Canadian Senior Teams Winners

The Shoe pictured on his own, Marty and Arno below, with Boris tucked in behind.

Marty Kirr, Boris Baran, Arno Hobart, and Michael (The Shoe) Schoenborn triumphed over Ray Jotcham, Steve Mackay, Alan Lee, and Lew Richardson. In a dominating display, Baran overcame a 10 imp deficit at the half and gained 82 imps in the third quarter, resulting in a pragmatic withdrawal from Jotcham at that stage.

These guys sure don't look like my definition of seniors - they are a strong quartet in any event, and when they add back Joey and JC, watch out at the World's Championship in Brazil.

COPC Winners - Todd and Fisher

The COPC came to an exciting conclusion this evening with Western Canadian players dominating the final overalls. First place went to Douglas Fisher and Bob Todd, pictured above. Second to Michael Yuen and Maurice De La Salle, and third place went to Vince Lambert and Vince Nowlan.

Conspicuous by their absence is ANY of the pairs I was prognosticating victory for, and in our case, Keith and I had a decent game this evening to climb back from 22nd to 13th overall.

The top 8 places (these may be slightly off and are unofficial - subject to checking at the CBF website)

Todd - Fisher 553
Yuen - De La Salle 537
Lambert - Nowlan 523
Willis - Frucacz 522
Gartaganis - Gartaganis 521
Ballantyne - Litwin 518
Jones - Foster 511
Bowman - Bowman 510

Our score was 501 - basically just over a board out of the bronze medal.

Congratulations to the winners (gold medal AND $2000 cash), and to the other medallists.

Final results will be posted at the CBF website at :

http://www.cbf.ca/BWeek/09files/BWeek09_results.html

Any questions or comments can be sent to me at rosstaylor999@hotmail.com

CNTC Winners - L'Ecuyer

The gold medal winners are pictured on top, and the silver medalists, captained by John Carruthers, immediately below.

In the end, the L'Ecuyer team just kept grinding down their opponents. With 18 boards to play, the margin was down to only 15 imps, and the game was on. However, in the fourth quarter, the match was put away and the final margin of victory was just over 40imps. Congratulations to Nick L'Ecuyer, Kamel Fergani, Jurek Czyzowicz , Darren Wolpert, Dan Korbel, and David Grainger - who will represent Canada in the playoff with Mexico in July, and (we expect) in Brazil in the Fall Bermuda Bowl.

Congratulations to the winners and well done to the silver medallists - they put up a tremendous fight, and performed with distinction over the entire eight days of the event.

The full scores are available on the CBF website at http://www.cbf.ca/BWeek/09files/BWeek09_results.html

If anyone wishes to contact me directly, you can reach me at rosstaylor999@hotmail.com

COPC Final - 3 sessions done; 1 to go

Well, I am afraid we were pretty mediocre this afternoon. Three things differed from yesterday's qualifying sessions.

1) The opponents played much better (half the field had been weeded out)

2) We did not play so well - both of us have a couple of boards we'd like back

3) The hands at our table did not lend themselves to a big score - less swingy, more grinding type hands.

The net result is we dropped from 5th down to 22nd; and have little realistic chance of placing in the top 3. We would need a huge game tonight - like 65% or better**.

Still we will do the best we can, and see what transpires.

The unofficial standings at this time are as follows:

Frukacz - Willis 298
Bowman - Bowman 293
Gartaganis - Gartaganis 292
Jacob - Hicks 278
Jones - Foster 272

We are trailing somewhat with 237, top on a board is 17, so we are more than three boards out.

** (After the final session, I checked what we would have needed. We needed a 70% game to win, and a 65% game to come in second.)

Waldemar and Dave have led the event from start to finish. Can they hang on for one more session?

I will try to post some interesting hands later tonight. Right now, there's some bridge to play, and medals to be won.

If anyone wishes to contact me directly, you can reach me at rosstaylor999@hotmail.com

The results are being posted at the CBF website at http://www.cbf.ca/BWeek/09files/BWeek09_results.html

CNTC 2009 - The Final after 3/4

There are now only 36 boards left to play. Team Carruthers has done exactly what they had to do over the last 36 boards - stay in the game. Down 46 imps after 72 boards, they dead tied the next segment, and remained trailing by 46 imps after 90 boards.

During the next segment, they gained back 14 imps,and now trail by 32 imps with 36 boards to play.

It's a very close match, but the advantage still lies with L'Ecuyer. By late tonight we will have our winner. Stay tuned.

In the Seniors Teams, I have not personally seen the scoreboard, but I have been told that team Jotcham leads Team Baran by 10 imps, with half the match still to be completed this evening. This one is also very close, and either team could win.

COPC Final - my predictions

Let's start with a picture of Keith and me - just in case the results by the end of the day don't warrant an automatic pic of the two of us!

Also a picture of our tournament directors. Head director Henry Cukoff, and directors Doug Rankin and Brian Russell.

So who do I like in this event?

First, I like our own chances - if we can still stand fifth after last night's roller coaster, then we should be knocking at the door at the end of the event if only we can do more rocking and less reeling.

A pair that has impressed me with their consistent results this year is Bing Le and Richard Chan - seems they put up a tough fight every time I play them. They have had two consistent sesssions, and they made the quarter finals of the CNTC, so they are my first pick dark horse pair.

My other dark horse pair is Ivan Popivanov and Anton Blagov. They were on the dangerous Gamble team, that only just failed to make the CNTC playoffs by virtue of the tie breaker methodology.

No one would be surprised if Nick and Judy Gartaganis won this event - they consistently produce results on this stage and beyond that proves they know how to win.

Doug Baxter and David Lindop are another pair in form. David in particular seems to be more confident, almost serene, than I have seen in years, and Doug certainly deserves the spotlight after being a very solid player for many years.

For sure you cannot rule out Waldemar Frucacz and David T. Willis - they cruised through the qualifying in first place - and are capable of winning even on their "B game".

I mean no disrespect to any of the other fine players remaining in this event. The reality is that anyone can win - though with the carryover system in place, it would sure help to be in the top half of the field at the start. That fits the profile of Doug and Sandra Fraser, or Dave Colbert and John Duquette - who all know how to win the big ones.

Stay tuned. If anyone would like to contact me directly I can be reached at rosstaylor999@hotmail.com

2009 COPC - Pairs Madness

And now for something completely different !

Keith and I had a good time in the first two sessions of the COPC, qualifying 5th comfortably. This means we will have a reasonable carry-over into the final two sessions tomorrow.

The list of qualifiers and their carry-over into today's final can be found at the CBF website at the following link : http://www.cbf.ca/BWeek/09files/BWeek09_COPCd1.html

Leading the way are David T. Willis and Waldemar Frucacz. Lurking near the top are Judy and Nick Gartaganis; Bing Le and Richard Chan; David Lindop and Doug Baxter to name just a few pairs. Other names I am familiar with near the top include Peter Jones, Aidan Ballantyne, Zyg Marcinski and Bryan Maksymetz,former winner John Duquette and his partner Dave Colbert, the always dangerous Bowman brothers, Doug and Sandra Fraser, George Retek and Bryan Fraser, Laurence Betts, and the legendary Hash Mohamed from Calgary.

We scored well in the afternoon - in spite of some bad boards; and came in second overall with a 60% plus game. In the evening, we needed to refer to one of those handy doodie score calculators a few times - as we defended a doubled part score making; a doubled slam making; and 1NT redoubled making.

There were a few other bad ones in the mix, and a random selection of tops too - and when it all settled down, our second session was around 55% - I didn't check so I don't know for sure.

For sure we all know that matchpoints is a different beast - and you must take actions you would never consider in a team game - when they work - you can score spectactularly well on a hand - and similarly, when they backfire, you will have egg on your face.

A few entertaining examples. On the first exhibit, I made not one but two transcendental bids in the same auction - I held KJ1094 KJ983 4 54. I was in third seat, red versus white, with two passes to me.

Now I am the first person to open light at any form of scoring, but here I passed, perhaps oddly. I felt that I could easily get dragged too high too quickly on this hand by partner or the opponents; and that instead I could very comfortably show this hand (and cap it at less than an opening bid) by taking delayed action. So I passed in third chair.

LHO opened 1 diamond in fourth chair, and RHO responded 1 spade. Hmm, I said. Maybe I will stay quiet a bit longer - RHO just bid my best suit, and LHO is unlimited. So I passed, and LHO rebid 1NT. Keith passed, and RHO bid 2 diamonds. This is a development I liked.

Now I knew LHO was limited to 11-14 HCP, and that RHO preferred the safety of 2 of a minor over 1NT. So now I came in with a confident 2 heart bid. Well, confident might be a bit strong; after all, LHO could still have four hearts on this auction.

Now, LHO did not double, and he did not bid 2 spades, nor did he bid 2NT. He bid 3 clubs. Great, so he must have something like five diamonds and four clubs, and at most four cards in the majors.

RHO preferred back to 3 diamonds effortlessly. I smelled a nine card heart fit between Keith and I, and Keith rated to have scattered 9-10 HCP. So now I bid 3 hearts !!

This escaped the wrath of the opening bidder, but when it came around to my RHO he could not take this flagrant abuse of the bidding process by me, and he doubled, and all passed.

North (Keith)

73
Q642
K82
AJ102

South (Ross)

KJ1094
KJ983
4
54

The lead was the queen of diamonds which held the trick. LHO shifted to the king of clubs. A few minutes later I chalked up + whatever it is for 3H X making vulnerable and a bushel of matchpoints.

RHO had AQ65 75 A1096 876, and his partner had 82 A10 QJ753 KQ93.

I must admit it sure looks weird that I passed twice, then came in at the two level and the three level vulnerable opposite a passing partner and between two live opponents, and made my doubled contract.....only in a pairs game.

On a serious note for a second, we bid a making slam in the first session.

North (Ross)

K87
A104
Q9
AKQ84

South (Keith)

AJ65
KQ986
8
J92

Keith opened the bidding 1 heart, and I responded 2 clubs. Keith responded 2 spades (not showing extras) and I bid 3 hearts, which only now established we were in a game forcing auction.

