.  Playing the H-Queen, looking for 
a SIXTH trick, was the bridge equivalent of "switching horses in
midstream."  :(

            -------------------------------------------

IMPs            north                     TN.IMP Board 3
Dlr: South      rbrough
Vul: E-W        S 82                      west     north    east     south
                H AK982                   Malcs    rbrough  kckids   TimG
                D Q95
                C K65                                                pass
    west                   east           1D       1H       1NT      (ppp)
    Malcs                  kckids
    S AJ95                 S K73          Opening Lead: H7
    H Q64                  H JT53         Result: +1
    D KT62                 D 8            Score: -90,  IMPs:  -5.00
    C Q2                   C A8743        Playing time: 9:39
                south
                TimG
                S QT64          1  2  3  4  5  6  7  8  9 10 11 12 13
                H 7          W  4  5  J-HQ  6 D2  A-S9  2  Q-D6  T DK
                D AJ743      N  9  2  8  K-HA-H8 C5 C6  K H2  9  5 DQ
                C JT9        E  T-SK-S3  3  5  J-S7 C3  A-C4  8 C7  8
                             S H7  4  6 D7 D3 D4  Q  T-CJ  9  J-DA-CT

	Here, understandably enough, North did NOT find the 
scintillating Diamond switch when in with the top Heart.  :(
 
===================================================================


IMPs            north                     TN.IMP Board 5
Dlr: North      jacks
Vul: N-S        S J93                     west     north    east     south
                H Q9842                   Kaltica  jacks    ksired   sailor
                D 92
                C QT8                              pass     2NT      pass
    west                   east           3NT      (all pass)
    Kaltica                ksired
    S 8765                 S AKT42        Opening Lead: C2
    H KT                   H AJ63         Result: -1
    D QT64                 D KJ           Score: 50,  IMPs:  11.00
    C J64                  C A3           Playing time: 10:13
                south
                sailor
                S Q            1  2  3  4  5  6  7  8  9 10 11 12 13
                H 75        W  J  4  5  K-S6  7  8-D4  6 D6 HT DT DQ
                D A8753     N  Q-CT  3  2  9  J D2  9  8 H4 H8  9 HQ
                C K9752     E  3  A-SA-H3  T-SK-S2  K H6 HJ DJ  A-S4
                            S C2  5  Q  5 D8 D5 D3  A-CK-C9-C7-H7 D7

	East, of course, should open this hand 1S, not 2NT.  With a
flat hand and half his strength in the doubleton Heart, West chose
3NT in preference to Stayman.  Still, he can MAKE 3NT here.

	Upon seeing the S-Q pop under the S-Ace, East must apply
the Rule of Restricted Choice, which dictates that singleton
honours are more likely than two honours doubleton.  Since the
C-2 showed FIVE Clubs, Kenny would go to dummy with the H-King,
finesse in Spades, play the S-King, re-enter dummy with the
S-8 and finesse the H-10 back to his hand for 9 tricks.

	"But why should Kenny play NORTH for the H-Q and not
finesse to the H-10 at trick 3?" you might wonder.  The
reason is that South's CLUB length suggests that NORTH has
the HEART length, and therefore is more likely to have the
missing H-Queen.

            -------------------------------------------

IMPs            north                     TN.IMP Board 5
Dlr: North      rbrough
Vul: N-S        S J93                     west     north    east     south
                H Q9842                   Malcs    rbrough  kckids   TimG
                D 92
                C QT8                              pass     1S       pass
    west                   east           3S       pass     4S       (ppp)
    Malcs                  kckids
    S 8765                 S AKT42        Opening Lead: C5
    H KT                   H AJ63         Result: +5
    D QT64                 D KJ           Score: -450,  IMPs: -11.00
    C J64                  C A3           Playing time: 6:19
                south
                TimG
                S Q                          1  2  3  4  5  6  7
                H 75                      W  4  5  K-S6  7  4
                D A8753                   N  T  3  2  9  J  2
                C K9752                   E  A-SA-H3  T-SK-DK
                                          S C5  Q  7 C2 D7  A-C7

	Here we see what happens when East opens a more natural 1S.
West raises (pre-emptively, here;  2S would be more likely at an
SAYC table) and East drives to the easy and safe game in 4S. 

