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Wit, Wisdom & Woe

Kit reports:

In June 2009 Sally set a barbu record which will never be beaten, and will probably never be equalled.

 

With clubs trump, she won the first round of hearts with the 5 of hearts!

 

This might seem like it could happen when she is last to play in the suit, and nobody feels like putting up an honor.� But that wasn't the case.� She was second to play in the suit!!!

 

How did this happen?

 

Neil, on her left, was the dealer, and he had been doubled by Martin on her right.� Martin won the opening lead, and led the 4 of hearts.� Sally followed low with her 5 from some holding.� Since Neil was doubled with Martin he decided to save his high hearts so as to avoid giving Martin a heart trick, so he played low -- the 2.� And I had been dealt the singleton 3.

 

Sally says this makes up for some of the times when she has been forced to win the first round of hearts with the 5 when playing hearts.� We call this being fived.� That incident gave being fived a new meaning.

 

Neil Trentham would like it to be known that doubling him at trumps is not a wise proposition:

 

Deal 6

Dealer S

������� 96

������� AQT965

������� 2

������� T842

543������������ AK7

832������������ KJ74

854������������ A9

K653����������� AJ97

������� QJT82

������� -

������� KQJT763

������� Q

 

Trumps Diamonds

Pass

Pass

Double S

Redouble E

 

�� S��� W��� N��� E

�� dq�� d8�� d2�� da

�� dj�� d5�� h5�� d9

�� dk�� d4�� h6�� c7

�� s8�� s3�� s6�� sk

�� s2�� s4�� s9�� sa

�� st�� s5�� c2�� s7

�� cq�� ck�� c4�� ca

�� d6�� c3�� c8�� cj

�� d3�� c5�� h9�� c9

�� sq�� c6�� ht�� h4

�� dt�� h2�� hq�� h7

�� sj�� h3�� ct�� hj

�� d7�� h8�� ha�� hk

 

�� 95��� 0��� 0� -30

 

South: neilt

West:� JoAnna

North: gugu

East:� zippo

 

 

The unluckiest hand

Martin Garvey

 

You know that your luck is out when you pick up:

 

QJT7 8542 87432 -

 

call No Hearts, and don�t get doubled by anyone.

 

Neil Trentham held the hand and called No Hearts.� The bidding went Pass, Pass, Double the flanks.

 

You cash QS and they follow 2, 8, 9. Not wishing to have this lovely collection spoiled by having the Ace of Hearts dumped on it, you exit with a diamond. Just have a look at what happened ���>>

 

Dealer S

������� 84

������� AJ9

������� J95

������� KQT73

2�������������� AK9653

KT3������������ Q76

AK6������������ QT

J98654��������� A2

������� QJT7

������� 8542

������� 87432

������� -

 

�� S��� W��� N��� E

�� sq�� s2�� s8�� s9

�� d8�� dk�� d9�� dt

�� d7�� da�� dj�� dq

�� d2�� d6�� d5�� hq

�� sj�� cj�� ck�� ca

�� st�� hk�� s4�� s6

�� s7�� ht�� ha�� s5

�� d3�� h3�� hj�� h7

�� d4�� c9�� h9�� h6

�� h2�� c8�� cq�� sa

�� h4�� c6�� ct�� sk

�� h5�� c5�� c7�� s3

�� h8�� c4�� c3�� c2

 

� -28�� -4��� 0��� 2

 

The hand from hell

Uppino was west

 

 

Deal 1

Dealer E

������� T8764

������� 865

������� J9

������� 754

AK5������������ 3

AK9������������ T72

AKQT����������� 875

AK2������������ QJT863

������� QJ92

������� QJ43

������� 6432

������� 9

 

Misere

Double E

Pass

Max

Redouble S and N

 

�� E��� S��� W��� N

�� d5�� d2�� da�� dj

�� s3�� s2�� s5�� s4

�� h7�� h4�� h9�� h8

�� ht�� hq�� ha�� h6

�� cq�� s9�� sa�� st

�� cj�� sj�� sk�� s8

�� d8�� d6�� dk�� d9

�� h2�� hj�� hk�� h5

�� ct�� c9�� ca�� c7

�� c8�� sq�� ck�� c5

�� c3�� d4�� c2�� c4

�� d7�� d3�� dq�� s6

�� c6�� h3�� dt�� s7

 

�� 12��� 6� -34� -10

 

 

Regrets?

