An Expert Confession - by Peter Kelly


S  4
H  A92
D  AKQ
C  K98753
Dealer: South
Vulnerability: East-West

South West North East
1S(a) 2H 2NT(b) Pass
4S(c) Pass ??(d)

(a) Not playing 4D to show a "strong" pre-empt
(b) either a sound "balanced" raise to at least 3S or a transfer to clubs
(c) assumes clubs with North, so 4S was meant to indicate a self supporting suit
(d) see below
S A652
H KJ10754
D 865
C -
N
W E
S
   S 9
   H Q
   D J97432
   C J10654
S KQJ10873
H 863
D 10
C AQ

You are South waiting for partner to bid over your 4S. After considerable thought he produces a "reluctant" pass and West leads a lowish diamond.

Clearly you should be in a slam, so without much thought you win and play a trump to the 10 which holds. Then the King taken by West with the Ace, East discarding a high diamond. West now switches to to the KH which you win, East dropping the Q. Over to the AC, draw the remaining trumps and claim twelve tricks before pointing out to partner that he is more mouse than man - except that the plan quickly evaporates when West ruffs the AC and cashes two heart tricks to put 4S one down.

Moral - concentrate on the hand rather than planning a verbal assault on partner - admittedly West, who is marked with 10 cards in the majors will be short in one of the minors, but it is more likely that the clubs will be 5-0 than the diamonds 8-1.

This was my most embarrassing hand of the season (and there have been a few) although going down in game actaually only cost 3 imps against the making slam at the other table.