Keith said 4 hearts; refusing to cue bid, as an attempt to limit his hand. I reasoned now that if he had a diamond control and good hearts, we should be playing in 6 hearts. Blackwood would not help me - as I would not know if diamonds are covered.

If I cue bid 5 clubs, it would help a bit, but there might be a hole in the trump suit. So I cue bid 4 spades to give Keith room to use Roman Key Card Blackwood if he had a diamond control.

That's exactly what he did with the same eleven count he had started with. He opened one heart; he bid 2 spades over 2 clubs, then signed off in game. But he truly understood the value of his hand on the auction I gave him - he found we were only missing one key card, and bid slam which made for almost all the matchpoints.

We try to put pressure on the opponents no matter what the scoring, and we hate to sell out too low.

I picked up Q9843 AQ84 K4 95, and no one was vulnerable. LHO opened a weak NT, and RHO said 2 diamonds, transfer to hearts. Fraught with danger, I jumped into the fray with 2 spades. This was passed around to my RHO who said double which meant "do something intelligent partner"

Her smart partner elected to pass holding Jxxx of spades and only Kx of hearts and I meanwhile bought a goldmine in dummy:

North (Keith)

K105
J5
106
QJ8763

South (Ross)

Q9843
AQ84
K4
95

It was hard (if not impossible) to beat 2 spades, so another +470 for your reckless heroes.

The very next hand against the same opponents, I picked up 8642 107 K10986 97
They were red, we were white; our favorite colours. Keith passed in first chair, and my RHO said 1 heart. LHO bid 2NT - which is a forcing to game Jacoby raise in hearts. It was Keith's turn to bid, so naturally 3 spades popped out onto the table. RHO said 4 hearts, and I knew I was facing only a five card suit in Keith's hand for his 3 level intervention. (With 6 spades he would have opened a weak 2, and please, don't even think Keith could have 7 spades and passed before)

Still, I had an automatic 4 spade bid. Can't sell out to 4 hearts; must put pressure on the opponents. Actually, they felt no pressure. The partner of the opening bidder had a full 17 count, and he made a forcing pass around to his partner who doubled us. Keith had an eight count opposite my 3 HCP, but there was no way to beat him more than down 2 (minus 300) into their own +650, and a near top was the end result for us.

North (Ross)

8642
107
K10986
97

South (Keith)

AK1073
J93
5
8642

Those three hands were from the afternoon. Another classic example of matchpoint bidding occured early in the evening session.

Keith held K97 J10874 J42 Q7.

His RHO said pass (they were red we were white - gotta love those colours, they are your friend) Keith passed, and his LHO opened 1 club. I passed, and Keith's RHO said 1 spade. LHO now said 1NT. I passed, and his RHO said 2 diamonds, natural, as a passed hand.

Keith now jumped into the breach with 2 hearts. LHO said double ,and all passed. LHO led a low spade, and turned green when I put down the mother of all dummies:

North (Ross)

AJ85
A95
93
AJ103

South (Keith)

K97
J10874
J42
Q7

Even though hearts were 4-1, it was a pretty easy make and another +470.

Lest you think our aggressive style is without risk, here are a couple of examples which went the other way.

I held 82 AQ75 A8765 Q3. Keith opened 1NT (11+ - 14) equal white. My RHO said 2 spades, natural. I could force to game, by bidding 3 spades, but that feels way too much - our main objective here is to go plus - and bid game only if it is a near "no brainer".

But I have a tool for such occasions - I said double, negative, or if you like, a takeout double of spades. However, after my takeout double, everyone passed ! That looked pretty promising - it looks from my side we can collect 300 or 500 here against maybe only a partscore.

Little did I know this was actually an opening lead problem ! The only lead to beat 2spades doubled is a low heart from AQ75. I didn't find it, and I doubt you would either. The heart lead gets the tap going.

Instead I led the queen of clubs; and saw an ominous 10 fall from Keith's hand as a rather pained dummy tabled her hand, and declarer won the Ace a little too confidently for my liking:

Dummy (thinking she is going for her life!)

5
10864
KJ94
J952

Declarer (life is good)

AQJ943
92
Void
A8764

The club lead caused him no pain, and -470 was the result, and very few, if any, matchpoints for us.

A bit later, I got well and truly trapped in the bidding by my own aggressiveness. I held J2 A1042 Q872 K95. We were red versus white (remember people, this is a time to tread cautiously, especially against good players who know how to pull the trigger)

David Lindop on my right opened 1 spade in third chair. I passed, and Doug Baxter on my left bid 1NT - semi forcing. Keith and David both passed, as should I of course. In five days of imps play it would never occur to me to bid here now.

And frankly it should not have occured to me to bid here at matchpoints. But sometimes it's hard to turn off the faucet, and you get caught up in the moment. So I made a balancing double.

Not only is any action fraught with risk, but this particular action often suggests a trap or semi trap pass of 1 spade. I trusted Keith would look at his own spade holding and figure out I was just being hungry.

Doug didn't care how much I wanted to eat; he said RDBLE ! I knew this was not good -looked like we were going for the big swim.

Keith passed, David passed, and now my turn. Can someone else play this hand please?

It looked like I was headed for a zero no matter what I did now. They would have their doubling shoes on, and -200 to -800 was inevitable.

So like a deer frozen in the headlights of an oncoming car, I passed and prayed for a miraculous layout; great spades with interior spots with Keith, and every single card lying badly for declarer.

Well this was not so, Doug chalked up 1NT redoubled with an overtrick - for a gazillion points and no matchpoints for us.

Had I run out "confidently" to 2 diamonds, that was our only chance. I might have got by Doug, who held 87 QJ863 J6 AJ87. If he now bids 2 hearts, I am home free. If he passes though, surely David will reopen double with his full opener of KQ963 K7 K43 Q106, and down I will go for -200. Still that beats -10,000 or whatever it was.

Ah well, live by the sword, die by the sword. Onwards to another day....

If anyone would like to contact me directly I can be reached at rosstaylor999@hotmail.com

CNTC Final - half way point

After two 16 board segments, Carruthers had built up a 24 imp lead over L'Ecuyer. One more segment later, and L'Ecuyer had reoovered 17 imps back to trail by only 7 imps. The final segment of the day (completing 64 boards - with 64 more to play) saw L'Ecuyer turn on the after burners with a huge set, and have now converted the deficit into a 46 imp lead.

The important thing for Carruthers' team now is to chip away at the deficit - it's way too early to swing. What they don't want is 46 imps to be become 70 or 80 imps against a team in form, and with boards running out.

Just as L'Ecuyer turned the tables today, the same thing could happen in the other direction in tomorrow's final four sessions.

Time will tell, but clearly it is advantage L'Ecuyer at this point.

In the Senior Teams, the veteran squad of Boris Baran, Shoe, Marty Kirr, and Arno Hobart will play Ray Jotcham, Steve Mackay, Lew Richardson, and Alan Lee in tomorrow's final.

By virtue of being over the minimum age requirement AND also being fine top players in the Open category, Joey Silver and John Carruthers are also on the Baran team. It's quite possible they could win this event without playing a single card in it - as of course they are playing concurrently in the CNTC final.

If anyone would like to contact me directly I can be reached at rosstaylor999@hotmail.com

Penticton CNTC Final preview June 12 2009

128 boards to decide Canada's team champion. Who will win? This is a tough call - both teams are laden with experience and talent, and are not afraid of winning. On the one hand, Team Carruthers has more experience, and seem to know their agreements well, and are quite comfortable in a long grinding match.

Joey and JC have both won this event multiple times, and have shined on the International stage for many years. Nader and Jim Green are a tough pair who always bring their A game to the CNTC, and Roy Hughes and David Turner are also gifted players. David in particular thrives on adversity and complexity, and the tougher the hand, the brighter he shines.

Team L'Ecuyer though has Kamel and Nick - who always seem to be around at the end - and Nick of course won a Nationally rated pairs game this year at the Spring Nationals in essentially a new partnership; Darren and Jurek, past winners with a great pedigree and two better guys you could not ask for as teammates, and the "kids" Daniel Korbel and David Grainger.

I may be wrong, but I think only David and Daniel have not yet won this event of all twelve players in the final. They may be the hungriest pair at the table today, and are playing with great confidence.

I know all the players well, some for more than thirty years - so it is risky to go out on a limb and pre-select a winner.

For all the skill and experience that everyone brings to the match, intangibles come into play during a long match. First there is momentum. Can a pair get on a roll and feel invincible ? - that can wear the opponents down over a long match.

Does another pair suffer a couple of adverse results at a key point in the match, and in spite of their better judgment, this gets in their heads and stops them performing up to their true capabilities. Will the hands favor a certain type of bidding style - eg pinpoint part score bidding in a grind-out type match, or scientific slam bidding in a potentially high scoring match?

They all know how to take their tricks both on play and defense.

Having said all that, I pick L'Ecuyer to win, but I would not be surprised if I am wrong - this is a tough call.

Korbel is on a personal mission to add this event to an already impressive resume, and losing is simply not an option at this time for he and Grainger.

Unless they get irritated by the much slower pace of play than they are used to, they should be fine.

Having said that, whichever teams wins, Canada will be well represented first in Mexico in July, and then in Brazil in the Bermuda Bowl in early Fall. Sit back and enjoy the match on BBO folks - you will see Canadian bridge is very much alive and well.

If anyone would like to contact me directly I can be reached at rosstaylor999@hotmail.com

CNTC final - Carruthers vs L'Ecuyer starts Friday, ends Saturday

The semi finals have just finshed. Carruthers were down by nine imps to Rayner at the half, then pulled up to plus 40 imps with one quarter to play. Rayner's team mounted a spirited comeback and got back all but 6 imps - losing by such a small margin. Carruthers were actually down by 5 imps with two boards to play, but won 11 imps on the penultimate board to seal the win.

In the other semi final, L'Ecuyer beat Marcinski by 31 imps, in a match they never trailed in - but at the same time, a match they could never really pull away from their opponents. These two heavyweights played pretty much even up over the final three quarters - in fact, Marcinski was ahead over the final three quarters by 23 imps - but the first quarter made all the difference in the match, when L'Ecuyer outscored the other team by 53 imps.