====================================================================

IMPs            north                     TN.IMP Board 6
Dlr: East       rbrough
Vul: E-W        S J854                    west     north    east     south
                H J976                    Malcs    rbrough  kckids   TimG
                D 95
                C KT4                                       pass     pass
    west                   east           2C       pass     2D!      pass
    Malcs                  kckids         2NT      pass     3C       pass
    S AQT6                 S 97           3H       pass     3NT      pass
    H AKT5                 H Q842         4S       pass     4NT      pass
    D KT8                  D QJ2          5C       pass     5H       pass
    C AQ                   C 9532         5NT      (all pass)
                south
                TimG                      Opening Lead: D9
                S K32                     Result: -1
                H 3                       Score: 100,  IMPs:  13.00
                D A7643                   Playing time: 12:50
                C J876
                                    1  2  3  4  5  6  7  8  9 10 11
                                 W  K  8  6  A-SQ-ST-HA-H5  T  K-HT
                                 N D9  5  J-S4  5  8  6  9 C4  7  J
                                 E  2  J-S9  7 C2 C3  2  Q-DQ-H4
                                 S  A-D3  2  K  3 D4  3 D6  7 C6

	This auction was a comedy of errors after the 3H Staymanic
response.  First, Kckids MUST raise 3H to 4H...otherwise, why
bother using 3C Stayman in the first place?  Next, over 4S, 4NT
was OBVIOUSLY an attempt to top there.  One does NOT sign off
in 3NT and then make a slam try later.

            -------------------------------------------

IMPs            north                     TN.IMP Board 6

Dlr: East       jacks
Vul: E-W        S J854                    west     north    east     south
                H J976                    roaster  jacks    ksired   sailor
                D 95
                C KT4                                       pass     pass
    west                   east           2C       pass     2D       pass
    roaster                ksired         2NT      pass     3C       pass
    S AQT6                 S 97           3S       pass     3NT      pass
    H AKT5                 H Q842         4H       (all pass)
    D KT8                  D QJ2
    C AQ                   C 9532         Opening Lead: D9
                south                     Result: +5
                sailor                    Score: -650,  IMPs: -13.00
                S K32                     Playing time: 8:55
                H 3
                D A7643       1  2  3  4  5  6  7  8  9 10 11 12 13
                C J876     W  K-HK-H5  A-SQ-S6  A-ST  8  T  Q-HA-HT
                           N D9  6  7  4  5  8  4  J  5 H9-CT  J CK
                           E  2  2  Q-S9  7 H4-C2 H8-DQ  J  3 C5 C9
                           S  7  3 D6  K  2  3  8 D4  A-D3  6 C7 CJ

	Here we see a normal auction which should have been duplicated
at the other table for a flat board.

====================================================================

IMPs            north                     TN.IMP Board 9
Dlr: North      jacks
Vul: E-W        S A                       west     north    east     south
                H Q87                     roaster  jacks    ksired   sailor
                D QJ874
                C AK87                             1D       pass     1H
    west                   east           pass     2C       (all pass)
    roaster                ksired
    S KQ95                 S T742         Opening Lead: C6
    H 95                   H AK62         Result: +5
    D KT963                D 52           Score: 150,  IMPs:   5.00
    C 92                   C JT6          Playing time: 7:24
                south
                sailor
                S J863          1  2  3  4  5  6  7  8  9 10 11 12 13
                H JT43       W  9  9  3  Q  6  K  9  5  9  T  5  2  K
                D A          N  K-H8  4  A-D7 C8-D8 HQ C7-DJ  7  A-DQ
                C Q543       E C6  2  2  2  5  4 CT  7  T H6  K-CJ HA
                             S  3  T-DA-S3 C4-S6 CQ-SJ-S8 C5-H3 H4 HJ

	It is hard to construct a better hand for North here.  With
anything more, Jacks would have bid 3C, not 2C.  Even so, 5C will
not make IF BID, since West will score a Heart ruff.  Good pass,
Sailor!

