Hi all
I’m not really into individual events, they’re more like a lottery instead of a real tournament. And that I tend to score badly in individual tournaments doesn’t help either. But the Dombo Individual is something I keep checked in my agenda every year. (Mostly) nice partners and opponents all the way and all day. The bridge is from another dimension I think, but the atmosphere is excellent.
Keeping things easy:
21. No weak 2’s in our arsenal and it’s too far from an opening bid
2. I have way too much for just 4
I was happy my partner raised himself to slam, it seemed I got my message across.
My partner ruffed the lead, drew a round of trumps and then put his attention to the 
suit. When West inserted a high the play was over. Claim +1430.
Later at the bar I had a small discussion how to tackle the suit. If, and I stress ”if", you play for the to be 4-1, the best play is to lead a small one to the 9 in dummy. If East has won the trick with a bare honour, you are still well placed to finesse against West’s remaining honours. Plus, you can tackle the current layout where West holds all three honours. There must be some math guy out there who can work out the odds…
What about 100% when spades break 1-1. After ruffing a
, you play the Ace of 
and ruff a 
, cross in 
and see the break. Now ruff a 
, a 
, a 
and cross again in 
.
, three 
and has made a preemptive 4
bid, even at a drunken Dombo night, this seems to promise six 
. Therefore: no four 
behind the AKxx.
up and you cover whatever West plays. Either you place the lead in East who will be thrown in if he has only one 
, or you can execute a throw-in against West who had to break his QJTx. With 
2-0 you have to handle the hand with a little more care (avoiding overruffs that is) but the ending is just the same. This only fails if the preempt has QJTx of 
, in a 0643 hand as he can return a high 
and wait for the setting trick. But with QJxx he will still be killed. Smooth!
East has shown up with one
You play a
Thanks Kees for working out the best plan. I have nothing to add to your analysis.
I like this game a lot. There’s some technique involved and I’m still very proud of my 5
bid. Superb trumps support, rich in controls, the only thing I want to know from partner if we have enough tricks to take in slam. And partner valued his hand right.
Our undisputed winner (Kees-Jan) went one better when he was partnering me. After 1
by me and a 4
overcall, he bid 5
, undeniably showing a heart void. Bidding the slam was easy after that. Playing it was even easier when East decided to lead a small diamond, which had “singleton” written all over it. Take the trick, cross in spades, run the 
9 and claim…
What would you do with the South hand if East preempted with 5
? He has got 8 of them after all. If the opponents double you and take 800 they should have a slam. After 5
South will probably still bid 5
, but it does not really convey the same message. I don’t think that North will move to slam with Qx in hearts.