Thank you, StumbleUpon

[jianantonic]

StumbleUpon has been great for fighting writer's block.  Yesterday I stumbled to a site about a really cool hotel, which I then wrote up in Perpetual Tourist, found here.  Normally I have a bitch of a time coming up with and writing the posts for that site, so it was nice to find a topic that just rolled right off my fingers, even though it's a place I've never visited.

McKenzie just gave me a play problem from Bridge World, and I think it's the first time in my life I ever got one of those right.  Awesome.  Here it is, for anyone else who wants a shot:

You are South, declaring 6S after an uncontested auction.  The dummy is:
T652 874 AQ2 763
Your hand is:
AJ98743 AKQ 8 AQ

West leads the heart 9 and you win in hand.  On the spade Ace, East pitches a low heart.  Plan your play.

We've decided against Brooklyn on the way to Connecticut, because it would just be too stressful.  Our flight is in the evening, so we're just going to drive up during the day.  It's an eight hour drive, but you never know about traffic, so I'll probably want to leave twelve hours early.  Sorry, Z.

We have a redeye flight out of Vegas the following week, so we'll get to FRFF early Thursday morning.  And I'll be exhausted, because I probably won't sleep on the plane.  And then it will be too hot to snooze in the tent.  But I won't be in a bad mood, because I'll effin' be at Falcon Ridge!  Yay:)

Of all the homesickness I've felt throughout my travels, I'm never as homesick as I am for Falcon Ridge when the festival ends and we leave for home.  Every year when we're up there, I think about moving to Hillsdale, but that would only be convenient one week out of the year, and the rest of the time it's just too effing far away from anything, and I think I'd be sad to drive by the festival sites (old and new) and not see thousands of hippies.  It's more about the people than the location.  Can't wait to see you guys!

Peace.

Comments

[flamingophoenix.livejournal.com]

Well, you would be closer to Helen.

I couldn't think of anything better

[(Anonymous)]

I would play to diamond ace, cash the hearts, and exit spade (if no heart was ruffed). West must exit a diamond, so I make if either minor king is right. I look forward to meeting you in Vegas.

Re: I couldn't think of anything better

[jianantonic.livejournal.com]

Well done.
Who is this, now?

[(Anonymous)]

Yay, Falcon Ridge!!! Absolutely cannot wait!!! (only 4 more shifts to go!) See you next Thursday! -Jill

BW problem

[(Anonymous)]

Losing the Spade will rectify the count for a possible squeeze. But if you leave a heart exit, then you won't have an endplay.

Taking either minor-suit finesse is only a 50 percent chance, there must be something better.

Any chance Diamonds split 5-2 with West having two -- and Hearts split with at least 3 with West? If so, take three hearts, Diamond A, Diamond ruff, then exit the Spade to W. The return of the 13th H gives a ruff-sluff; a C return is the free finesse.

For a squeeze, envision the end position:
N:--
--
A Q 2
W:-- 7 E:--
-- --
? ? ? ?
? ? S:3 ? ?
--
8
A Q

Cash the last Spade, West has to save two Diamonds and is down to one Club. Pithc the low Diamond from Dummy. East has to save two Clubs, so is down to one Diamond. Cash the Diamond Ace, and if the K doesn't fall, lead a Club. If the King doesn't pop up from East, you're down to a guess.

Please let me know why this is wrong, if it is.

-- Kevin

Re: BW problem

[jianantonic.livejournal.com]

A squeeze is not profitable or possible here. Play up to your diamond Ace, then cash your top hearts, allowing west to ruff with the king if he wants -- if not, exit a spade to his king. He is now forced to return either a heart -- giving you a ruff/sluff, a club, into your AQ, or a diamond, giving you a no-cost play of the Q. If it doesn't hold, you ruff and can finesse the club. It still depends on finesses, of course, but it's the most solid line of play.

In your line, what does West play after you give him the spade king? It appears that you have chosen to play out of turn after losing this trick...

Re: BW problem

[jianantonic.livejournal.com]

Strike that last bit -- I see what you're saying about the spade. Still, playing for a 5-2 diamond break on a specific side is much less than your 50% guess on the finesse. Fancier, but lower percentage. The above line gives you a 75+% shot at the contract, with no guess necessary -- even better if west doesn't return a diamond.

Re: BW problem

[(Anonymous)]

I concede.
Too bad the formatting failed with just spaces.
getting this one right is an example of why you will succeed in Bracket 1. :)