Paul Laliberte and I were sitting North-South, with no one vulnerable and East dealing, in an OK Bridge tournament:
NORTH (Kaplan)
♠️ 8
♥️ K 10 3
♦️ K J 10 2
♣️ A Q 7 6 5
WEST EAST
♠️ J 10 7 2 ♠️ K 3
♥️ Q 7 ♥️ 9 8 6 5 4 2
♦️ Q 7 5 ♦️ A 9 4 3
♣️ J 10 4 2 ♣️ 9
SOUTH (Laliberte))
♠️ A Q 9 6 5 4
♥️ A J
♦️ 8 6
♣️ K 8 3
The bidding proceeded as follows:
East South West North
Pass 1♠️ Pass 2♣️
2♥️! 2♠️ Pass 3NT
Pass Pass DBL 4♦️
Pass 5♣️ All Pass
Opening lead: ♥️9
I was fooled twice: first, by East’s silly heart overcall; second by West’s double asking for a heart lead. Panicking, I fled to 4♦️, which partner corrected to 5♣️. Imagine my surprise when I discovered that we held four heart honors!
After winning the opening lead with my ♥️K, I played the ♥️3 to the ♥️A, cashed the ♣️K and led the ♣️3 to the ♣️A, discovering the bad trump break.
Figuring West had at least three hearts, I played the ♥️10 to … West’s ♣️10 ruff. Then West led the ♣️J to my ♣️Q.
I finessed the ♠️Q, cashed the ♠️A, and ruffed the ♠️9 with my ♣️6. Here’s where I lost it. Stuck in my hand, I numbly played the unprotected ♦️K to East’s ♦️A. I managed to ruff the ♥️8 return; but then, I played the ♦️J to the ♦️Q. The defenders also picked up the ♠️J. Down two.
Even if you can find a way to make 5♣️, there’s no reason to be in it: 3NT makes easily with four clubs, three hearts, and two spades. If I let the defenders break diamonds, there’s probably a trick there, too. So why didn’t I leave well enough alone at 3NT?
“If you make a principled decision, stick by it,” Paul said, in advice that extends beyond the bridge table.
Amazing how bridge teachses citizenship in addition to everything else.
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