The final will be a very long 128 boards over the next two days.

The Women's final was won by Nisbet team's over Demme, and the CNTC B was won by Shatilla over Pan.

Tomorrow Keith and I enter the COPC - a two day pairs event with some pretty good competition - most of the CNTC players except those involved in the finals will be entered.

As always, results can be seen on the CBF website at:

http://www.cbf.ca/BWeek/09files/BWeek09_results.html

Goodnight

Buzzer Beater revisited - CNTC 1/4 final last hand

I fell asleep with thoughts of 3NT down 1 in my head and as I went for a long walk this morning, the hand still ate me up. Had I just quietly passed Keith's 3 club bid, we would have played there making, and not given the hand much thought, and lost the match by six imps, and everyone else on the team (and me of course) would be looking to something they did that could have won the match.

But last hand goat has special status - lol.

I also realize I should give credit to Ken Scholes for his excellent shift to the diamond queen from AQ107 at trick 2.

North

J43
A76
J9
Q10432

AK2
9843
K54
AJ8

To review, I had ducked the H queen lead to East who won the stiff king and shifted to the diamond queen. Ken held 98765 K AQ107 K65.

In talking to other people, a surprising number of Easts in the same situation simply returned the nine of spades at trick 2.

Had that happened at my table, there is an excellent chance I would have made the hand.

And almost everyone else was in 2NT, not 3NT - I have not found another pair in 3NT in fact.

what happens is you play safe for 8 tricks in 2NT, and the ninth trick falls into your lap.

I guess I don't have much more to say about the hand now. If I were a true reporter, I would probably kibitz the semi finals and rush to the PC at the breaks to breathtakngly give you all a blow by blow of the matches.

But I always intended this to be a personal diary, not a true CNTC report, so personally I must say I need a day away from bridge, and then Keith and I will turn our attention to the COPC - which of course is a matchpoint event - with totally different skillsets required, and where the luck factor can be much larger than in a team game.

Hope you all are enjoying the blog, and comments would be welcomed on any of the entries. If anyone would like to contact me directly I can be reached at rosstaylor999@hotmail.com

TTYL

Ross

Exit stage right - CNTC 1/4 final update

Well the quarter final matches have just ended, and alas we are not one of the advancing teams. Arguably, form prevailed in all four matches, with the winning teams being Carruthers, L’Ecuyer, Marcinski, and Rayner.

We lost a close one to Rayner by twelve imps. It turns out it came down to the last hand – I was in a borderline 3NT contract, vulnerable, in the following layout:

North

J43
A76
J9
Q10432

AK2
9843
K54
AJ8

I had opened 1 club, playing a weak NT system. Keith responded 3 clubs; showing a club raise (5-6 clubs) and a hand that would want to invite game opposite a strong NT. I only had 15 HCP, but the honours in my hand were seductive, and I did have three good clubs when I might only have two clubs for my opening bid, and we were on a roll, so I bid 3NT.

It turns out we were trailing by only six imps with this hand still to play at our table. The opponents had bid and made 2NT with these cards – so the way to win the match was to make 3NT – then we would win 10 imps and win the match by 4 imps. If I went down, we would lose the match by 12 imps.

The opening lead was the Queen of hearts, and I played low in dummy and RHO (Ken Scholes) won the king. He quickly shifted to the queen of diamonds. That looked very much like a holding headed by AQ10 to me.

I could afford to duck this, and I did, with Peter Herold playing the six. Next Ken cashed the Ace of diamonds, as Peter completed his echo, and another diamond – which I won in hand and pitched a heart from dummy. Now I have to make the contract, starting with five top tricks.

It looked like RHO had four diamonds (maybe 5, but I felt 4), and a singleton heart. That left LHO with five hearts and four diamonds and only four black suit cards.

I had one diamond, one heart, two spades and whatever I could muster in clubs. How could I take five club tricks? With length on my right, even with the king favorably placed, he could duck the club queen (or cover if he had four) and I would be limited to at most three club tricks.

A club to the jack would not help me – as (a) how could I get back to dummy if it won, and how would I score five clubs tricks? and (b) if it lost I was pretty sure LHO had another diamond in his hand.

Leading the queen of clubs would not help either – If he didn’t cover, which he should do with three clubs, I’d be limited to three club tricks.

Now what if clubs are 4-1? This won’t help – unless the club king is singleton offside – what’s that old expression? – “Le Roi de Trefles est toujours seulement” – The king of clubs is always singleton.

I reviewed this remote chance in my head a couple of times – was there not a better way? No, that’s what I decided to play for – I played the Ace of clubs, and only the nine fell from Peter’s hand. Then the Jack of clubs from hand, and Ken won the king on my right, and cashed his fourth diamond for down 1. King third of clubs had indeed been on my right, and the suit would have been blocked for me.

But wait – the hand could have been made ! Given I had reduced my chances to a “Hail Mary” play of the club Ace – why not cash the Ace and King of spades first? Suppose the queen falls doubleton – presumably on my left. Then I have an extra entry in the dummy with the Jack of spades – and can finesse through Ken’s hand and as long as he has no more than three clubs I would still make the contract.

The bridge gods were smirking at me there – because I failed to find this play and of course, this was the exact layout. lord help me !

West had

Q10
QJ1052
8632
97

East had

98765
K
AQ107
K65

To be sure, the odds are very much against the spade queen dropping ,but if it does not, I am "only" risking a few extra undertricks by trying this first. (They might then be able to cash 2-3 spades after winning the club king) Mind you, I would not have wanted to bring back -200, -300, or even -400 if it had not worked.

I had been keeping a running imp estimate on my scorecard throughout the last 1/4 - so that I would always have a rough idea of where we stood in the match.(To whatever extent that process is valid!)

I figured, before this last hand, that there was a chance we had picked up anywhere from 30 to 40 imps going into the final hand. A large minus score on this last hand, coupled with -120 or so at the other table, might also convert victory into defeat. What do you think?

So I could have won the match – and been playing in the semi finals tomorrow – but maybe I took my eye off the ball for a nano second, and the rest, as they say, is history.

Like all good bridge players, I feel mostly bad for my team mates – that I let them down in our hour of need. As for me and myself, I am numb. The fact that when Keith and I came back from lunch to find we were down 67 imps with 32 boards to play does not matter at all. We don’t think about what our team mates could have done to win the match – we always look at what we (or more precisely, first person singular) could have done.

We had scratched back 36 imps in the third quarter to be only down by 31 with 16 boards to play. Then, on the next 15 boards, we had gained back a further 25 imps and were only down by 6 imps when the final board hit the table. All those great hands that accumulated to a 61 imp comeback were for naught – good but not good enough – on the last damn hand !!!

I imagine the Janicki team feels the same way – they were down by 69 imps after the first half in their match against Carruthers. They then played tough the rest of the way, and by the end they only lost the match by 13 lousy imps.

Anyway, that’s how our day ended – now for a few hands from earlier in the match.

The first board of the match was sweet – we needed to give declarer a ruff sluff to beat a game that made with an overtrick at the other table.

North

J65
AQ73
AJ984
Q

South

72
K642
75
AKJ104

Doug Baxter declared four hearts, after I had jump overcalled 2 spades on Doug's right in the sandwich seat. Keith led the queen of spades; which held; then the ten of spades, which I won on Doug’s right and played the remaining high spade honour.

This was not a happy event, as Doug knew Keith was out of spades, and an uppercut was looming – unless Keith was the guy with three hearts – which was a good chance on the auction.

Doug made the technically correct play of pitching his losing diamond on the third spade as Keith pitched a club.

However, the coup de grace was the fourth spade from my hand, and Doug had no answer. He pitched from his hand, and Keith ruffed with the Jack – forcing dummy’s queen. As East, I had 1098 of hearts – so there was no denying the setting trick in my hand for a ten imp gain.

Added June 10 - two keen eyed readers, Jim Priebe and Michel Lorber, have both noted the above analysis is not accurate, and that Doug could and should have made 4H in spite of our defence. I quote Jim first :

" Hi Ross

We are enjoying your blog. Too bad about your 3NT. It gets a little hairy when your options are plus 600 or minus 400!

On the 4H played by Baxter you mention "Doug made the technically correct play of pitching a diamond".

Pitching is an outright error. Ruffing small works against all 3-2 breaks and the case where lefty has 4.

Ruff low, assume overruff, win diamond return, cash AQ of trump, club Q, draw trump ending in hand and claim.

If lefty has 4 trumps and refuses to over ruff, you abandon trumps momentarily after AQ, overtake club Q and run the clubs until lefty ruffs, then win the diamond, draw the last trump and claim. If trumps are 4-1 you need 4-3 clubs.

Jim Priebe "

And now a comment from Michel Lorber

"Too bad about end result...looks like you played well... Mr. Baxter should ruff the 3rd spade with H6...he will go down if hearts 32/23 only if you have a minor void, or if you have 4 hearts (except maybe J1098), or if anyone has 5 hearts. If you have J1098 or Keith doesn't overruff with 4 hearts, he needs clubs to work.

Regards,

ML"

We played pretty well for the rest of this quarter – until the sixteenth and final hand when Keith and I played in the wrong minor suit at the five level and went down 1 for –100 into our own +600. So that cost our team 12 imps needlessly, and there we were down by 24 imps after one quarter.

Team Rayner had a strong second quarter, gaining 43 imps, but rather lucky on one hand where they played in six diamonds with a trump suit of KQx opposite A10xx and also missing a side Ace. Doug guessed to play the hand under the A10xx of diamonds for J9xx and he was right – gaining ten imps instead of losing ten imps – well done !

So we sat down to play the third quarter down 67 imps and started to play really solid bridge – we did not swing per se; we just played near flawlessly.

