This was basically my first time at an NABC. I spent 4 days there, playing 48 boards the first day, 60 boards the next, 56 boards on day 3, and then just 24 on day 4, since we didn't qualify for day 2 of the NABC+ Swiss.
It doesn't sound like that much, but I was extremely drained by the 3rd day. I was reliving all the terrible plays and bids that I made from the first two days of the Red Ribbon pairs. I can still remember them now.
I want to say it was an enjoyable experience, but I don't think I would call it that. I was pretty stressed, eating at irregular hours thanks to play schedule, and staying up late looking at hands.
At least I'll be prepared for the 4 days of GNTC in New Orleans, if we make it that deep.
Saturday, March 27, 2010
BBO 3/27
An exercise in counting. I assumed East started with QJx of hearts, but of course he could have HJx and SJxx. Thankfully, there was a spade discard so everything became clear.
There may be a better line, but I just did what felt natural at the table.
Thursday, March 25, 2010
Reno NABC+ Swiss teams 3/19 day 1
We won 4, lost 4 in the NABC+ Open Swiss, but we were 9 or 10 vps away from qualifying.
I ran a spade/diamond squeeze on this board. This was worth 1 imp, which translated to 1 more vp, but most importantly, a beer :)
I ran a spade/diamond squeeze on this board. This was worth 1 imp, which translated to 1 more vp, but most importantly, a beer :)
Reno Red Ribbon Pairs 3/18 day 1 part 1
1.
The defense starts a diamond. It comes around to the K, and at this point, north decided to cash the HA, seeing the HJ out of east.
It looks like you need two club ruffs in hand to make the contract (or two spade ruffs, but I can see all the cards.) Anyway, the whole reason I wanted to post this hand was the neat technique in spades. To protect your natural spade winners, you can first cash a high one, and then lead a low one up to the K. If west ruffs, she ruffs air.
You don't have three entries to lead a spade up and ruff two clubs, but it looks like lefty is forced to give something up to you. Cash all your aces first (always looks cool), strip diamonds ending in dummy, lead a spade up to the K. Then, ruff a spade, west overruffs. Anything west does will yield a trick to you, and now you can reach dummy with the HK to ruff another club.
5.
Yes, I bid 1H.
22.
On correct defense, 3H is off 1 for the magic 200. We held them to making 4.
If I lead a trump like a normal person, we're almost forced into the correct defense. North wins the first round of diamonds, and the only shift that makes sense is a spade. The proper play in spades is to lead the T, surrounding dummy's 9. If declarer plays the J, we establish 2 spade tricks, 1 trump, 1 diamond, and 1 club. In fact, now I can receive a promotion, and we beat it 2.
If east rises with the SA, blocking the suit, and continues with a diamond ruff, then a club up, north rises with the CK, leads a spade. Now south exits with a club. This is the position:
With south returning a club, declarer can't draw trumps and play his clubs to discard his spade loser. Say declarer wins the club in hand and leads low to the HT. South wins the K, and exits another club. South will either get a club ruff, or declarer will be forced to lose a spade at the very end, giving the defense 1 club, 1 diamond, 1 spade, 1 heart, and either a spade or a heart.
Good double!
The defense starts a diamond. It comes around to the K, and at this point, north decided to cash the HA, seeing the HJ out of east.
It looks like you need two club ruffs in hand to make the contract (or two spade ruffs, but I can see all the cards.) Anyway, the whole reason I wanted to post this hand was the neat technique in spades. To protect your natural spade winners, you can first cash a high one, and then lead a low one up to the K. If west ruffs, she ruffs air.
You don't have three entries to lead a spade up and ruff two clubs, but it looks like lefty is forced to give something up to you. Cash all your aces first (always looks cool), strip diamonds ending in dummy, lead a spade up to the K. Then, ruff a spade, west overruffs. Anything west does will yield a trick to you, and now you can reach dummy with the HK to ruff another club.
5.
Yes, I bid 1H.
22.
On correct defense, 3H is off 1 for the magic 200. We held them to making 4.
If I lead a trump like a normal person, we're almost forced into the correct defense. North wins the first round of diamonds, and the only shift that makes sense is a spade. The proper play in spades is to lead the T, surrounding dummy's 9. If declarer plays the J, we establish 2 spade tricks, 1 trump, 1 diamond, and 1 club. In fact, now I can receive a promotion, and we beat it 2.
If east rises with the SA, blocking the suit, and continues with a diamond ruff, then a club up, north rises with the CK, leads a spade. Now south exits with a club. This is the position:
With south returning a club, declarer can't draw trumps and play his clubs to discard his spade loser. Say declarer wins the club in hand and leads low to the HT. South wins the K, and exits another club. South will either get a club ruff, or declarer will be forced to lose a spade at the very end, giving the defense 1 club, 1 diamond, 1 spade, 1 heart, and either a spade or a heart.
Good double!
Thursday, March 4, 2010
BBO 3/4
How do you declare 4S? The entire play is here, but just look at trick 1 if you really wanna think about it.
My line is pretty bleh. I don't know if I'd even call it a line. I've worked out what I believe to be the right play; too bad I was too lazy to figure it out at the table.
Wednesday, March 3, 2010
Stanford 3/2
Imagine you're at matchpoints and every trick matters. How do you play? My partner for GNT-C played this hand and took the maximum number of tricks. I am a lucky guy.
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