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Playing Russian Roulette with Michael Cornell

Or “How high do you go, Joe?”

Joe is not his real name. If you are really interested, you could flick through the results on Board 26 at Akarana last night. What you do need to know is that Michael Cornell is sitting on your right as North…and that you have quite a decent hand:

 -

 AKQJ54

942

KJT9

 

Everyone is vulnerable. There will soon be two factors which detract from your hand. The first is your good suit is hearts. Holding spades would have been much better. The second is that after you start proceedings at the one level, your right hand opponent overcalls 2 making it look quite likely you will have two losers in that suit.

However, there was to be no more low level bidding. By the time you had your second chance to bid, the auction was already approaching the 5 level”

West          North         East            South

                                      1             2

4              4              ?

Your next action seemed quite routine, 5, which was soon raised to 5 by the 2 bidder on your left (Jonathan Westoby). Partner produced a pass card in tempo but there was a huge huddle from Michael Cornell on your right and eventually a pass. Have you had enough yet?

West          North         East            South

                                      1              2

4              4            5              5

Pass            Pass            ?

What has partner got for that 4 bid?

 Hearts? 4-5, maybe more.

 Points? Maybe like Frank Sinatra, he “had a few, but then again too few to mention”.

Shape? Certainly.

“Joe” was not finished (6) but South and West certainly were. Over then to Michael who had been within a whisker of bidding the spade slam a few seconds earlier. Now, though, he took up the offer (6) and “Joe” had one more decision in the auction:

  West                  North         East            South

                                                1              2

     4                  4             5              5

    Pass                 Pass           6              Pass

    Pass                 6              ?

“Joe” could have passed out 5. Now, should he take a relatively cheap dive at the 7 level? He backed his judgement and passed. Would he be right? A look at all four hands would not give the final answer.

 

 

 

“Joe” had no problems with the opening lead. No doubt, Michael would have been somewhat disappointed to see a heart in dummy. At trick 2, “Joe” seemed to do what his partner requested by exiting a diamond.

The gun was loaded. Would East-West survive the moment of truth?

The J was played with the 3 greeting Michael from the West seat. The 20 second, maybe 40 second, maybe 60 second pause seemed an eternity.

“Joe” survived. 13 imps came in rather than went out. Michael cashed A, ruffed a heart and exited to West’s K eliminating the need for a club finesse.

And they say bridge is not a stressful game? “They” have never played with “Joe”.

Of the other 15 tables, 14 Norths rested comfortably in 4 or 5 while one lucky East-West pair conceded just 200 in 5x. Well judged, “Joe”.

Richard Solomon

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

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