We gained back 36 imps in this quarter – notwithstanding two adverse swings against us. Michael Roche and John Rayner did well to bid to 6 hearts against us which was missed at the other table (on a different auction of course)

Michael held AJx KQ10x AK10542 void

He opened 1 diamond, Keith overcalled two clubs. Michael’s side was vulnerable. John passed, and I raised to three clubs. Michael made a takeout double. Keith passed, and John leapt to four hearts. This convinced Michael that slam must be a good bet, and he in turn leapt to six hearts.

I led a spade, which was best for us, but really the defense had no chance here – in fact; if you are in seven hearts you will make it as the cards lie reasonably well.

North

AJ3
KQ104
AK10542
Void

South

10962
AJ976
8
763

Diamonds split 3-3 and hearts were 2-2 so thirteen tricks were cold. We lost 13 imps on that board. Note that if I had raised Keith's 2 club overcall to 4 clubs preemptive, holding 854 85 QJ3 A9854, there would have been no room for John to jump to game and Michael could not have bid on with as much certainty.

In my defense, it wasn't clear we were in danger of the opponents being cold for a slam (actually they were cold for seven !) at that point - but it is always a good thing to apply maximimum pressure to your opponents when you have a large fit.

We began the fourth quarter down by 31 imps and began to grind out some imps on our side of the ledger. Soon Keith found himself in 2 spades doubled; with 11HCP opposite two jacks !! And a 4-3 fit with AKJ9 of spades facing 642 – and he was vulnerable and they were not.

His RHO had opened a strong NT, and LHO had bid 2D - a transfer to hearts. Keith had AKJ9 void K1043 107632 - he bid double - which is a bid I endorse 100%.

However, LHO said redouble, and the chase was on. I had nothing to say (as you will clearly see) and Keith bid 2 spades when the XX came back to him. His LHO passed, and I passed, but Peter Herold was out for blood, and he doubled, holding Q1053 of spades and a full 17 count. Ugh!

North

642
J976
J985
85

South

AKJ9
Void
K1043
107632

Ken Scholes led the 8 of spades to the queen and Keith's Ace. How do you like them apples? Would you be happy to get out for down 1 and only -200 ?? We were quietly ecstatic.

Miraculously that's what he did - he only went down 1 for –200 – but it was still a loss of 7 imps as no game could make the opponents way – with 27 HCP between them and a nine card heart fit! How he pulled that off had the kibitzers shaking their heads in wonder.

Shortly after that we bid 3NT with 13 opposite 10 HCP and a 5-3 spade fit, and there was no way to beat it. 4 spades has no play and that won us 6 imps.

We vigorously interfered with their auction enroute to a slam in spades, and they played in five spades making 7 for an eleven imp pickup.

We played a not so hot vulnerable 3NT with 14 opposite 10 HCP and that came home on a favorable lie of the cards.

They stepped into our part score auction (we can make 2 spades) and we doubled and took +300 defending three clubs doubled – in fact at a crucial point in the hand I led the King of diamonds from K10xx looking at the J754 in dummy on my left. I needed to create an entry to Keith’s hand to effect an uppercut. He did have the queen of diamonds, but Ken Scholes skillfully ducked from ace nine doubleton; severing the link between our hands, and he avoided – 500.

And then came that last hand – the miracle 3NT that yours truly did not make – and now we are on the sidelines of the biggest, most prestigious event on the Canadian Bridge Calendar. It smarts – for all of us – we were ready to play our hearts out tomorrow and fight for a spot in the final on Friday.

I asked a question of myself at the beginning of the blog this week – if you look at one of the first entries, I asked – “You can never go back?”

I think to my surprise, I was wrong to think that. Over the past year, I have played and practiced quite a bit – mostly practice – I would have liked more tournament play against tough opposition. There was more than one occasion when I thought I had lost the skill-set forever – too many years had passed.

Keith was always tremendously patient – he predicted right from the beginning it would take a year for me to feel truly comfortable at the table again – and that is exactly what happened. The past few days, pretty much everything finally fell into place and the feeling at the table was much the same as it had been all those years ago.

I can’t wait to strap it on again with Keith for next year’s CNTC and other major championships in the years ahead !

If anyone would like to contact me directly I can be reached at rosstaylor999@hotmail.com

As always, a table of the match results is available at the CBF website:

http://www.cbf.ca/BWeek/09files/BWeek09_CNTAqf.html

I plan to take a day off from bridge tomorrow, Thursday, and resume play in the COPC on the weekend. Hope you have enjoyed these updates from the Penticton CNTC site.

More hands from Day 4 - CNTC 2009

Our second last match was against Rayner's team - who had been at or near the top of the leaderboard the entire four days. Two hands of interest. Keith held 73 QJ972 KJ94 93. His LHO opened 1 club; his RHO said 1 heart. Keith passed, and his LHO bid 1 spade, and now RHO bid 2 Diamonds - fourth suit forcing. LHO said 2NT (I think) and RHO jumped to 4 spades.

I led the five of diamonds, and dummy was

Q965
A1085
A8
Q74

Again, Keith held 73 QJ972 KJ94 94

Declarer played low from dummy and Keith won the Ace. At the other table, the defender holding Keith's cards woodenly returned a diamond - and the game was made easily.

Keith shifted to the nine of clubs - and this actually gave declarer fits. There is a line to make now, but it requires winning (or ducking - it turns out not to matter) the club Ace, and playing Ace and another spade.

As leader, I had K108 K43 10752 K108.

Declarer in fact rose with the club Ace; he next crossed to the dummy to lead a spade to the jack - I was able to win the King, and play King and another club for Keith to ruff and down 1. Win 10 imps.

Peter Herold got his partnership's revenge shortly after by playing the wheels off 4 hearts on the following layout.

North

74
8763
AK73
QJ8

South

QJ6
AJ42
J6
AK107

With no intervention, a routine Stayman auction led to 4 hearts. Keith led the ten of diamonds; Peter played dummy's king and I dropped the queen.

Peter next played a heart to the jack - which held ! Now he correctly left trumps alone and played four rounds of clubs - pitching a spade from dummy as I followed suit helplessly.

Next Peter exited the spade Queen. This came around to me and I won the Ace and played back the King of hearts to get the kiddies off the dummy's street.

But next came the Jack of diamonds from Peter's hand and I really had no answer - ten tricks quickly followed. All that work to lose 1 imp - as Jeff and Paul bid and made 3 NT + 1 at the other table.

This low scoring match ended with Rayner's team winning by 5 against us. So we headed to the last match against Ray Jotcham, Lew Richardson; Steve Mackay, and Alan Lee - not a team you want to see when you need a big win.

Fortunately, we were strong in this last match - we picked up imps on five part score hands, and stole a game swing when we bid and made 3NT at our table while Jeff and Paul were quietly going down 1 undoubled in 4 hearts the other way.

On one hand I had to make 3 clubs on this layout :

North

974
107
AJ9
A7542

South

62
KQJ98
84
KJ98

I had opened 1 heart in first chair; white versus red. Keith responded 1NT forcing, and Ray overcalled 2 spades. This was passed around to Keith who reopened with double and was charmed to hear me respond 3 clubs - which everyone passed.

Lew led the five of spades, Ray won and played three rounds of spades in total. I had two spade losers; and the Ace of hearts and a diamond loser, and now my trump position was being threatened. Best I could do here was pitch my losing diamond from my hand as Lew discarded a diamond.

Ray then played a diabolical fourth spade - and now I had no room to wiggle - I had to get this right.

I pitched a heart from hand, and Lew ruffed ahead of dummy with the ten of clubs. I over ruffed and figured my best chance to make now was a first round finesse against the club queen in Ray's hand.

This worked, whew, and I played a diamond over to dummy's Ace for another hook - and chalked up +110.

I think defenders sometimes don't look enough for opportunities to attack declarer with the ruff sluff as an effective defense - it paid dividends on the first hand of our quarter final match on Wednesday too - which I will show you in my next blog entry.

If anyone would like to contact me directly I can be reached at rosstaylor999@hotmail.com

Hands from Day 4 - CNTC 2009 Round Robin

I played almost all the matches yesterday, so there really was not time to write up any hands. This morning I was looking over the hand records, and found a few that should be memorialized.

Equal red, in second chair, I picked up J2 KJ109873 6 J95. Apparently, while waiting for us to come out to compare, there was debate going on amongst our teammates as to whether Ross would open this hand 3 hearts or not. Two hearts is not an option for us – it is written in stone that we always have exactly a six card suit for that bid.

Well, I guess I surprised a couple of people and did open 3 hearts. Ten seconds later I was playing at the six level !

North

AQ103
Q
AK853
AK8

South

J2
KJ109873
6
J95

The lead was a spade, and went up with the Ace; cashed two high diamonds, pitching a spade; ruffed a diamond with the 7 (an unwittingly mean play). Both followed to 3 rounds of diamonds, so I was now cold. I realized I owed Keith a high five, so I led the congratulatory king of hearts from my hand – pinning dummy’s own queen in the process.

All you caring partners out there would have ruffed the third diamond with the Jack of hearts – a true congratulatory Jack ! + 1430; win 13 imps.

Next I picked up Q A54 AK109764 43. They were red, we were white. LHO opened 1 heart; and Keith said double for takeout. RHO said pass. What a hand I held, but I knew I should give Keith lots of wiggle room for his favorable vulnerability double.

First I said 2 hearts, showing strength. LHO passed, and Keith replied 3 clubs. Now I bid 3 diamonds forcing, and Keith bid 3 hearts. That was not reason to get excited – since he was forced, and likely was temporizing with his bid, and seeing if I could bid 3NT. I could have bid 3NT but I still had more to say. I cue bid 4 hearts.

Keith now bid 5 diamonds, and I was disappointed to hear that. His failure to cue bid meant slam was not assured, so I bid a quick, but reluctant pass.

North

K53
82
Q52
AK872

South

Q
A54
AK109764
43

I see Keith needed just a pip more to cue bid – either the Ace of spades (rather than the king) or a singleton heart would have been enough. As it is, six diamonds has chances.

The lead was the Jack of diamonds: I played low from dummy and RHO followed with the 8, meaning LHO began with J3. Just to stay sharp I asked myself how I would play slam if in it.

