{"id":723,"date":"2010-12-02T11:01:53","date_gmt":"2010-12-02T11:01:53","guid":{"rendered":"http:\/\/www.bridgehands.com\/bridgeblog\/?p=723"},"modified":"2010-12-02T11:47:48","modified_gmt":"2010-12-02T11:47:48","slug":"2010-fall-nabc-senior-ko-board-57","status":"publish","type":"post","link":"https:\/\/www.bridgehands.com\/bridgeblog\/?p=723","title":{"rendered":"2010 Fall NABC: Senior KO, Board 57"},"content":{"rendered":"

Board 57 Senior KO Round 4 of 4<\/strong><\/p>\n

Going into Board 57, the Knock Out match was neck and neck.\u00a0\u00a0\u00a0But still waters can only last so long and on this hand the sparks flew on both tables.\u00a0\u00a0 With favorable vulnerability, how do you feel about a preemptive 2 Heart opening bid in first seat with 2=5=4=2 shape?\u00a0 Well, Bob Hamman’s the bid ultimately drove the opponents to a 4 Spade contract they ultimately would not have chanced.<\/strong><\/p>\n

At least that’s what partner Zia believed when he doubled Bates 4 Spade bid.\u00a0 When partner preempts but then leads another suit, most often it’s a singleton and pard is looking for an immediate ruff.\u00a0 But recall Hamman’s shape was 2=5=4=2 so the lead of the Club 8 was from a doubleton.\u00a0 Zia, believing Bob Hamman was short returned the Club Ace – but it turned out declarer Bates held the stiff Club, leading to a ruff of Zia’s Ace.\u00a0 Ouch, any return other than\u00a0the Ace or a Diamond sets the contract.\u00a0\u00a0 Playing double dummy is sooo much easier than only seeing half the cards after long hours of grueling play.\u00a0 Do you think when Bob and Zia went to sleep that night they both wish the opening lead would have been the top of sequence Diamond 10?\u00a0 Might that lead have come if Zia didn’t risk the double of\u00a04 Spades?\u00a0 Did the dark angel wisper for Zia to return the Club Ace instead of the neutral Spade Queen?\u00a0 Questions, questions, questions – that’s what keeps us Bridge-types going…<\/strong><\/p>\n

So when the dust settled in the Open Room, Bates chalked up 790, 4 Spades doubled, making and vulnerable.\u00a0 Let’s look at the action before going to the other table…<\/strong><\/p>\n\n\n\n\n
\n

Board 57
\nNorth Deals
\nE-W Vul<\/h2>\n<\/td>\n

\n

\u2660 9 6
\n\u2665 A Q J 8 3
\n\u2666 10 9 8 6
\n\u2663 8 6<\/h2>\n<\/td>\n<\/tr>\n

\n

\u2660 J 10 8 7 5 3
\n\u2665 6 4 2
\n\u2666 A 7 5
\n\u2663 7<\/h2>\n<\/td>\n

\n\n\n\n\n\n\n
\n

N<\/h2>\n<\/td>\n<\/tr>\n

\n

W<\/h2>\n<\/td>\n

\n

\u00a0<\/h2>\n<\/td>\n

\n

E<\/h2>\n<\/td>\n<\/tr>\n

\n

S<\/h2>\n<\/td>\n<\/tr>\n<\/tbody>\n<\/table>\n<\/td>\n

\n

\u2660 A K 4
\n\u2665 K 10 9
\n\u2666 Q 4 3
\n\u2663 K J 10 4<\/h2>\n<\/td>\n<\/tr>\n

\n

\u00a0<\/h2>\n<\/td>\n

\n

\u2660 Q 2
\n\u2665 7 5
\n\u2666 K J 2
\n\u2663 A Q 9 5 3 2<\/h2>\n<\/td>\n<\/tr>\n<\/tbody>\n<\/table>\n

