Sin! Leading Singletons!

It was a rowdy day at BBR.

6 and 7 card fits making overtricks in game - Slams getting doubled and going down - Phantom sacrifices!

Playing with a regular partner, I found myself in a horrible contract after a bidding disagreement once again. There's only one way this contract makes....

Yes. You guessed it...

Pre-empts, Doubling and Team Bidding!

During a fun week at the Orlando Regional Tournament, I encountered many ridiculous hands as well as ridiculous people. 

We had done well most of the week and started a new knockout.

Thirsty for more blood and gold, we found ourselves in a tight match.

While I won't blame the entire outcome on one hand, this was definitely one of the most sinful swings of the match.

Return of the (sinful) Redouble

I swore to myself I would never do it again...

The sacred blue card would never hit the table again as long as my ACBL membership dues were paid.

No, not the alert card.

The Redouble.

It was a rescue situation. Or was it? And who was rescuing who?

Defensive Awesomeness #1/Declarer Error

Backed up in my bank of fun hands is this little nugget.

Playing some boring 2 Spade contract suddenly got interesting when I discovered how brilliant my partner was being.

Good defense thrives on the declarer's 'sins.' Although this isn't anything that would knock you into the 9th level of hell, it's still kinda interesting (however basic).

Defensive Error(?) / Endplay #1!!

I played this hand last month after an excruciatingly, long holiday break...

I find myself sitting in the money seat. Maybe it's the fact that I haven't seen cards for a week or maybe I really am getting all the fun hands.

Either way it's a good day. I'm above ground and I'm playing bridge. What more can you ask for?

How about an awesome endplay!?'

Guest Post 1 - 6 Notrump Double Dummy

You are West, and your task is to make 6NT on best defense. Since this is a double dummy problem, you don't have to think about what the bidding was. Try it with three opening lead conditions:

1. Small club from North
2. Small spade from North
3. Any lead from North (except the ♠A, which is too easy)

Here is the layout:

Bon voyage!

ht to Eli Solomon for this interesting problem!

Bidding Error

I'm depressed.

The bridge club is closed today and tomorrow for something called "Christmas." Mother has told me I can't leave the house on Friday.

Only two days of bridge this week.

Maybe while the family dreams of sugar plums dancing, I'll hop on Bridge Base and play extremely aggressive bridge with my new friends in one of the Koreas - whichever the good one is.

My sins have been pretty uninspiring the last few days. Not paying attention to spots, not cashing Aces to avoid overtricks, under leading kings at the wrong time, weird defense on weird lines of play...

Nothing has really jumped out at me, so it's time to pick on my partner, who did something we all do and it's worth looking at.

How much are those extra 10 points worth in no trump?

Declarer Error #2 - Blocking

My partner and I are playing against some new faces at a sectional tournament in the penultimate round. The afternoon has been somewhat torturous. We've had plenty of bad luck and not enough good cards to really do much. 

Our best auction of the day brings us to a 6 Hearts contract which I very delicately play. The contract is ice cold, and it sort of feels that way, but I make sure to protect myself against the rare spade break that would allow me to set myself. This careful play (coupled with the long auction) would eventually earn us a few snarky remarks from our opponents at the next table who were impatiently waiting for us.

Two hands later, this same careful play was totally thrown out the window on a hand that looked like my cat could have played it.

I misplayed it and went down.

My cat would have made overtricks.

Declarer Error #1

It's 12:29 PM. I stand outside, waiting for the last snowflake to hit my tongue. 

It misses, hitting my sweatshirt.

I lick it off my my shoulder.

Mmmm.

I love winter.

This next hand has a little bid of everything. Bad sac potential, a defensive error and a declarer error.

Better Bidding? - #2. You decide.

Late night sess on BBO with humans.

It's one of the few opportunities I get to hang out with the Swedes anymore.

The expletives have been flying from across the pond as opponents rotate in and out frequently, criticizing each other's weak 2 bids, yelling at each other for not leading stiff Queens and passing forcing bids. 

My partner is a fellow yankee, calls herself 'intermediate' and plays all my favorite gadgets. She's stuck around for 8 hands or so and we've done pretty well according to my standards of discipline and reason. We set 4HXX two, made 3HX (that'll teach those Canadians to double my balancing bids - lolz) and set 2NT (after a 2S opening on 5 to the King - 2NT by his partner, swish. Great time to lead my doubleton club, hitting partner with 6 to the Qeverything)

And then I pick up this puppy...

Woof!