Actually with that lead it would be pretty easy. I would hope clubs were no worse than 4-2; and play 3 rounds of clubs ruffing high in hand; trump over to the queen for another club ruff; then the carefully preserved 4 of diamonds to dummy’s 5 to enjoy the last club. It would work.

Being in game only, I ignored that line in the interests of safety and chalked up +400. If I had been in slam on another lead – say a heart, the only winning play that I can see is to establish the clubs by ruffing high both times in hand and then taking a first round finesse against the doubleton Jack of diamonds – since LHO had QJ of clubs alone. I don’t know if anyone in the field was in slam, or made it for that matter. Our opponents played in 3NT, making 4.

Shortly after this hand I picked up another wild hand. 10 QJ7632 Void AQ10876

Keith opened a weak NT and my RHO said 2 spades natural. We were red versus white. I bid 3 forcing hearts; LHO said 3 Spades, and Keith said 4 hearts. I could pass and take my sure plus – but slam is definitely possible if the cards mesh. So I pressed on with five clubs.

LHO, bless him, said double (never a wise move when you are going to be on lead). Keith cue bid 5 diamonds (which would have had me excited had LHO not slowed me down)

RHO doubled 5 diamonds, but I did not care – I knew 5 hearts was the right contract now so that is what I bid. The play was pretty simple.

North

J762
AK4
A1086
43

South

10
QJ7632
Void
AQ10876

LHO cashed the Ace of spades and shifted to a diamond. I played a club to my Ace; played a heart to dummy’s Ace (both followed) and led another club towards my hand. RHO followed with the 9, which I covered with the ten. LHO won the Jack and played the club king, but I ruffed high and claimed.

For sure I should have played Ace and another club at trick 3 – in case clubs were 4-1, but all worked out for the best. Our opponents also stayed out of slam.

This hand was a huge swing hand in several matches – Dave Colbert and Danny Miles bid 6 hearts on this hand – with the club king offside they lost 13 imps versus gaining 13 imps had the slam come home.

Unbelievably, a fourth slam decision came up for us in this same match. I held K7 A543 K108753 6.

I was in second chair, red versus white. I did not come two thousand miles to pass, so I opened the bidding 1 diamond. Keith responded 1 heart, and my RHO preempted 2 spades. Although I was still blessed with the same ten count I began the hand with, I of course had to bid 3 hearts now.

That seemed to cheer Keith up for his next bid was 4NT – Key Card Blackwood. I replied 5 diamonds, showing one Key Card, and now Keith bid 5 spades. This doesn’t come up too often, but I knew he was asking me for the trump queen. It also meant I could relax about my meagre hand since we must have all the Aces or he would have simply bid 6 hearts.

I responded 5NT, and Keith settled down with 6 Hearts; all passed.

North

A103
K10982
AJ
A32

South

K7
A543
K108753
6

Keith won the spade lead and played the King of hearts from hand; dropping the Queen in West’s hand. He eschewed the theory of Restricted Choice (did not need it as you will see), and played a heart to the Ace, with his RHO showing out. So one trump loser.

Next Keith played the Ace of diamonds and his LHO ruffed with the heart Jack.(Diamonds had broken 5-0) But that’s all she wrote. Even though West had Q9xxx of diamonds, my spots were sufficient for Keith to power hook the diamonds twice through West and chalk up + 1430 for another healthy gain when our opponents did not bid this slam.

These hands were all from match 18, which we won by 16 imps. Keith and I sat out the next match; but it looks like the hands from that set were as wild as the ones we had just played. Maybe a breather was just the thing.

After lunch, we sat down for match 20 – currently in 7th place. We won this match by nine imps – mostly from getting the part scores right – they can add up - it's not always about wild distributional hands and slam decisions. On one hand, equal red, I picked up Q KQ9532 A2 AJ53. RHO passed, and I opened 1 heart. LHO and Keith passed, and my RHO said double.

I said pass (who knew – maybe my leftie was planning to pass the double so this is no time to bid on)

LHO said 1NT, Keith and RHO passed back to me. This is a nothing problem – but you have to get them right. I saw no point in bidding further. (A) Keith is a very aggressive bidder and had passed with two opportunities to speak. (B) there are signs of potential danger – RHO may have shortness in hearts and LHO did bid NT. RHO rates to have clubs, and I rate to buy trouble if I compete for the part score. (C) If the heart layout is somehow favorable for us, well that should be just fine for defending 1NT at +100 for every downtrick.

Keith led the Jack of hearts and dummy tracked with KJ43 6 J1084 K984 – about what you would expect. We finished the hand +200 – as Keith was kind enough to have the ten of hearts also, as well as a stray queen of diamonds – he took two tricks on the hand. We won 7 imps on that board.

The highlight reel hand of match 21 versus Steve Brown's team was when West held J103 Void AQJ1085 A1082. At our table, East opened the bidding 4 clubs not vul – showing a strong 4 heart preempt. Keith overcalled 4 vulnerable spades and West had to make a bid. What would you do?

After a bit of agony, my opponent said double. As it happens, had he doubled smoothly, his partner could and would have bid 5 hearts – as he had Void AKQJ9752 32 976; but he ethically passed, as he felt he was barred from bidding further. So everyone passed, and West led the Jack of spades.

North

9742
86
K9764
Q3

AKQ865
1043
Void
KJ54

There is no way to beat 4 spades as East and West are cut off from each other completely throughout the hand. Declarer wins the lead; draws three rounds of trumps, and knocks out the club ace.

Best West can do is return a club. Declarer cashes his remaining club winner(s), and plays his final club – refusing to ruff it in dummy. He simply pitches a diamond or a heart, and West is left on play to either send the Ace of diamonds to a watery grave or underlead it and give dummy’s king the game going trick.

+790 was a push in our match ! I heard of one West player who guessed to bid 5 hearts (with his void !) over 4 spades. All passed and there was only one way to beat this contract that I can see. North has to duck the king of diamonds on the first play of the suit; then East ducks a club to rectify the count.

Best defense now is to continue clubs breaking up communications between declarer and dummy. The defenders can now hang on to their winners, and declarer will go down 1. If they don’t play back a club; declarer catches South in an easy black suit squeeze (it’s actually a double squeeze since North must guard the king of diamonds; and South must guard the Spade Ace, and neither can protect the clubs anymore.)

I heard this enterprising guy who bid 5 hearts made +450, which meshed well with his teammates +790 and a win of 16 imps on the board.

Personally, I think pass is the right call with West’s hand – but that is easier said than done.

After we settled down from that hand, Keith opened 4 diamonds in first chair, white versus red; catching me with a fistful of high cards :- AK106 AQ107 KJ5 J6. No reason to get too excited though – look at the vulnerability and look who bid 4 diamonds! I simply bid a hopeful 5 diamonds, and all passed.

North

Void
42
A1098642
Q1094

South

AK106
AQ107
KJ5
J6

The opening lead was the 8 of hearts. Keith correctly rose with the Ace; cashed two spades, and then studied the hand for a few minutes. Clearly the only problem was how to play trumps. Note I said Keith studied the hand. That’s how experts play. Many players would simply bang down the trump Ace or King, and get onto the next hand – maybe 90% of the time they make without breathing hard.

However, Keith understood the only way he would go down is if trumps broke 3-0 and if he misguessed which diamond honour to play first. He really did not have much to go on – and he finally played the Jack of diamonds from dummy; overtaking with the Ace when David Kent smoothly played low. Steve Brown pitched however, and Keith annoyed with himself, quickly claimed down 1.

I still feel he had nothing really to go on, and he would agree – but we hate to get these plays wrong – even guesses. At the other table, the Bowman brothers also bid up to 5 diamonds and did play the diamonds in the right order – so we lost ten imps on that board.

There were still two matches left to play – and at least 13 teams had a legitimate hope of making the playoffs – so tight was the field.

If anyone would like to contact me directly I can be reached at rosstaylor999@hotmail.com

Round Robin is over 2009 CNTC Penticton

Well the 8th place team is involved in an appeal so the rumour goes, and as they only qualified by 1 VP, we are not certain who the final 8 are. The good news is Team Thurston made it in - tied for 6/7 !

There are actually a few committees going on as I write; so we really don't know the 8th place team yet - It is presently Marcinski, but it could ultimately be Gamble or Grace.

In the low scoring match after dinner, we lost by 4 imps, still scoring a respectable 14 VP's. Somehow we were still hanging in at 8th place - ahead of 9th by a scant 1 VP - with still several teams lurking and lots of drama and suspense in the air.

I was really bummed going into the last match to realize the whole event might be over for us in an hour and half - way too soon. For the past 2 days, it seemed like the rust had finally been shaken, and I truly felt I did belong at this level of bridge once again.

The old confidence came back - but it is a team game and the opponents are trying just as hard to eliminate us - I am not trying to sound cocky - far from it - just happy to be here again.

Anyway, we won our final match by 30 imps - resulting in us "cruising" into 6th place - a lofty spot we had not smelt since Day 2.

So at 10.05 pm Tuesday night, the tentative standings are :

Carruthers 395
Rayner 391
Bart 389
Todd 387
L'Ecuyer 384
Thurston 375
Janicki 375
Marcinski 363
Gamble 363

================

Next places are:

Grace 362
Ballantyne 356
Nowlan 352
Brown 352

The above scores have been updated since the original posting to reflect the final final standings. Gamble and Marcinski were in a dead heat tie. The conditions of contest were such that the team with the most victories would win a tie-breaker - resulting in Marcinski in and Gamble out.

A severe bummer for the guys on the Gamble team, especially as they had actually blitzed the Marcinski team during the round robin.

So there you go - this has certainly been a toughening up process - since every match over the last two days has been a must win - or if you can't win - don't lose by much !

Kudos to John Carruthers' team which came on strong over the last couple of days - climbing to the top spot after the penultimate match - and solidifying that place over the final match.

It's hard to write hands right now - team members and spouses are in the room beside me having a Kool Aid or two, and waiting for the final results and the assignments for tomorrow.