<\/h2>\n\n\n<\/col>\n<\/colgroup>\n\n\n\n\n\n\n
\n

West<\/h2>\n<\/td>\n

\n

North<\/h2>\n<\/td>\n

\n

East<\/h2>\n<\/td>\n

\n

South<\/h2>\n<\/td>\n<\/tr>\n

\n

Bates<\/h2>\n<\/td>\n

\n

Hamman<\/h2>\n<\/td>\n

\n

Wold<\/h2>\n<\/td>\n

\n

Zia<\/h2>\n<\/td>\n<\/tr>\n

\n

\u00a0<\/h2>\n<\/td>\n

\n

2 \u2665<\/h2>\n<\/td>\n

\n

2 N<\/h2>\n<\/td>\n

\n

3 \u2665<\/h2>\n<\/td>\n<\/tr>\n

\n

3 \u2660<\/h2>\n<\/td>\n

\n

Pass<\/h2>\n<\/td>\n

\n

4 \u2660<\/h2>\n<\/td>\n

\n

Dbl<\/h2>\n<\/td>\n<\/tr>\n

\n

Pass<\/h2>\n<\/td>\n

\n

Pass<\/h2>\n<\/td>\n

\n

Pass<\/h2>\n<\/td>\n<\/tr>\n<\/tbody>\n<\/table>\n

<\/h2>\n\n\n\n
\n

4 \u2660 x by West<\/h2>\n<\/td>\n<\/tr>\n<\/tbody>\n<\/table>\n

<\/h2>\n\n\n<\/col>\n<\/colgroup>\n\n\n\n\n\n\n\n\n\n\n\n
\n

Trick<\/h2>\n<\/td>\n

\n

Lead<\/h2>\n<\/td>\n

\n

2nd<\/h2>\n<\/td>\n

\n

3rd<\/h2>\n<\/td>\n

\n

4th<\/h2>\n<\/td>\n<\/tr>\n

\n

1. N<\/h2>\n<\/td>\n

\n

\u2663 8<\/h2>\n<\/td>\n

\n

J<\/h2>\n<\/td>\n

\n

Q<\/h2>\n<\/td>\n

\n

7<\/h2>\n<\/td>\n<\/tr>\n

\n

2. S<\/h2>\n<\/td>\n

\n

\u2663 A<\/h2>\n<\/td>\n

\n

\u2660 7<\/h2>\n<\/td>\n

\n

6<\/h2>\n<\/td>\n

\n

4<\/h2>\n<\/td>\n<\/tr>\n

\n

3. W<\/h2>\n<\/td>\n

\n

\u2660 5<\/h2>\n<\/td>\n

\n

6<\/h2>\n<\/td>\n

\n

A<\/h2>\n<\/td>\n

\n

2<\/h2>\n<\/td>\n<\/tr>\n

\n

4. E<\/h2>\n<\/td>\n

\n

\u2660 K<\/h2>\n<\/td>\n

\n

Q<\/h2>\n<\/td>\n

\n

3<\/h2>\n<\/td>\n

\n

9<\/h2>\n<\/td>\n<\/tr>\n

\n

5. E<\/h2>\n<\/td>\n

\n

\u2663 K<\/h2>\n<\/td>\n

\n

2<\/h2>\n<\/td>\n

\n

\u2666 5<\/h2>\n<\/td>\n

\n

\u2665 8<\/h2>\n<\/td>\n<\/tr>\n

\n

6. E<\/h2>\n<\/td>\n

\n

\u2663 10<\/h2>\n<\/td>\n

\n

3<\/h2>\n<\/td>\n

\n

\u2666 7<\/h2>\n<\/td>\n

\n

\u2665 3<\/h2>\n<\/td>\n<\/tr>\n

\n

7. E<\/h2>\n<\/td>\n

\n

\u2666 3<\/h2>\n<\/td>\n

\n

J<\/h2>\n<\/td>\n

\n

A<\/h2>\n<\/td>\n

\n

6<\/h2>\n<\/td>\n<\/tr>\n

\n

8. W<\/h2>\n<\/td>\n

\n

\u2665 4<\/h2>\n<\/td>\n

\n

A<\/h2>\n<\/td>\n

