Houston, we don't have a problem

The District 10 final of the North American Pairs was played today as part of the Tunica Regional bridge tournament held at Sam's Town Casino.


I played with Richard and we won. This means we get a trip to Houston TX next March to play in the national final as part of the North American Bridge Championship.

There were seven tables in this two-session event. Many more than 14 pairs qualified, but most of them know they have no chance, so don't bother to come and play. In the first session, our game felt like 65%, but was only a little higher than 55%. In the second, it felt like 55% and was nearly 65% -- go figure.

Most of our good boards were ones in which the opponents lost their minds (isn't that usually the case?).

I enjoyed this deal. Your partner opens a 15-17 point 1NT and you hold (low cards are approximate):
♠A K 10 6 5 2 ♥7 4 ♦Q 9 ♣K Q 6.

Richard made a nice matchpoint bid: 3NT! He knew we had 29-31 high-card points and he figured we might make the same number of tricks in notrump as in spades. Right! My hand was:
♠Q 7 4 ♥A K 3 ♦K 4 2 ♣A 10 7 3. I won the opening heart lead, led one round of spades and was able to sneak a diamond through. When the club suit split 3-3, I made all the tricks via six spades, two hearts, one diamond and four clubs. Some bid 6♠, but we beat all the pairs who only played game.

How do you play 6♣ (hands rotated and low cards are approximate where unimportant)?

               ♠ 7 5
               ♥ 6 4
               ♦ A K 9 2
               ♣ K Q 9 6 2
==
               ♠ A K J 9 4
               ♥ A K J
               ♦ 7 6
               ♣ A J 7

You opened a Precision club and left-hand opponent overcalled 1♦ (CRASH), showing majors or minors. Partner doubled and RHO bid 1♥ (pass or correct). You jumped to 2♠ and partner bid 3♣. You cuebid 3♥ and partner gave you 3NT. You showed your support now and bid 4♣. Partner control bid 4♦ and you ended the auction with 6♣.

Guess what? Your big club opening made you declarer -- nicely done. LHO led the ♦3. You could see 11 sure tricks, so what would be the best way to get to 12?

You won the ♦A and led a trump to the ace. You continued with ♦7 from hand in case West had a singleton. If he ruffs, he ruffs air and you preserve your ♦K. West played the ♦Q and you won with the king, East following low. You led a third round of diamonds (10 from East) and ruffed with the ♣7, overruffed with the ♣10!

Here's the complete deal, and yes, I was West.

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

Holding the opponents to 920 was next to top for us. The field was bidding slam and the spades can be set up to take 12 tricks. I suppose because of the CRASH 1♦ bid, Declarer had good reason to believe they wouldn't split.

EDIT: You can see the standings of the top five pairs by going to the ACBL District 10 web site and navigating or you can go directly by clicking here.