Ciao for now ! If anyone would like to contact me directly I can be reached at rosstaylor999@hotmail.com

Results, when final, will be posted at the CBF website at :

http://www.cbf.ca/BWeek/09files/BWeek09_results.html

After 21 matches - 2 more to play 2009 CNTC

Well this is turning out to be a real nail biter for many teams. I don't recall seeing the field so bunched up so late in the event. We are sitting 8th with 2 matches to play. There are at least five teams nipping at our heels who want a piece of that 8th place.

On the other hand; we are only 5 out of 7th; 10 out of 6th; and 21 VP out of first !

The list is as follows : (no team names here - you can see that at the cbf website.

First 358
Second 357
Third 356
Fourth 354
Fifth 350
Sixth 347
Seventh 342
Eighth 337 (That is Team Thurston)
Ninth 333
Tenth 332
Eleventh 329
Twelvth 328

Turns out we moved up to 8th after match 18 when we won by 16 imps; we lost by a small margin of 4 imps in match 19 when Keith and I were at lunch; we were back to 7th after winning match 19 by nine imps; ; and lost match 21 by only 2 imps to stake a tenuous claim on 8th place.

I do have many interesting hands to report but now is not the time. The complete results are available at the CBF website :

http://www.cbf.ca/BWeek/09files/BWeek09_CNTCArr4.html

The

After 19 matches 2009 CNTC Penticton

Match 18 was a tough set of boards with lots of decisions with our cards. Fortunately, we made all the right decisions. We stayed out of two slams that could not quite make; and bid and made two others. We also beat a 3NT played from an unfavorable side (for us) on tight defense. Our counterparts at the other table were no slouches however, so the win was by 16 imps - still, that's 20 VP's for us.

I checked the standings after this match and we were now in a three way tie for 7th. the two leading teams had 313; next was 311 in third. Two teams were tied for fourth at 296; another team at 293, and there we were at 292. Still very tightly bunched above and below us.

Keith and I sauntered off for a light lunch and came back for the comparison of match 19. There were several slam decisions in this set of boards too. We lost the match by a narrow 4 imps; picking up 14 VP's for a present total of 306 VP. I did not stick around for the leaderboard - we could be anywhere from 8th to 10th would be my guess.

We resume play again in 45 minutes - I'd rather rest than blog, so hands from these matches will have to come later. The leaderboard can be viewed at :

http://www.cbf.ca/BWeek/09files/BWeek09_CNTCArr3.html

If anyone would like to contact me directly I can be reached at rosstaylor999@hotmail.com

End of Day 3 - 17 matches played - 2009 CNTC Penticton

Things have improved somewhat over the last five matches. We are now back in 8th place - and looking forward to day four of the round robin.

Keith and I sat out the match before dinner and the boys brought home a plus 20 imp victory. That was worth 21 VP's. I believe by dinner time we had now climbed to 10th on the leader board - which was a marked improvement over the 16th place we occupied this morning !

One hand I liked was when North (Jeff Smith in our match) held Q2 K95 AJ Q85432, red versus white.

His LHO opened 1S, and this was passed around to Jeff who bid 2 clubs. Paul, his partner cue bid 2 spades, and Jeff bid the immediate 3NT - correctly diagnosing that Paul had spade length and hoping between them their holdings constituted a spade stopper. This was exactly the case when Paul tabled 10863 A763 43 AK10. There was no way to beat 3NT which was doubly sweet when John and Herve stole the contract at 2spades in the other direction.

John had AKJ954 QJ4 876 J and opened 1 spade and rebid 2 spades over Herve's 1NT response.

This sparked a heated discussion over dinner over whether Jeff's hand should in fact enter the live auction of (1S) - (1NT) with his moth eaten suit. The majority opinion was that you just have to swallow hard and bid 2 clubs - the game bonus is to good to pass up.

After dinner, Keith and I played with Paul and Jeff at the other table. We had a dream set, where everything we did was right. Teammates came to the comparison after the match looking crestfallen. They had gone down 3 in a freely bid reasonable slam (I think - I only know they were -300 and I didn't ask); and watched the opponents bid and make an inferior 7H grand slam on a black suit squeeze; and also watched their opponents avoid a 4-4 heart fit and play 3NT making, when hearts split 5-0 against them.

We actually won the match by 36 imps for a blitz - scoring the maximum 25 VP's. We had also beaten the slam two tricks; we had bid and made the better grand slam in diamonds; we HAD avoided the 4-4 heart fit and made 3NT; we made 2 of a major doubled twice during the match and a couple of other good things to boot ! It was quite a rush that set of boards.

Two highlights. My RHO opened 1 spade; we were white they were red. I held QJ53 AJ432 K43 A. I overcalled 2 hearts. This was passed around to my RHO who made a takeout double - but everyone passed !

The lead was a low club, and dummy was a sweet sight - Keith held 986 K7 A8752 and Q73.

North

986
K7
A8752
Q73

South

QJ53
AJ432
K43
A

So I won the club lead; and cashed king then ace of diamonds. They lived - no enemy ruff. Now I ruffed a club to my hand; played a heart to the king; and ruffed another club in my hand. Then I exited the queen of spades and eventually I had to make the AJ of hearts to score five hearts; two diamonds; and a club for +470 - winning 13 imps on the trump end play.

The hand of the tournament for us (well so far anyway) was the grand slam in diamonds. It was all about figuring out what was best - 6H, 6NT, 7D, 7H, or even 7NT.

I held A108 A109 KQJ4 1098. We play weak NT but this looked much more like a strong NT to me - notwithstanding the 4333 shape - so I upgraded and opened the bidding 1 diamond.

Keith jump responded 2H which we play is a game forcing hand - either hearts and diamonds - or a strong one suiter in hearts. My RHO now overcalled 2 spades. I could bid 2NT I suppose or even bid 3 hearts, but I saw no rush - let's hear what partner has to say. So I passed and Keith now bid 3 spades.

Great - this confirmed he had hearts and diamonds and in fact a stiff spade in our methods. So all of a sudden my upgraded weak NT could bid Blackwood. Keith responded 5 hearts - showing two key cards for diamonds (not hearts - I had never confirmed that fit)

He was unlimited and we had all the key cards, so I now bid 5NT to sniff around for a grand slam. Keith bid 6 clubs now - showing the king. That was nice but I needed more than that to bid a grand - so I signed off in 6 diamonds.

But Keith continued with 6 spades ! Was this torture? I knew he could not have the KQJxx of hearts - since he would have jumped to 7 clubs at this point - we had a hole somewhere. On the other hand; he was confident we could make 6NT - or he would not have bid 6 spades. Maybe he had the stiff king of spades?

Anyway, I was 4333 with no extra high cards and no fifth diamond so I bid 6NT and Keith now bid 7 diamonds ! So I had invited a grand and he had not bid the grand, but rather made two 6 level bids and then bid a grand anyway after I signed off twice. This could only mean he always intended to bid a grand but was really not sure in what strain.

Well I was sure that only diamonds made sense so I passed, and there we played. Dummy was a thing of beauty.

North

Q
KQ543
A652
AK6

South

A108
A109
KQJ4
1098

1D (P) 2H (2S)
P (P) 3S (P)
4NT (P) 5H (P)
5NT (P) 6C (P)
6D (P) 6S (P)
6NT (P) 7D (P)
P (P)

This was the best grand slam by far to be in. Trumps were 4-1 on my left, but with hearts 3-2 I wrapped up thirteen tricks ......and lost 2 imps !!

The opponents had bid to an inferior 7 hearts - which required hearts to break and still only had twelve top tricks.

However, East, the poor fellow (Paul), had KJ9654 J62 10 QJ2 and got caught in a black suit squeeze, and declarer deliriously rode that pony for thirteen tricks and +2210.

As a defender, it doesn't get much more sickening than that - the bridge equivalent of a baaaad beat in poker.

Don't write in to tell me Paul could have broken up the squeeze if only he had led the King of spades at trick one ! Yes that is true but that would be the play of the decade, if not the play of the century !!

Anyway, our team decided Keith and I should play the last match of the day too, as we seemed to be hot. John and Herve played at the other table. We played the wily veterans from Edmonton - Kai Chang and Bob Crosby. Kai complained before the match he was tired and didn't want to play; but when Bob and his subsitute partner could not produce a convention card between them, I vetoed that idea and Kai was "forced" to play.

Funny, but at the time I said this might haunt us - he'll probably play like Garozzo. And he pretty much did - his personal highlight reel being an improbable 4 hearts with the layour as follows:

North

K865
A532
K9
AK9

South

AJ9
Q84
10872
Q106

Kai was white versus a red weak 2 diamond opener by me on his left. Bob said double, and Kai responded 2 hearts. Others might respond 2NT - but there you have it. Bob raised to 3 hearts, and Kai bid a confident (!) 4 hearts. All passed - no double - maybe no trouble.

I led a club, and he won in dummy, and played Ace of hearts and a heart to the queen which held, as I followed with the 10 and Jack. He now led a diamond up and I rose with the Ace to play another club.

Kai won in dummy and played the king of diamonds which Keith ruffed with the 9 of hearts. Keith cashed the HK and got out a club. Three rounds of spades, with a finesse against the onside queen, and with the suit splitting 3-3, Kai had his ten tricks and plus 420.

Just a push of course, as John and Herve bid and made the saner 3NT making 4.

Keith and I actually had nine plus scores of the ten boards we played - we were pretty precise in the part score zone. However, our methods failed us this match on a potential slam hand. Like the grand earlier, the key here was to play 6 diamonds on a 4-4 fit, and NOT play in the 5-3 spade fit - where there are only 11 tricks on a club lead.

We stayed in 4 spades making 5, but our opponents bid and made 6 diamonds (well done) and they won a deserved 11 imps on the board. The hands were as follows:

North

Q93
KQ9
KQ64
J53

South

AKJ86
83
AJ52
A9

Keith opened a weak NT and I bid 2D - Forcing Stayman. Keith replied 2NT - no 4 card major. I bid 3 spades and unfortunately Keith had support and a minimum type hand and was forced to raise to 4 spades - thus ending our chances of locating a 4-4 diamond fit.