\n

9<\/h2>\n<\/td>\n

\n

5<\/h2>\n<\/td>\n<\/tr>\n

\n

9. N<\/h2>\n<\/td>\n

\n

\u2666 10<\/h2>\n<\/td>\n

\n

Q<\/h2>\n<\/td>\n

\n

K<\/h2>\n<\/td>\n

\n

\u2660 8<\/h2>\n<\/td>\n<\/tr>\n<\/tbody>\n<\/table>\n

Meanwhile, in the other room, Drewski also opened 2 Hearts holding the 2=5=4=2 shape.\u00a0 Does that make your head spin just a bit?\u00a0 Again, this was followed by a 2 Notrump balancing bid by Ekeblad.\u00a0 However, this time South (Krekorian) quietly passed.\u00a0 And sitting West, Rubin, jumped to 4 Hearts – a Texas Transfer to 4 Spades by Ekeblad.\u00a0 So this time the lead came from the other side of the table, with the Notrump bidder’s hand closed.<\/strong><\/p>\n

Normally, playing the strong hand as declarer is good for about a trick.\u00a0 But not so on this hand.\u00a0 Krekorian was not about to lead his unprotected Club Ace, instead leading the normal high Heart 7 from doubleton.\u00a0\u00a0 So this time, seeing the dummy’s exact shape (singleton Club and 5 red suit losers, the defenders got all their due tricks to set declarer Ekeblad by 2 tricks, down 200.<\/strong><\/p>\n

So much for still waters with a 990 point swing to the O’Rourke team over Meltzer’s boys.\u00a0 Here’s the board in the Closed Room.<\/strong><\/p>\n

<\/p>\n\n\n\n\n
\n

Board 57
\nNorth Deals
\nE-W Vul<\/h2>\n<\/td>\n

\n

\u2660 9 6
\n\u2665 A Q J 8 3
\n\u2666 10 9 8 6
\n\u2663 8 6<\/h2>\n<\/td>\n<\/tr>\n

\n

\u2660 J 10 8 7 5 3
\n\u2665 6 4 2
\n\u2666 A 7 5
\n\u2663 7<\/h2>\n<\/td>\n

\n\n\n\n\n\n\n
\n

N<\/h2>\n<\/td>\n<\/tr>\n

\n

W<\/h2>\n<\/td>\n

\n

\u00a0<\/h2>\n<\/td>\n

\n

E<\/h2>\n<\/td>\n<\/tr>\n

\n

S<\/h2>\n<\/td>\n<\/tr>\n<\/tbody>\n<\/table>\n<\/td>\n

\n

\u2660 A K 4
\n\u2665 K 10 9
\n\u2666 Q 4 3
\n\u2663 K J 10 4<\/h2>\n<\/td>\n<\/tr>\n

\n

\u00a0<\/h2>\n<\/td>\n

\n

\u2660 Q 2
\n\u2665 7 5
\n\u2666 K J 2
\n\u2663 A Q 9 5 3 2<\/h2>\n<\/td>\n<\/tr>\n<\/tbody>\n<\/table>\n

