Jimmy Sez #4

I played in a Swiss Team match recently in Morgantown, and lost a match on the following hand played quite expertly by Judy Haffner.  I really liked the bidding on the hand even though it was the hand that lost the match for us.  Our partners had gone down in a 4 spade contract at the other table and this board cost us 14 IMPs.

                                                            S- A K Q 10 8

                                                            H- A Q 10 9

                                                            D- 3

                        S- 7 3                           C- K Q 2                     S- J 9 5 4

                        H- 7 6 5 3                                                        H- K J

                        D- K Q 9 7                                                      D- 10 8 6 5 2

                        C- 8 5 4                       S- 6 2                           C- A 3

                                                            H- 8 4 2

                                                            D- A J 4

                                                            C- J 10 9 7 6

Judy  - Harold                                                                        Our Team-mates

N         E          S          W                                                        N         E          S          W

2C       P          2D       P                                                          1S        P          1NT     P

2S        P          3C       P                                                          3H       P          3S        P

3H       P          3NT     P                                                          4S        P          P          P

P          P

The only hope against 3NT  is to find partner with the Jack of Diamonds.  When this didn’t occur and the diamond jack took the first trick Judy attacked clubs.  Since the club ace fell doubleton,  nothing could prevent  the hand from making  4 clubs, 2 diamonds, 3 spades and the Ace of Hearts.  At 4S a diamond was played  through the Ace- Jack. of Diamonds creating a guessing game.  Alas!  Partner tried a Heart finesse which lost. When a diamond was returned, a pump was started as North had to ruff.  When the Ace of  Clubs was lost a second ruff doomed the hand when the spades failed to break 3-3.

Thanks, Jimmy, for not mentioning any names! - :)bb