I knew from his failure to cue bid that we could not make slam in spades, so I confidently passed - which at the time felt ok as this looked like a problem hand for us.

Other pairs play an old convention called Baron Corollary in these types of auctions - a 3 club bid over Keith's 2NT would ask for his shape, and then we would be off to the races - but we do not have that bid available.

Needless to say we have now modified our methods to cope better with this hand type. Anyway, when the smoke cleared we lost the match by 10 imps. Our boys had 4 plus scores of their own to go with our nine, but the results didn't mesh that well - and the opponents at John and Herve's table did even better than us on the slam hand and on another hand where they bid and made a game we elected not to bid.

But things could be much worse - hell they were earlier today. We have now moved back into the elusive top 8 - 8th to be precise. 27 VP out of first, and only 1 VP ahead of two strong teams tied for 9th. This field is really bunched up - and anything can happen tomorrow and probably will. Stay tuned.

The results so far can be found on the CBF website at

http://www.cbf.ca/BWeek/09files/BWeek09_CNTCArr3.html

If anyone would like to contact me directly I can be reached at rosstaylor999@hotmail.com

After 14 matches - day 3 Penticton CNTC

We lost our first match of the day by 13 imps. On the first board out, my RHO decided to bid a Michaels 2 clubs (no one vul) over Keith's 1 club opener. I was sitting in the weeds with J93 A1032 AJ52 K6. Penalty doubles ensued; they ended up in 2 Hearts doubled - Keith made the expert lead of a heart from xx in hearts rather than his god given AKQ of spades - and when the smoke cleared declarer was down 5 for +1100. A great start to the day.

Dummy was 108765 QJ987 8 Q4 opposite 42 K4 Q10763 10872

A few hands later I decided to show him what a Michaels Cue Bid really looks like. I had 5 KJ983 KQJ65 A9. RHO opened 1 spade; I said 2 Spades. LHO passed, and Keith bid 3 Diamonds. (Perhaps even some experienced partnerships would get the meaning of this wrong)

I inferred Keith had a reasonable hand with clear diamond preference and also support for clubs - since if my second suit was clubs, we would now be at the four level.

The other available bid was 2NT - asking me to say which minor suit I had.

So I decided game in diamonds would have a play, and I simply bid 5 diamonds. It did have a play - but..............

Keith's hand was AJ1096 75 104 K1083. He was pretty sure I had diamonds - so he meant his bid as pass or correct to 4C. Anyway, they led a club, and he won the king in his hand and finessed the heart jack - losing to the ace. Back came a spade. He flew up with the Ace; played King and ruffed a heart (they were 3-3 yay!) and played the diamond ten from his hand. His LHO won the Ace and played another spade. If Keith can just get away with ruffing the spade low in dummy, he would draw trumps and claim.

But spades were 6-5-1-1 around the table; diamonds were 2-4 against; and down 1 was probably a just result.

3NT is the best contract here, and was bid at the other table for a ten imp loss for your heroes.

We did some small good things in this match too, but the penultimate board was a kick in the nuts. I held Jx 9x A972 AQ1094. My options are to pass (don't like it)bid 1NT weak (don't like it though it has preemptive value) or to open one club, planning to rebid 2C. I liked this best, and opened 1C.

No one vul, my LHO bid 3 diamonds preemptive. Keith made a negative double; pass by RHO to me. I felt I had a pretty easy pass here. Yes I had a squeamish feeling in the pit of my stomach but I have seen hands like this pick up an occasional +500 if the opponents are frisky and the breaks were bad - and I wasn't expecting that. Down 1 or two would be fine.

Strike 1

Dummy tabled with 2 tricks. Dummy had A974 K7643 5 863

Strike 2

Declarer had kinda wound us up with a rock for his bid. He had 105 QJ KQJ10643 K2

So there was no way to beat 3D X and we were -470.

My only real alternative to passing 3D X was to bid 3NT - which I don't think is winning bridge - nor would it have been successful - it would have been down 4 for - 200. Sometimes all you can do is tip your hat to the opponents.

Anyway, a few imps on either side of the ledger elsewhere led to lose by 13 imps.

Next match up was against one of the pre tournament favorites - Keith and I sat down against Darren Wolpert and Jurek Czyzowicz ; at the other table was Kamel Fergani and Nick L'Ecuyer against our own Messrs. Smith and Thurston. Dan Korbel and David Grainger were sitting out for them, as were John and Herve for our team.

We strung together ten good boards - and we needed all of them to win by 7 imps. We bid a grand slam in about ten seconds. Keith opened 1 spade, and I held AQJx x AJ10xx Kxx. I responded 3D which shows at least 4 spades; at least five diamonds, and game forcing values.

Keith launched into RKCB, and after I replied 5 spades, he bid 7 Spades. I knew this was a claimer before the lead was made.

Keith had Kxxxx AK KQxx Ax - and indeed it was a wrap. We picked up two imps when Kamel and Nick played in 7 D at the other table - which was well done actually as the hand in front of Keith's opened a Multi 2D - so they had to brush that aside and bid their grand salami.

We got lucky on a later board when I held KJ9 KQJ742 43 A3. Keith opened 1 diamond; I responded 2H. (Showing long strong hearts and a GF hand - alternately it could show diamonds and hearts and a game force) Keith rebid 2S; I rebid 2NT. Keith rebid 3D and I was not sure what to do next. I could rebid hearts; but I already had shown 6 good ones and I did not have the ten or even the nine of hearts extra. So I bid 3S; rather than hog into 3NT.

Keith now bid 3NT and I was done.

The opponents did not get their clubs going in time, and with the favorable fall of the heart 108 doubleton, I romped home with ten tricks - cutting down the loss on the board to 1 imp - when 4H made 5 with the same favorable heart lie.

3NT is not a terrible contract - but on this day - it was fated to go down, while 4H makes. (The king of diamonds is fourth onside; the spade queen is also onside; clubs are 3-5 with Kxx in LHO hand and QJ9xx in RHO's hand.)

The wildest hand of the match occured near the end. I held K K109832 Q542 K8

Jurek on my right opened 1 club; and I overcalled 1 heart. Darren passed, and Keith cue bid 2 clubs - usually promising heart support. A new suit bid by Keith would not have been forcing in our methods though - keep that in mind.

Jurek passed, and I showed my second suit with a 2 diamond bid. Now Darren came alive with 2 spades; Keith bid 3 spades; and Jurek bid 4 spades (!)

I knew we were in a forcing pass situation, and I had no clear opinion what to do, so I passed this around to Keith who bid 5 diamonds. Jurek passed, and I passed - trusting Keith to have huge diamond support and secondary heart support.

But Darren was not done yet - he bid 5 spades; I forget which one of us doubled, but that is where we played. Keith led the Ace of spades; felling my stiff king. Dummy had

QJ85 6 KJ8 AQ953

Keith now cashed the Ace of hearts and we waited in time for the club king and down 1and +100. Darren had started with 10976432 J754 void 72

This seems like a par result as we can make 5 diamonds vulnerable. However at the other table our boys bought the hand in 4 spades doubled on their combined 14 HCP, and this could not be beaten and we made +590 over there for a 12 imp win on the board.

I have heard a few stories about this hand - including high level doubled spade contracts making overtricks when the Ace of diamonds was led !!!

Our next match was against Paul Janicki's team and finally we fired on all cylinders at both tables and won this one by 29 imps for a near blitz.

I have not checked the scoreboard today and don't plan to for a while - we were in a hole at the beginning of the day, and we still are - if we start to win a few matches, we can get back into the hallowed top 8 teams.

If anyone would like to contact me directly I can be reached at rosstaylor999@hotmail.com

End of Day 2 - 11 matches played; 12 more to go

So the round robin is almost half way over. We have to pull up our socks. The boys lost another close one by 7 imps. I don't know any of the hands, but I do know we now have 163 VP's from a total possible of 275.

This is clearly below the targeted average needed to make it into the playoffs. At this point, no one really cares if they come in 1st or 8th - since the KO portion is like a brand new event.

Only 8 teams will be in the knockout portion. Instead of playing short ten board matches against your opponents, you play at least 64 boards per match.

The current leaderboard sees many changes throughout the day - in our case, we free fell from 3rd down to 14th or so. Others like L'Ecuyer have moved up into contention, and others still - like Rayner, Todd, Marcinski, Steinberg etc. seem to have been near the top since the beginning.

Funny how there is less to say when the results aren't good. Hopefully I will have good reason to be ebullient tomorrow.

Current standings can be found at http://www.cbf.ca/BWeek/09files/BWeek09_CNTCArr2.html

If anyone would like to contact me directly I can be reached at rosstaylor999@hotmail.com

After 10 matches 2009 CNTC in Penticton

Keith and I just completed match 10 – another loss – albeit by an almost negligible 2imps so we scored 14 VP’s of a possible 25. Did not check our placement yet; we were in 10th place before this match.

I had a chance to pick up 7 imps when I held J KQ98xx K Q108xx. The guy on my left opened 4S (limited by his failure to open Namyats); Keith passed, and my RHO passed in no distress. We were equal white, and my head told me to stay out of this auction. But I am a sucker for shapely hands, and I re-opened 4NT.

Keith responded 5C, and everyone passed. Keith had Ax x A98xxxx K7x. He played 5C well to go only down 1 for – 50. Had I passed the hand out we would have beaten 4S by three tricks for +150.

Nevertheless our team mates did score +140 in 3 spades making, and we won 3 imps anyway.

Two hands later I held xx x J432 AJ98xx. We were vul, they were not. My RHO opened 1H, and I passed. LHO responded 1S, and Keith overcalled 3D. RHO said 3H. At this point, even though I cannot make it – I should simply bid 5D and put maximum pressure on the opponents.

If they double us, we only go down 1, and we push the board at –200. If they bid on to 5H, in this case they will be +450 as 5H happens to make – but sometimes it won’t. In fact, I messed around with a 4C bid; and they subsided in 4H and anyway Keith was void in clubs.

