This was a hand from the first of two 12 board matches played in our Solomon Teams match last night. My team won the match 18-14, with the only large adverse swing coming on a hand where both sides opened 2
♠ vul in 1st seat and responder had to decide what to do with --- KJ8xx AQJ9x KTx. Our teammate at the other table passed, and scored +110. Our opponent at our table bid 3
♥ (natural and forcing) and got raised to 4
♥ by opener who held AJ9xxx 9x K Q8xx. So, the hands are:
A low club was led, to the J and K. Declarer played a diamond to dummy, cashed the ♠A pitching a club*, and ran the ♥9 to the Q (covering the 9 does not help - that hand has ATx of hearts). The ♣9 was played to the A. Since the hearts were now 2-2, the diamonds run and there was no uppercut, the defense was helpless. So we lost 11. More than a little unlucky.
My partner and I played only the first of the two matches. On our way out, I commented at how the match was very boring and my partner commented that he was disappointed that we did not reach game on the hand in the OP. He held the long spade hand. He said that he didn't think I could do anything other than what I did (raise 2
♠ to 3) and the conversation essentially ended at that point. In my opinion, one of us would have to take a very aggressive view of our hand to get to game, but he might have the better chance. Still, I don't see anything wrong with either of our actions.
* [Do you agree with this play? Pitching a club is not necessary unless the opps have a club ruff coming, and if that is the case declarer is in danger of being tapped out. By cashing the
♠A, declarer has set up a spade tap against himself. Pitching a diamond might be necessary, but is it worth the risk of opening up the spade suit? Please feel free to comment.]