East and West both owed doubles.� On the preceding deal of North (Luca)'s boat, West had declined to double trumps in clubs with AKJ95 Q64 K9 T63.� I wonder if she regretted that decision.

 

Deal 25

Dealer N

������� QT98

������� T8

������� Q4

������� QJ983

J7642���������� 53

A65������������ KQ94

J982����������� AT

A�������������� KT652

������� AK

������� J732

������� K7653

������� 74

 

Dominoes from the Eight

Double N

Pass

Double N

Redouble E and W

 

�� N��� E��� S��� W

�� c8������� c7�� d8

�� c9�� ct�� d7�� d9

�� cj�� c6�� d6����

�� s8�� c5�� d5�� s7

�� s9�� dt�� c4�� s6

�� c3�� c2������� dj

�� st�� s5������� s4

�� h8�� h9�� h7�� h6

�� d4�� s3�� d3�� s2

�� dq������� dk�� d2

�� cq�� da������� sj

�� sq�� ck�� sk�� ca

�� ht������� sa�� h5

������� h4�� h3����

������������ h2����

������������ hj����

������� hq���������

������� hk������� ha

 

225� -75�� 20 -105

-------------------------

107� -82� 219 -166

 

 

 

Anne sent in this deal of woe:

South: Anne

West:� neilt

North: Cheryl

East:� JoAnna

 

-------------------------

Deal 1

Dealer W

������� JT86542

������� QT

������� K7

������� 63

A�������������� KQ973

KJ842���������� 93

64������������� AQT853

AKT85���������� -

������� -

������� A765

������� J92

������� QJ9742

 

Barbu

Max

Double S

D W and RD E

Redouble N and S

 

�� W��� N��� E��� S

�� ca�� c6�� sq�� cj

�� ck�� c3�� sk�� cq

�� ct�� dk�� s9�� c9

�� c8�� d7�� h9�� c7

�� c5�� hq�� da�� c4

�� sa�� sj�� s7�� dj

�� d6�� ht�� d5�� d9

�� d4�� st�� d3�� d2

�� h2�� s8�� h3�� ha

�� hk�� s6�� s3�� c2

 

�� 40�� 20�� 40 -120

-------------------------

�� 40�� 20�� 40 -120

 

Look at the last trick!

 

Deal 19

Dealer W

������� A65

������� Q9542

������� KQ97

������� J

QJ3������������ KT92

J8������������� AK76

43������������� J8

Q87542��������� T96

������� 874

������� T3

������� AT652

������� AK3

 

No Last Two

Max

Pass

Double W and E

Redouble N and S

 

�� W��� N��� E��� S

�� hj�� h9�� ha�� ht

�� c8�� cj�� ct�� ca

�� sj�� s6�� st�� s8

�� sq�� sa�� sk�� s7

�� d4�� dq�� dj�� da

�� s3�� s5�� s9�� s4

�� h8�� hq�� hk�� h3

�� cq�� h4�� h7�� ck

�� c7�� dk�� c9�� c3

�� d3�� d7�� d8�� d6

�� c5�� d9�� c6�� dt

�� c4�� h5�� h6�� d5

�� c2�� h2�� s2�� d2

 

��� 0�� 30� -90�� 30

-------------------------

-27� -82� -91� -29

 

South: shireen

West:� annabella

North: camma

East:� therkel

 

 

David Muller from London, sends us this hand:

 

I was East, with not a great hand for Queens, you'll agree. I could easily have ended up with all four, however .....

 

I ducked the first Spade, I wanted to see if South had the King. He didn't. West cooperated and continued spades two more times. I took The Ace at trick 3. (South could have given me a Queen but threw the DA instead. I was now on lead knowing that North (who has Maximumed) now had the Bare King of Spades. So I led my SQ! It went SQ HQ CQ SK. Goal! North also collected the DQ at trick 13 so not a great Maximum!

