Something good from Nashville
Author: Larry Cohen
Date of publish: 08/08/2007
Level: Intermediate to Advanced
A BIG NUMBER IN NASHVILLE
In a Spingold match in Nashville (2007), I held:
A K 3
A K
K Q J 9 6
A 10 4
With neither side vulnerable, I was dealt this monstrous hand. Fortunately, I was playing with my regular partner, David Berkowitz, so I was able to open a Precision Club.
Opponents love to interfere against Precision. Usually, I find that low-level (1- or 2-level) interference actually helps us! It gives us the ability to make takeout- or card-showing doubles and also helps us place the cards during the play. My LHO interfered by jumping to 2
, alerted.
David (who incidentally wrote an excellent book called Precision Today) asked for the meaning and was told: "diamonds and a major."
Hmmm. David doubled to show "cards". This meant he probably had about 5-8 HCP with any distribution. (With more, he'd have bid a 5-card suit, or notrump). My RHO passed, apparently willing to play in diamonds.
I was also willing. I passed and LHO passed! The final contract was 2
X!!
East |
South |
West |
North |
Larry |
LHO |
David |
RHO |
1 * |
2 ** |
Double*** |
Pass |
Pass |
Pass |
|
|
*=Precision
**=D+Maj
***=5-8 HCP
It was Christmas in July. David led a trump and the full deal was:
Vul: None Dlr: East |
6 4
10 9 2
10 5
Q J 9 8 3 2
|
|
Q 10 5 2
8 7 6 4 3
2
K 7 5
|
|
A K 3
A K
K Q J 9 6
A 10 4
|
|
J 9 8 7
Q J 5
A 8 7 4 3
6
|
|
Declarer won the diamond lead and played the
Q. I won and drew a few rounds of trumps, followed by ace, king, and another spade. David took his spades (I threw a low club) and all declarer could get were his 2 natural diamond tricks. Down 6, 1400. At the other table, East-West did well to avoid reaching a slam. They proudly read off "plus 460" to their teammates, and were dismayed to learn that this was a LOSS of 14 IMPs against 1400.