Posted 2015-August-07, 15:38
About 30 years ago, I was playing in a two-session individual at the Santa Rosa California Regional.
Individuals... are like a box of chocolates, you never know what you'll get. As I moved to my next table about halfway through the first session, I found myself sitting at a table of bridge archetypes.
Across from me: The Little Old Lady, gray-haired, somewhat tremulous in body, but clear in mind and voice. She was tall enough to ride the rides at an amusement park, but they would have wanted her to stand against the sign to be sure.
To my left: The Grizzled Veteran. Closely cropped hair that I'm sure would still have been a crewcut had he had enough of it on top. His jaw was the example of squareness, his manner stiff and erect -- although he might not have been more than 5'6" or so. While there was no smoking on the event floor, my image of him to this day includes a cigar I am sure I only imagined, clenched between his teeth.
Last, on my right was the Sweet Young Thing. I won't bore you with a description of her loveliness or innocence; I will not describe her fair skin or flowing tresses or perfect complexion -- my god, I was married then, and I'm married now, and who knows how much trouble I could stir up with a careless word!
In any case, you're sitting in 4th seat, they are vulnerable and you are not, and you pick up
xx
-
AJxxxx
KJxxx
and hear the auction unfold:
GV LOL SYT You!
2C Dbl 2D ??
I am sure that my partner has some long and good clubs. I am pretty sure my RHO has some diamonds and a decent hand. I am just about positive that N/S (the bad guys) can make at least a slam, as I consider my possible actions.
3C? Hardly seems enough
4C? Better, but...
5C? Everybody's doing that.
Some number of diamonds? How many... but more importantly, why?
I finally come to the conclusion that only one bid accurately describes this hand's playing strength, and also tells partner the most important thing: what to lead!
GV LOL SYT You!
2C Dbl 2D 4H(!)
I am sorry to say that history did not preserve the rest of the auction. It probably had something to do with GV first doubling, only to hear SYT pull to 5D. In any case, they ended up, confused, in 6NT by SYT, and despite my lead-directing bid, I found myself on lead.
My 4th-best club hits the table, and dummy comes down with
AKJT
AKQJTxxxx
-
-
clearly one of the most nearly perfect hands in bridge.
My partner, the blessed LOL, won her ace of clubs and returned a club to capture whatever card SYT had. I made sure to cash the diamond ace before continuing clubs. With six clubs and a diamond, we scored seven tricks for a +600.
SYT had Qx of spades (the Queen being the only card that mattered) and a heart or two. The grand Slam in hearts was so cold that N/S got below average for bidding only six and making (as everyone did) seven -- I don't think a single N/S pair bid less than 6H, nor made less than 13 tricks, save at our table: the only plus score for E/W in the entire field of... well over a hundred tables, probably over 200, I wish I could remember!
But no good deed goes unpunished. Somebody talked, it seems, behind my back. Session two, the next night, came, and as I would sit down at each table, somebody would invariably point and say, "Oh, you're the one who got that plus on board xx!" And even though I played brilliantly, my partners thought I was ever-so-much-more clever than I actually was. Seriously -- on hand after hand, I made a trick (or two!) more than the field. But sadly, I would be in 4S off one because my partner raised on an underpointed hand, while the field would be in 2S making.
I think I ended the second session about a half-board below average, for what it's worth, and didn't come anywhere near placing in the overalls. But that one hand, and that just right 4H call, will be mine to remember forever.
Liberty breeds responsibility
Help
. Won 2 on the board.
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ing) tr. v. - Any bid made by bridge player with which partner disagrees.