Bridge Big: Scrubbed

Hi all

I’m getting my feet wet not just playing online. Sessions at BC Star and BCO, interacting with my bridge buddies (close by & far away) and tournaments all over the Netherlands in various degrees of success. I feel like I’m getting back into shape. 

This deal is from Bridge Big. Afterwards I felt scrubbed, not only from losing a few pennies, but because I was on the receiving end of competent declarer play.

West
North
East
South
 
 
1
pass
2NT1
pass
3
pass
4
pass
4
pass
4
pass
4
a.p.
  1. Invitational+ with fit

I watch the auction unfold and though I’m afraid they’ll end up in slam (never good for your wallet unless they go down) the opponents screech to a halt in 4. Now what to lead?

South
K
QT94
QT87
Q954

I decided to lead a , but I don’t claim it’s clear-cut or obvious.

West
AT4
K32
K932
A82
South
K
QT94
QT87
Q954

My lead doesn’t work out as my partner is only able to contribute a measly little pebble, declarer’s Jack winning the trick. Next I have to surrender my King when declarer leads a small . In rapid succession declarer plays four more rounds of trumps (me discarding a bunch of unimportant ), the King of , Ace of and a low . I throw my Queen hoping to seduce declarer into thinking dummy’s 9 is good. On the Ace of declarer pitches a and finding a discard becomes a little sweaty.

West
K3
9
8
South
QT9
T

My sweaty discard turns into a full blown nightmare when declarer asks for dummy’s and ruffs it with his last trump. I’m dead.

West Dealer
NS Vul
North
8763
J5
54
JT763
West
AT4
K32
K932
A82
East
QJ952
A876
AJ6
K
South
K
QT94
QT87
Q954

I lost €0.52 but that’s really just pennies compared to the pain of being subjected to what seems a very conscious and well executed squeeze.

Noteworthy metamorphosis: Unemployed ⇒ Employed.