Playing bridge against the big boys

How nice to have a chance to play online against Chris Compton and Bob Hamman and have a great auction in front of 158 kibbitzers?.  But first an opening lead problem for you.

 

You are sitting in Bob Hammond’s sea,  North red on white and you hold

♠ 7 ♥  109873 ◊ K765 ♣ Q63

 

Here is the auction you hear:

 

 

West	East
1♣	1♠
1NT	2♣
2NT	3♠
4♠

 

What do you lead?

 

Answer at the end of the post.

 

Dave Grainger and Jon Rice had an opportunity to shine on this hand against Hamman and Compton.  Here is David Grainger’s hand.

 

♠ AQJ9865 ♥  void ◊K8 ♣ KQ83

 

With everyone vulnerable, Chris Compton (South passes) and you open 1♠.  Partner bids 2◊ (playing 2/1) and you bid 2♠.  Partner bids 2NT and you bid 3♠ and partner bids 4♠

. 

West	East
1♠	2◊
2♠	2NT
3♠	4♠
?

 

Over to you.  What is your bid and your bidding plan?  David bid 5♣ and partner bid 5◊. 

 

Now David  was going to slam but he wasn’t done.  He continued 5♥and partner bid 6♣.  David had only one more problem the ♠K.  So he made a grand slam try with 6◊ and Jon knew he had what was needed.  Here was Jon’s hand

 

♠ K7 ♥ KJ72 ◊ AJ97 ♣A54

 

A grand slam in spades that noone else bid and no Blackwood in sight (not even exclusion).  Yes, Virginia you can bid a grand slam without asking for aces!

 

 

 

	Bob
	♠ 7
	♥  109873
	◊ K765
David	♣  Q63	Jon
♠ AQJ1093		♠ 64
♥ AQ54		♥  K62
◊ 942		◊ J103
♣ void	Chris	♣  AKJ75
	♠ K852
	♥  J
	◊ AQ8
	♣ 109842

 

 

 

Answer to opening lead problem

 

You have to lead a diamond.  Partner has a trump trick and you can take three quick diamond tricks.  Anything else allows declarer to pitch two diamonds on high clubs.