Two Break-Throughs

Thursday afternoon my partner and I were defending against a 3NT contract.  My partner led a low club; the jack and two small clubs were on the board.  I ended up taking the trick with a 10, and I led another club back.  This time the declarer took it with the jack, but when I regained the lead I played another club.  My partner ended up winning several club tricks, and I had a suit to run as well.  Our opponents went down 4 vulnerable, giving us a top board.

The break-through:  For the first time, I was able to visualize my opponent's hand.  When declarer ducked that first club, I knew what to do.

That same afternoon, playing against a different pair, my partner opened 1 heart.  I had 18 points in my hand with 3 hearts (Qxx), 4 spades, 6 clubs, and a void in diamonds.  I pondered what to do.  I knew that 3H was not right, but that's what I ended up bidding because I knew my partner would not pass this (even though it is an invitational bid).  My partner did bid 4H, but what now?  I decided to show my very nice club suit, so I bid 5C.  My partner thought this was Gerber, so she bid 5H to show she had 1 ace.  I thought she was rebidding her heart suit, telling me that she had better than a minimum heart opening.  I wasn't positive we had a slam but I didn't want to miss it if we did, so I bid 6H.  We made 7 and got an excellent board.

The break-through:  Obviously not the crazy bidding, we lucked out there but did discuss it later and thought about what we should have done.  No, the break-through is related to memory.  It is three days later and I still remember my hand and the bidding!  Not that long ago I couldn't remember what I held 5 minutes after the hand was played.  

Progress is a good thing.

Comments Overheard at the Bridge Club this Week

"I need a beer if I'm going to eat those jalepenos."

"How many crocs do you own??"

"They're shouting at each other because neither one of them can hear."

"Mr. Dummy, lay down your cards."

"What is he doing over there playing with newcomers?"

"It wasn't me, it was C/Synthia."

"I don't care that you played out of turn, just please don't call the director."

"So you were the mystery woman in leather!"

"He kicked me under the table when I led an ace."

"I was wondering how far you would go."

And heard every week, at every game:  "There sure are some strange hands today."

Monday Night

My play was perfect.  I had no doubts, no confusion, no missteps--I made my 3NT contract and the way I did it was a thing of beauty.  I tried to keep a smile off my face, I tried to remain impassive and humble, but I could not resist a glance at my LHO, The Director.  Expecting to see a look of approval, I was instead met with a wry half-smile and a sad little shake of the head.   "What?" I asked, all semblance of modesty gone out the window.  "I thought I played that well."  "You did play that very well," came the reply. "It just would have played better in spades."  Sigh.

In another part of the room, my friends Jean and Melissa were having problems of their own.  Melissa looked at a hand full of clubs and few points, so she reached for the bidding box to play 3 clubs.  As she continued to study her hand, she heard her LHO ask Jean what her bid meant.  To her horror she heard her partner reply that it was a strong bid.  Melissa looked down and saw that she had mistakenly pulled out the 2 clubs card.  Jean, looking at 10+ points in her hand, happily bid towards slam while confusion reigned among their opponents, who had the remaining points in their hands.  They went down six.

Bridge--always an adventure!