Towards the end of the set, I held QJ8xx A9 AQx 9xx. Keith opened 1S, and I responded 2NT – either a forcing raise OR a strong balanced hand. He bid 3H natural and I bid 3S, confirming I had the strong raise type hand. Next Keith cue bid 4C, which was nice, but limited by his failure to bid 3NT – which we play as a “serious slam try” – stronger than a 4C cuebid.

I was guiltily aware that I might be about to launch into the stratosphere opposite a hand not dissimilar to mine in terms of HCP. I could bid 4D now, but I thought there was a risk of a lead directing double. So I simply bid 4NT, and when Keith showed 2 key cards I jumped to 6S.

They led a diamond through the AQ in my hand; but Keith rose casually with the Ace; knocked out the spade Ace and claimed shortly thereafter. Turned out it was a club lead I should fear – not a diamond lead.. Keith had K9xxx KQJx x A8x. This netted 13 imps to the good for your fearless adventurers.

Now we are sitting out match 11 (twelve more to go) and wait for our team mates to finish up and score. That bottle of wine which has been decanting all day looked mighty inviting and we are watching Celebrity Poker on tv; discussing the hands from the day; debating the merits of the various Miss Penticton Contestants we may each have seen throughout the day, and I am writing this blog. Wish our results had been better today, but hey, we’re only half way done.

If anyone would like to contact me directly I can be reached at rosstaylor999@hotmail.com

Day 2 - after a total of 9 matches - Penticton CNTC

Well it has been a rough afternoon. In the third match of the day Keith and I sat out, - turns out we lost that one by 17 imps - scoring 10 out of a max 25 VP. We had slipped to 8/9 in the standings.

Keith and I sat in for the next match versus David Sabourin, Dave Colbert, Danny Miles, and Jon Steinberg. We lost this match by 21 imps - scoring only 9 VP of a possible 25 VP. They have not posted the scores yet but we have 136 out of a possible 225 - so we could be anywhere from 9th to 11th right now - the field still bunched up.

The last hand of this set was wild and woolly at our table. I held an innocuous hand - Q98 108x AQ6 987x. Keith opened 1C, no one vul. RHO said 2C - showing both majors, and I passed. LHO bid 3H, and Keith freely bid 4C. I was planning to bid 5C or even 4NT (a happy 5C bid) over the expected 4H bid, but David Sabourin bid the unexpected 5 clubs !

So I bid six clubs. Jon on my left bid 6H passed around to me. Maybe I should double to involve partner in the decision here. Some message like - well I have a trick, and if you don't you can pull it. The theory being I would just pass 6H if I was reasonably sure I was beating it.

Anyway I passed it out, and Keith led a low diamond and dummy had about what you would expect:

AKJ10xx
KJ9xx
xx
Void

I won the Ace of diamonds and gave Keith a diamond ruff for down 1. Wow ! We won 7 imps on that board.

First hand of the match I had a brain spasm. I held 9x KJ10xx Q32 7xx

RHO opened 1S, and I passed. Jon on my left bid 2S and Keith said double. RHO said 4Spades and I chose of course not to save in 5H as that could be very expensive. All passed and I led the jack of hearts.

Dummy had Qxx xxx xx K10xxx

Keith won the Ace of hearts and played another heart as David ruffed on my right with a small spade. He played the Ace of diamonds from his hand; Keith playing the ten and me the two.

We play standard count signals - so Keith probably had an even number of diamonds.

Next came the Jack of diamonds from declarer and I stared at that for a minute or so. I was having a hard time envisioning how we were going to beat this hand. For sure, I should have just let this ride around to Keith - maybe he would have a better bead on what is required. He is marked of course with the diamond king.

I convinced myself to play the DQ from hand, thinking I could push trumps through the dummy from my side, perhaps protecting Keith's holding on some layouts. Pretty obscure thinking actually.

So I played the D Queen, and Keith played the D King on top of it. Shit ! This meant declarer had six diamonds - and likely 5 spades and singletons in the offsuits.

We could not beat the hand now. Keith tapped declarer again in hearts, but it was crucial that declarer no longer needed the trump queen in dummy to ruff the diamonds good.

He banged out a spade honour which Keith correctly ducked, and then another spade honour from his hand which Keith won. Although Keith and declarer and dummy were all down to one trump, declarer had any answer for whatever Keith did.

Had I ducked the diamond like a human being rather than play the queen like a donkey, declarer would thrash and slash and end up down 1. We lost 12 imps on that board.

Like I keep saying, there will be errors, there will be bad boards. Let's see if we can dig in our heels and tough this sucker out.

If anyone would like to contact me directly I can be reached at rosstaylor999@hotmail.com

Day 2 in progress – 2009 CNTC in Penticton

Bridge is all about judgment, concentration, temperament, and minimizing your mistakes – especially those of the unforced nature. In an event such as this, no one is perfect – we all have our trials and tribulations. Can you put it aside and get on with the next hand or next match – that is most important. Compartmentalize or wither !

So Keith and I played in the first two matches of the day. We won the first match by 21 imps – giving us a healthy 22 VP’s and vaulting us up to 3rd on the leader board.

Keith made a beautiful bid on the following hand – propelling us to 6H making for a 13 imp win!

NORTH

S Q10
H AKQ107
D AJ9
C A75

SOUTH

S AKJ65
H 9532
D 4
C 1096

(P) P (P) 2NT
(P) 3C (P) 3H
(P) 3S (P) 4C
(P) 4H (P) 4S (!)
(P) 4NT (P) 6H
(P) P (P)


My 3 spades was a mild slam try in hearts. Very mild. Keith cue bid 4C excitedly, and I said no thank you with 4H. I could have bid 4D “last train” to give him more encouragement without going past four or our suit. Keith elected to bid again – and bid 4S ! Looking at the AKJxx of spades, I realized Keith had taken his life in his hands, and must have a very fine hand indeed – he had essentially manufactured a bid to get this message across.

So being the grateful ox I am, I bid 4NT which is Key Card Blackwood. Keith ended the auction with a jump to 6H – there was no reason in his mind to provide the canned response. When the dummy came down, he thought we had missed 7H even. But with the hearts 4-0 offside six was the limit – and my condolences to any pair who did bid 7H on this hand – well done and too bad !!

At the other table, John creatively opened the bidding 1D ahead of the monster hand; monster said double, then Herve responded 1H – try getting to a slam in hearts after that start !!

Next match was against the strong team of Zyg Marcinski, Bryan Masymetz, Waldemar Frukacz, and David T. Willis. Dan Jacob and Larry Hicks were sitting out.

There were five double digit swings in this match – they got one more than us, so we lost this match by 7 imps, ending up with 13 VP. Now we have 117 VP out of a possible 175 VP and are in 6th place.

One hand I would like to take back was when I held 764 AQ986 Q42 J10. LHO passed and Keith opened 1D. I responded 1H, and Keith jump rebid 2NT – showing 18-20 in our methods. We have a very effective method for checking for a 5-3 heart fit at this point, and I chose not to use it.

We do love to avoid 4 of a major when we have extra high cards between us because often bad things can happen at the four level, whereas 3NT will still make. I thus bid 3NT, and caught Keith with only Qx of clubs opposite my J10 doubleton. We quickly went down 2 into our own + 420. Aargh !

I was wrong here to do this though. Perhaps if I had J10 of diamonds and Qxx of clubs it might have been a safer move – but here I know Keith has for sure at least 4 diamonds, and he would not have 4-4 in the minors or he would have opened 1C in our methods. So he has at most three clubs – so this was not a hand to get cute on.

When something like this happens, you feel foolish. But you must get over it – IMMEDIATELY – or your worries will for sure affect you in the subsequent hands.

A little later I made a very normal 1H overcall over 1C with 93 KQJ93 J1052 K6. However, this kept them out of their own 4-4 heart fit and they played 3NT. Had I divined to lead a diamond rather than my god given KH, we could have beaten that too – but no – we were – 460.

This was a double whammy as our teammates opened 1NT on my hand’s right – who no longer felt safe in overcalling at the two level. So he passed, and I think he got to hear his opponents climb up to 4H which was doubled and beaten 3 tricks for –800. So we lost 15 imps on that board – but no real errors on any of our parts – shit happens – deal with it !

On the last board of the match, I had a chance to win 10 imps if I could make 4 spades.


NORTH

S 2
H AQ752
D Q64
C A986

SOUTH

S AQ109863
H 8
D J752
C 3

LHO opened 1C, Keith bid 1H, RHO said double (denying 4 spades) and I bid 1 Spade. LHO passed and Keith rebid 1NT. I jumped to 3S and Keith did well to raise to 4S on his stiff deuce of spades !

LHO led the diamond Ace , attracting the 8 (playing upside down signals) from East. I followed with the two. LHO shifted to the 2 of clubs. I won the Ace, and East played an encouraging 4.

I hoped there was no diamond ruff pending, so I need to focus on losing only one spade trick. If I have to dispose of my long diamond I suppose there is always the hope of a heart hook, or in some cases a heart – diamond squeeze.

So how do I play spades? They hadn’t revealed much of their hands to me yet. All things being equal, LHO is more likely to hold the SK than his partner, given LHO had opened the bidding. So I played a spade to the ten, losing to the doubleton jack. Shortly thereafter I went down 1.

When you are ” in the zone” you get those guesses right – so I am not there yet. Also, I could have tried something exotic and played the Ace of hearts, then the HQ after winning the Ace of clubs. When RHO fails to cover the HK, I could play LHO for that card and the Ace King of diamonds and bits and pieces. Then I could ruff the HQ; lead a diamond towards dummy’s queen, and eventually use the late DQ entry to hook RHO for the king of spades – a bit fancy – and in good company I would expect East not to cover the HQ anyway.

So we lost 6 imps when the opponents were only in 3S making 3, versus gaining 10 imps had I made 4S.

But you must soldier on – a couple of good things also happened for us, and our team mates, so we only lost the match by 7 imps and remain very much alive and well.

I didn't realize how much time this blog would take me - and I doubt I can (or want to) maintain this pace of posting - so enjoy while you can!

If anyone would like to contact me directly I can be reached at rosstaylor999@hotmail.com