 

Deal 7

Dealer W

������� K932

������� T86

������� K43

������� 543

JT5������������ AQ84

A52������������ K73

9876����������� QJ5

Q86������������ KJ9

������� 76

������� QJ94

������� AT2

������� AT72

 

No Queens

Max

Pass

Double W and E

Pass

 

�� W��� N��� E��� S

�� sj�� s9�� s8�� s6

�� st�� s3�� s4�� s7

�� s5�� s2�� sa�� da

�� cq�� sk�� sq�� hq

�� c8�� c5�� ck�� ct

�� c6�� c4�� cj�� ca

�� d9�� d3�� dj�� dt

�� ha�� c3�� c9�� c7

�� h5�� ht�� hk�� hj

�� h2�� h6�� h7�� h4

�� d8�� h8�� h3�� h9

�� d7�� d4�� d5�� d2

�� d6�� dk�� dq�� c2

 

�� 24� -96�� 24�� 24

 

 

Four NLT�s bid in a row, and all were passed out.� Neil Trentham asks �were they cowards?�

 

 

 

Deal 2

Dealer E

������� AKT7

������� 983

������� AKJ5

������� K5

J84������������ Q96

KQJ76���������� AT2

Q8������������� T9763

942������������ A3

������� 532

������� 54

������� 42

������� QJT876

 

No Last Two

Pass

Pass

Pass

 

�� E��� S��� W��� N

 

��� 0� -10� -10� -10

-------------------------

�� 30� -16� -52� -16

 

Deal 3

Dealer S

������� A63

������� JT2

������� T654

������� Q42

JT������������� 7542

984������������ KQ65

KJ82����������� Q97

K763����������� AT

������� KQ98

������� A73

������� A3

������� J985

 

No Last Two

Pass

Pass

Pass

 

�� S��� W��� N��� E

 

��� 0� -10� -10� -10

-------------------------

� -16� -62� -26�� 20

 

Deal 4

Dealer W

������� A73

������� K3

������� QJ8

������� KQJT4

952������������ KJ86

AT972���������� J54

42������������� K3

632������������ 9875

������� QT4

������� Q86

������� AT9765

������� A

 

No Last Two

Pass

Pass

Pass

 

�� W��� N��� E��� S

 

��� 0� -10� -10� -10

-------------------------

� -62� -36�� 10� -26

 

 

Deal 5

Dealer N

������� A9432

������� 42

������� QJ

������� A982

T8765���������� J

85������������� AQJT73

A53������������ K62

743������������ KQJ

������� KQ

������� K96

������� T9874

������� T65

 

No Last Two

Pass

Pass

Pass

 

�� N��� E��� S��� W

 

��� 0� -10� -10� -10

-------------------------

-36��� 0� -36� -72

Laura tells us about this tale of woe:

 

Deal 8

Dealer W

������� 5

������� 3

������� QT7643

������� AQJ42

AJ962���������� QT84

J974����������� AKQ

J8������������� A52

K3������������� 875

������� K73

������� T8652

������� K9

������� T96

 

No Queens

Max

Pass

Double W and E

Pass

 

�� W��� N��� E��� S

�� dj�� dt�� d5�� dk

�� d8�� d7�� da�� d9

�� ck�� d6�� d2�� sk

�� sa�� s5�� s8�� s7

�� hj�� h3�� ha�� ht

�� c3�� ca�� c8�� ct

�� h9�� c4�� c5�� c6

�� h7�� cj�� c7�� c9

�� h4�� c2�� hq�� h8

�� sj�� d3�� sq�� s3

�� s9�� cq�� hk�� h6

�� s6�� dq�� st�� h5

 

�� 24� -96�� 24�� 24

 

The Chamber of Horrors

 

Deal 27

Dealer W

������� K8

������� 7

������� AKJT9764

������� A2

T54������������ J7

JT3������������ Q9854

8532����������� Q

T53������������ J9764

������� AQ9632

������� AK62

������� -

������� KQ8

 

Trumps Diamonds

Double W

Pass

Pass

Pass

 

�� W��� N��� E��� S

�� hj�� h7�� h4�� ha

�� c3�� ca�� c4�� c8

�� c5�� c2�� c6�� ck

�� h3�� d4�� h5�� hk

�� d2�� da�� dq�� h2

�� d3�� dk�� h8�� s3

�� d5�� dj�� c7�� s2

�� d8�� dt�� c9�� s6

�� ct�� d9�� cj�� h6

�� s4�� s8�� s7�� sa

�� s5�� d6�� sj�� cq

�� ht�� d7�� h9�� sq

�� st�� sk�� hq�� s9

 

-50� 100��� 0�� 15

 

South: Martin

West:� Kit

North: Sally

East:� cubsfanmr

 

Martin Garvey sent in this deal:

Playing against three tough opponents, Laura, as North, saw the auction: Max, Double N and E, ? holding J5/64/T9732/K742