            -------------------------------------------

IMPs            north                     TN.IMP Board 9
Dlr: North      rbrough
Vul: E-W        S A                       west     north    east     south
                H Q87                     Malcs    rbrough  kckids   TimG
                D QJ874
                C AK87                             1D       pass     1H
    west                   east           pass     2C       pass     3C
    Malcs                  kckids         pass     3H       pass     4H
    S KQ95                 S T742         (all pass)
    H 95                   H AK62
    D KT963                D 52           Opening Lead: H9
    C 92                   C JT6          Result: -1
                south                     Score: -50,  IMPs:  -5.00
                TimG                      Playing time: 9:02
                S J863
                H JT43           1  2  3  4  5  6  7  8  9 10 11 12 13
                D A           W H9  5  3  9  2  Q  K-SK  5  9  6 D9 DT
                C Q543        N  7  A-D4 H8-C7 HQ-DQ D7 D8  A-DJ-CK C8
                              E  K-S4  2  2  T  7  5  T  A-C6 CJ H2-H6
                              S  3  3  A-S6  Q-S8 SJ H4-HJ  3 C4  5  T

	TimG played this hand VERY WELL, but fell one trick short of
his goal.  The trump lead deprived him of the chance of scoring
six heart tricks on a cross-ruff to go along with his three Aces
and C-King.
		   		
======================================================================

IMPs            north                     TN.IMP Board 12
Dlr: West       rbrough
Vul: N-S        S J7                      west     north    east     south
                H AKT7                    Malcs    rbrough  kckids   TimG
                D AK62
                C 952                     pass     1NT      pass     2H
    west                   east           pass     2S       pass     4S
    Malcs                  kckids         (all pass)
    S 543                  S K6
    H 432                  H QJ85         Opening Lead: HQ
    D J875                 D Q93          Result: +4
    C AJ6                  C KQ74         Score: 620,  IMPs:   9.00
                south                     Playing time: 7:48
                TimG
                S AQT982                     1  2  3  4  5  6  7  8
                H 96                      W  4  4  3  5  6  J  A-CJ
                D T4                      N  A-S7-SJ D2  9  A-C2
                C T83                     E HQ  6  K C4  Q-D3  K
                                          S  6  2  A-SQ-C3  T  8

	TimG bid this hand aggressively, but consistent with IMP
strategy.  with 6 HCPs, good Spades spots (an important feature,
as it turned out) and a six-card Spade suit he vaulted to 4S
over completion of his 2H Jacoby transfer.  Luck was with him
and the S-K was onside.

            -------------------------------------------

IMPs            north                     TN.IMP Board 12
Dlr: West       jacks
Vul: N-S        S J7                      west     north    east     south
                H AKT7                    Kaltica  jacks    ksired   sailor
                D AK62
                C 952                     pass     1NT      X        3H
    west                   east           pass     3S       (all pass)
    Kaltica                ksired
    S 543                  S K6           Opening Lead: H5
    H 432                  H QJ85         Result: +5
    D J875                 D Q93          Score: 200,  IMPs:  -9.00
    C AJ6                  C KQ74         Playing time: 8:13
                south
                sailor
                S AQT982             1  2  3  4  5  6  7  8  9 10 11
                H 96              W  2  5  3  4 H3 C6  8  5  7  4 CJ
                D T4              N  7-S7  J C2 C9 C5  K-DA-D2  K-HA
                C T83             E H5  K  6 D9 C7 C4  3  Q CK  8  Q
                                  S  6  A-SQ-ST-S9-S8-D4  T S2-H9 C8

	KSired's takeout double of 1NT was "McGuinty", showing a 
2- or 3-suited hand.  Had South passed, Kaltica would start
bidding 3+card suits "up the line", allowing the partnership
to stop in 2C here.  3H was a transfer to 3S according to N-S's
methods.  North's 3S bid showed a minimum and so South duly
passed.  An unlucky hand for N-S in that 4S (bid at the other
table) happened to make. 





Back to Space Cadets' Home Page
Back to OKBridge Standings
To Colin Ward's Bridge Page
To Colin's Bridge Mentoring Page
Links to Other Bridge Pages
OneDown's Bridge School Home Page

If your computer has MIDI capacity, you have been listening to The Rolling Stones' "Paint It Black". If you have speakers on your computer but do not hear music, CLICK HERE to download the LIVEUPDATE Crescendo Plug-In for your favourite web browser.