Make 'em pay

It's been accurately said that bridge is a game of mistakes. Alfred Sheinwold once stated, "Learn from the mistakes of others. You won't live long enough to make them all yourself." Other cynics say that bridge is a game of mistakes and the trick is to blame your partner, ha. Yes, everyone makes mistakes, even the best players. When your opponents err, you have to take advantage.

I Played online at OKbridge tonight with Kate. Usually we play IMPs, but this 12-board mini-tournament was matchpoints. I was North on board #10 (hands rotated) and held my usual rubber bridge hand:

                   ♠ 10 3
                   ♥ 7 6 5 3 2
                   ♦ 7 6 5 4
                   ♣ J 7
♠ A 9 8 7 6                      ♠ Q 4 2
♥ K                              ♥ Q 9 8
♦ K 3                            ♦ 10 9 8 2
♣ A K 10 5 4                     ♣ 6 3 2
                  ♠ K J 5
                  ♥ A J 10 4
                  ♦ A Q J
                  ♣ J 9 8

   West   North   East   South
          Pass    Pass    1♣
   1♠    Pass    Pass    1NT
   All Pass

1♣ was a Precision club showing 16 plus high-card points. North's second pass showed 0-5 HCP or a trap pass. Over 1NT, I could have transferred to hearts (and I usually do), but I passed this time. Both sides were vulnerable, so that may explain why West didn't compete further.

West led the ♣5 won by Kate with the 8. She played the ♥A and then the jack. East won the ♥Q and returned a club. As West cashed his club suit, Kate discarded a spade and a diamond from her hand and three low diamonds from dummy.

West could have played the ♠A and another, but he erred. He exited with the ♠7 which went to the queen and king. This was the position:

                   ♠ 10
                   ♥ 7 6 5
                   ♦ 7
                   ♣ --
♠ A 9 8                       ♠ 4 2
♥ --                          ♥ 9
♦ K 3                         ♦ 10 9
♣ --                          ♣ --
                  ♠ J
                  ♥ 10 4
                  ♦ A Q
                  ♣ --

South cashed the ♥10 and led the 4 to dummy. West discarded the ♠9 8.

At trick 11, declarer cashed dummy's ♥7, discarding the ♠J from her hand. West held ♠A ♦K 3 and was in trouble. If he discarded his ♠A, the 10 in dummy would be good, so he discarded his low diamond.

Reading the position, Kate led a diamond to her ace, dropping the king and made two for plus 120. This was good for a 90.82% board. You can look at all the results by clicking here.