<\/h2>\n\n\n<\/col>\n<\/colgroup>\n\n\n\n\n\n\n
\n

West<\/h2>\n<\/td>\n

\n

North<\/h2>\n<\/td>\n

\n

East<\/h2>\n<\/td>\n

\n

South<\/h2>\n<\/td>\n<\/tr>\n

\n

Rubin<\/h2>\n<\/td>\n

\n

Drewski<\/h2>\n<\/td>\n

\n

Ekeblad<\/h2>\n<\/td>\n

\n

Krekorian<\/h2>\n<\/td>\n<\/tr>\n

\n

\u00a0<\/h2>\n<\/td>\n

\n

2 \u2665<\/h2>\n<\/td>\n

\n

2 N<\/h2>\n<\/td>\n

\n

Pass<\/h2>\n<\/td>\n<\/tr>\n

\n

4 \u2665<\/h2>\n<\/td>\n

\n

Pass<\/h2>\n<\/td>\n

\n

4 \u2660<\/h2>\n<\/td>\n

\n

Pass<\/h2>\n<\/td>\n<\/tr>\n

\n

Pass<\/h2>\n<\/td>\n

\n

Pass<\/h2>\n<\/td>\n<\/tr>\n<\/tbody>\n<\/table>\n

<\/h2>\n\n\n\n
\n

4 \u2660 by East<\/h2>\n<\/td>\n<\/tr>\n<\/tbody>\n<\/table>\n

<\/h2>\n\n\n<\/col>\n<\/colgroup>\n\n\n\n\n\n\n\n\n\n\n\n
\n

Trick<\/h2>\n<\/td>\n

\n

Lead<\/h2>\n<\/td>\n

\n

2nd<\/h2>\n<\/td>\n

\n

3rd<\/h2>\n<\/td>\n

\n

4th<\/h2>\n<\/td>\n<\/tr>\n

\n

1. S<\/h2>\n<\/td>\n

\n

\u2665 7<\/h2>\n<\/td>\n

\n

2<\/h2>\n<\/td>\n

\n

J<\/h2>\n<\/td>\n

\n

K<\/h2>\n<\/td>\n<\/tr>\n

\n

2. E<\/h2>\n<\/td>\n

\n

\u2660 A<\/h2>\n<\/td>\n

\n

2<\/h2>\n<\/td>\n

\n

3<\/h2>\n<\/td>\n

\n

6<\/h2>\n<\/td>\n<\/tr>\n

\n

3. E<\/h2>\n<\/td>\n

\n

\u2660 K<\/h2>\n<\/td>\n

\n

Q<\/h2>\n<\/td>\n

\n

7<\/h2>\n<\/td>\n

\n

9<\/h2>\n<\/td>\n<\/tr>\n

\n

4. E<\/h2>\n<\/td>\n

\n

\u2663 K<\/h2>\n<\/td>\n

\n

A<\/h2>\n<\/td>\n

\n

7<\/h2>\n<\/td>\n

\n

8<\/h2>\n<\/td>\n<\/tr>\n

\n

5. S<\/h2>\n<\/td>\n

\n

\u2665 5<\/h2>\n<\/td>\n

\n

4<\/h2>\n<\/td>\n

\n

Q<\/h2>\n<\/td>\n

\n

9<\/h2>\n<\/td>\n<\/tr>\n

\n

6. N<\/h2>\n<\/td>\n

\n

\u2665 A<\/h2>\n<\/td>\n

\n

T<\/h2>\n<\/td>\n

\n

\u2663 2<\/h2>\n<\/td>\n

\n

6<\/h2>\n<\/td>\n<\/tr>\n

\n

7. N<\/h2>\n<\/td>\n

\n

\u2666 10<\/h2>\n<\/td>\n

\n

Q<\/h2>\n<\/td>\n

\n

K<\/h2>\n<\/td>\n

\n

A<\/h2>\n<\/td>\n<\/tr>\n

\n

8. W<\/h2>\n<\/td>\n

\n

\u2666 5<\/h2>\n<\/td>\n

\n

6<\/h2>\n<\/td>\n

\n

3<\/h2>\n<\/td>\n

\n

2<\/h2>\n<\/td>\n<\/tr>\n

\n

9. N<\/h2>\n<\/td>\n

\n

\u2666 9<\/h2>\n<\/td>\n

\n

4<\/h2>\n<\/td>\n

\n

J<\/h2>\n<\/td>\n

\n

7<\/h2>\n<\/td>\n<\/tr>\n<\/tbody>\n<\/table>\n

And so as the evening went on, and On, and\u00a0ON – the play was EXTREMELY slow.\u00a0\u00a0Eventually even\u00a0\u00a0the Director couldn’t resist\u00a0chiding the players to do *something* with the play running late and hour our two after most mortals would finish.\u00a0 But at the end of a critical and close team KO game, mortals are all tucked in their beds.\u00a0\u00a0 Yet the momentum began swinging with this pivotal board with the O’Rourke team winning the match by a modest margin.\u00a0\u00a0 And on the next evening, they outright clobbered their opponents to win all the gold.\u00a0\u00a0 Well done – great play to the team who seemed to defy gravity!\u00a0 And who said the out-of-town “away team” gets sleepy, anyway?<\/strong><\/p>\n

