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A friend of ours fondly recalls an encounter with the ever-jolly Brian Senior. Doubled in 4
, he went one off only to receive a severe telling-off from the British expert, informing him how he should have made the contract. I wonder how Brian would have reacted if, rather than playing beneath their ability, his weaker opponents had played significantly above it? Like in this week's hand, brought to you by John Våge, an occasional BBO commentator and coach to the Norwegian Schools team at next Summer's World Championships.
, he went one off only to receive a severe telling-off from the British expert, informing him how he should have made the contract. I wonder how Brian would have reacted if, rather than playing beneath their ability, his weaker opponents had played significantly above it? Like in this week's hand, brought to you by John Våge, an occasional BBO commentator and coach to the Norwegian Schools team at next Summer's World Championships.
This happened in a pairs tournament of very mixed standard. The current opponents played very simple methods, no count-signals and low encouraging (as is standard in Norway). I opened 1NT (15-17) passed out, and the lead was the beer card (
7). This was the whole deal:
7). This was the whole deal:
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Without spotting the danger, I won the diamond-lead with the Ace, played a club to the Jack, and let the 
J run to the K (on this trick RHO followed with a very significant 2). LHO then cashed her diamonds, pausing considerably before playing the 9 (obviously trying to remember if it was high), on which RHO discarded an encouraging 2. I was of course squeezed, but discarded a club and a spade. LHO now quickly cashed her 
A and then played back a heart! I could do nothing better than cash my hearts and give RHO the last two tricks with her AQ for one down.
J run to the K (on this trick RHO followed with a very significant 2). LHO then cashed her diamonds, pausing considerably before playing the 9 (obviously trying to remember if it was high), on which RHO discarded an encouraging 2. I was of course squeezed, but discarded a club and a spade. LHO now quickly cashed her A and then played back a heart! I could do nothing better than cash my hearts and give RHO the last two tricks with her AQ for one down.
LHO had executed a perfect defense, with a squeeze (the 9), elimination (A) and endplay (the heart return). I remember I at once felt this was quite funny, my first thought was actually that it had been a defense only Victor Mollo's Rueful Rabbit or someone like Geir Helgemo (unfortunately he played the board from my seat) would have found. When the opponents had the following memorable post-mortem I had to run for the bar, desperately trying to keep a straight face until I was outside of hearing distance:
9), elimination (A) and endplay (the heart return). I remember I at once felt this was quite funny, my first thought was actually that it had been a defense only Victor Mollo's Rueful Rabbit or someone like Geir Helgemo (unfortunately he played the board from my seat) would have found. When the opponents had the following memorable post-mortem I had to run for the bar, desperately trying to keep a straight face until I was outside of hearing distance:
RHO: Should you not have switched to a spade, I played an encouraging two?
LHO: Oh, did you? I thought the two of hearts was encouraging...
RHO (after thinking for a moment): It's OK, it didn't cost any tricks, did it?
LHO: Oh, did you? I thought the two of hearts was encouraging...
RHO (after thinking for a moment): It's OK, it didn't cost any tricks, did it?