[ArtK78]

I wanted to share this hand. It occurred Sunday in either the semi-finals or the finals of the District 4 GNT. It was related to me by one of the perpetrators, who is a frequent partner of mine.

As a preliminary matter, in what contract would you want to play the following hand:

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Clearly, the obvious contracts are 7NT and 7♠. Only 5-0 spades defeats 7NT. 7♠ goes down when spades are 5-0 behind the long spades or if there is an opening ruff. If spades are 5-0 in front of the long spades, there may be a coup. And, if spades are 5-0 behind the long spades, 7♠ goes down less than 7NT.

In any case, you want to be in the grand. You would be disappointed to only get to a small slam on these cards.

My friend's teammates were in 6♠. This was a lucky mistake, as the spades were, in fact, 5-0 behind the long spades. They won a swing on the board. Was it because the opps at the other table bid the grand? NO!

At the other table, my friend, who likes to open, shall we say, somewhat light, opened the Txxxx of spades 1♠! How do you get to slam in a suit in which the opponents opened the bidding showing 5? The opps got to 3NT.

Bridge at its finest.

[Cyberyeti]

This reminds me of a hand where I opened 2♠ first up (in system with the vul in my favour) on Jxxxx and out -P-P- and RHO went into the tank with AQ10xxx and a reasonable hand, he eventually passed, I quickly wrapped up -250. Team mates bid 4♠ for +620 and 8 IMPs in a 48 board match we won by 5 IIRC.

On your hand I would want to be in 7♠ at teams, 7N at matchpoints.

[Fluffy]

When I steal their fit it is usually to turn +200 into a minus score :/

[dboxley]

Humerous, is that the funny bone?

[Zelandakh]

dboxley, on 2014-May-07, 10:40, said:

Humerous, is that the funny bone?

The humerus is the upper arm bone and the funny bone is actually the ulnar nerve. One of the possible origins for the latter is the similarity between the words humerus and humorous although I believe the etymology is still not certain.

[dboxley]

Zelandakh, on 2014-May-08, 02:39, said:

The humerus is the upper arm bone and the funny bone is actually the ulnar nerve. One of the possible origins for the latter is the similarity between the words humerus and humorous although I believe the etymology is still not certain.

A sense of humor (or humer) is said to be a sign of intelligence. I feel sorry for people without one.

[PhilKing]

ArtK78, on 2014-May-05, 13:48, said:

As a preliminary matter, in what contract would you want to play the following hand...

7NT redoubled by them, rubber bridge, with 150 honours.