Clearly one of them has lost the plot so you Max and hear a quiet Pass to finish proceedings. Spades break 7222, Eight rounds of the minors suits are played and you are thrown in with the four of hearts to play a fifth round of diamonds. Flailing arms, Italian expletives and an injured dog and cat could be heard in the background

 

Deal 10
Dealer E
������������ J5
������������ 64
������������ T9732
������������ K742
AK87643�������������� Q9
J875����������������� AQ93
J�������������������� Q65
3�������������������� JT65
������������ T2
������������ KT2
������������ AK84
������������ AQ98

 

Barbu
Max
Double N and E
Max
Pass

 

E�� S�� W�� N
sq� st� sk� sj
dq� dk�
dj� dt
d6�
da� c3� d9
cj�
ca� sa� c7
ct�
cq� s8� ck
s9� s2� s7�
s5
d5� d8� hj� d7
c5�
c8� h8� c4
c6�
c9� h7� c2
ha�
d4� h5� d2
h3�
h2� s6� h4
h9� hk� s4�
d3

 

 

Laura Tidone sat North on this deal.

She called �Barbu�, led the C4. To her horror she collected the HK.

 

Deal 27

Dealer N

������� KT86

������� T9862

������� A85

������� 4

Q972����������� 5

-�������������� KQJ7543

6�������������� QJ942

AJT98763������� -

������� AJ43

������� A

������� KT73

������� KQ52

 

Barbu

Max

Pass

Double N and S

Pass

 

�� N��� E��� S��� W

�� c4�� hk�� c2�� c3

 

� -60�� 20��� 0�� 20

 

Sportsmanlike Dumping?

Andy Bowles

 

Some years ago, very early in the history of online Barbu, a combination of luck and careful selection of opponents had taken me to the top of the �Hall of Fame�, with a score of +380.� (In those days we thought scores in the 300s were pretty good.)

 

A few days after attaining this exalted position, I found myself in a game with Willie Whitaker.� Everything went his way, and as the game progressed his score came closer and closer to my top score.

 

As we started the final deal, Willie had +380, exactly the same as my leading score.� I was dealer and called no queens with K3 AKQT8432 J3 K.� Willie, on my left, passed.� Third seat, Nicholas, maxed, and Neil T in fourth doubled Willie.� My crown started to feel a little more secure.

 

I led DJ, Willie won the ace, Nicholas threw the ace of clubs, and Neil T followed.� Willie now cashed two more rounds of diamonds.� Annoyingly, Nicholas still couldn't find any queens, but threw the five of hearts and the ace of spades.� RHO had played 864 in diamonds, so presumably at least one more round of the suit would follow, regardless of who had the two.

 

What should I do?� It looked obvious to discard the king of clubs on this trick and the king of spades on the next, thus turning a rather dangerous hand into a completely safe one.� However, Willie might now exit safely.� If he took no queens at all, he would be +48 and would overtake me in the Hall of Fame.

 

Instead, I could discard HQ on Willie, get in with something and cash all my hearts, so as to make sure that neither of the other players would take a queen.� I would be -36, but Willie would be -18 and I would still be king of the castle.� Would this be right?� Would Willie let me live afterwards?� Would Jeff Rubens write an editorial about it?

 

In the end I just couldn�t bring myself to take three doubled queens voluntarily, so I discarded my black kings.� You'll see from the play record below that by the end of the hand we had a new leader.� What should I have done?

 

 

Deal 28

Dealer S

 

������� AJT9865

������� 5

������� -

������� AJ987

2�������������� Q74

J6������������� 97

AKQT975�������� 8642

432������������ QT65

������� K3

������� AKQT8432

������� J3

������� K

 

No Queens

Pass

Max

Double W

Pass

 

�� S��� W��� N��� E

�� dj�� dk�� ca�� d8

�� d3�� dt�� h5�� d6

�� ck�� d9�� sa�� d2

�� sk�� d7�� cj�� d4

�� ha�� hj�� c9�� h9

�� s3�� s2�� sj�� s7

�� hq�� dq�� s9�� s4

�� hk�� c4�� c8�� c6

�� ht�� h6�� s5�� sq

�� h4�� da�� st�� h7

�� h8�� c2�� c7�� c5

�� h3�� d5�� s6�� cq

 

�� 18�� 24� -66��� 0

-------------------------

�-102� 404 -114 -188