Epilogue – While many viewers probably nod their head if partner makes a preemptive 2 Heart call with 2=5=4=2, top players use advanced hand evaluation and tend to “mix it up” a bit when conditions are right.\u00a0 Here’s some of their considerations:<\/strong><\/p>\n

1. Favorable vulnerability – check
\n2. First seat (better than second seat) – check
\n3. Positive shape (5-4-2-2 better than 5-3-3-2) – check
\n4. Four card suit suit not a major – check
\n5.\u00a0 Ideal strength (7-8 losers) – check
\n6. Top players in the world – check<\/p>\n

And as we have witnessed in a top team game, it’s “mano-a-mano” which helps explain why both players opened 2 Hearts.\u00a0 In fact it was Bob Hamman who once explained the following difference between an IMP and Matchpoint duplicate Bridge game (not an exact quote):<\/strong><\/p>\n

“… In a team IMP\u00a0game, it’s like two prize fighting boxers going at it for 15 rounds with the best man left standing.\u00a0\u00a0 However, in a Matchpoint game, you put the two prize fighters in the ring with a bunch of lunatics…”<\/p>\n","protected":false},"excerpt":{"rendered":"

Board 57 Senior KO Round 4 of 4 Going into Board 57, the Knock Out match was neck and neck.\u00a0\u00a0\u00a0But still waters can only last so long and on this hand the sparks flew on both tables.\u00a0\u00a0 With favorable vulnerability, how do you feel about a preemptive 2 Heart opening bid in first seat with […]<\/p>\n","protected":false},"author":1,"featured_media":0,"comment_status":"open","ping_status":"open","sticky":false,"template":"","format":"standard","meta":[],"categories":[20],"tags":[],"_links":{"self":[{"href":"https:\/\/www.bridgehands.com\/bridgeblog\/index.php?rest_route=\/wp\/v2\/posts\/723"}],"collection":[{"href":"https:\/\/www.bridgehands.com\/bridgeblog\/index.php?rest_route=\/wp\/v2\/posts"}],"about":[{"href":"https:\/\/www.bridgehands.com\/bridgeblog\/index.php?rest_route=\/wp\/v2\/types\/post"}],"author":[{"embeddable":true,"href":"https:\/\/www.bridgehands.com\/bridgeblog\/index.php?rest_route=\/wp\/v2\/users\/1"}],"replies":[{"embeddable":true,"href":"https:\/\/www.bridgehands.com\/bridgeblog\/index.php?rest_route=%2Fwp%2Fv2%2Fcomments&post=723"}],"version-history":[{"count":14,"href":"https:\/\/www.bridgehands.com\/bridgeblog\/index.php?rest_route=\/wp\/v2\/posts\/723\/revisions"}],"predecessor-version":[{"id":734,"href":"https:\/\/www.bridgehands.com\/bridgeblog\/index.php?rest_route=\/wp\/v2\/posts\/723\/revisions\/734"}],"wp:attachment":[{"href":"https:\/\/www.bridgehands.com\/bridgeblog\/index.php?rest_route=%2Fwp%2Fv2%2Fmedia&parent=723"}],"wp:term":[{"taxonomy":"category","embeddable":true,"href":"https:\/\/www.bridgehands.com\/bridgeblog\/index.php?rest_route=%2Fwp%2Fv2%2Fcategories&post=723"},{"taxonomy":"post_tag","embeddable":true,"href":"https:\/\/www.bridgehands.com\/bridgeblog\/index.php?rest_route=%2Fwp%2Fv2%2Ftags&post=723"}],"curies":[{"name":"wp","href":"https:\/\/api.w.org\/{rel}","templated":true}]}}