Playing with Sylvia

I always have fun playing with Sylvia on BBO.  We played a couple of team games yesterday afternoon when I should have been driving in the convertible with the top down.  I did enjoy the bridge though.

I did something I don’t normally do.  You can decide if I was a bit “out to lunch” on this deal in one of those team games. 

J95432
9
K 
K9653

The problem on this hand was the vulnerability (we were, they weren’t).  Don’t you hate being 6-5 and passing throughout?  Well I did and I didn’t (pass that is).  East started things off with a diamond.  I patiently passed and West bid 1.  When East splintered in spades I was pretty sure our side had a fit in at least one of the black suits and maybe both.  West cuebid clubs and Sylvia doubled.  East bid Blackwood.  Here was the auction so far:

West	Sylvia	East	Linda
		1	pass (patiently)
1	pass	3 (shortness)	pass
4	pass	4NT	?

I figured that Sylvia was going to be on lead and I wanted a club lead and even though this was a partnership, pairs don’t always have a clear agreement about what happens over interference (and hey I was 6-5) so I bid 5.  West passed (this wasn’t alerted but he had 1 keycard (and the heart queen).   and East proceeded to 6 which I take it meant they had their act together.  Sylvia led the A and this was the whole hand

	Sylvia Q10 63 9764  AJ874
AK86 Q10875 1032  Q		7 AKJ42 AQJ85  102
	Linda J95432 9 K  K9653

I encouraged and declarer ruffed the second club.  My only real worry was whether there was any way my bid had given away the position of the diamond king.  But no, declarer finessed for 1 down. 

I was glad I was playing this hand online so I didn’t have to do the poker face thing if declarer decided to stare me down before taking the diamond finesse.

At the other table they played in game so we won some imps.  5 doubled isn’t terrible.  I will have to play carefully but I should go only two down.