|
|
An unscientific way to bid a hand
 THIS
spectacular hand was played on the worldwide computer system, OKBridge.
South blasted into 6C on the second round. It was an unscientific way to
bid the hand (not that science always pays when you have a freak
distribution).  South might have bid 4C at his second turn, or perhaps a
fourth-suit-forcing 2S, to be followed by a further bid in clubs. Would
you expect the slam to be made? West led the ace of spades, his partner
playing the 4. He then switched to the ace of hearts. Declarer ruffed,
drew trumps, and claimed the contract. The result sheet showed that
three Souths had made 7C on the ace of hearts lead, two of them having
been doubled. Six Souths had made 6C, one of them doubled. Only two
Souths had gone down in 6C. Playing in the ‘correct’ contract of 5C,
twelve Souths had made 13 tricks, four had made 12 tricks, and only two
had been held to 11 tricks. There was one other score: 7NT doubled and
500 down! I don’t really blame the West players for letting through a
slam. The standard of play on OKBridge is high and the result sheet
showed how difficult this defensive problem was.
— David Bird
|
