Round 11.
Against a seeded pair.
Board 7. Both vul. Dealer S.
KJT9
KT9762
-
AK2
Q64 A53
Q5 AJ
JT743 9852
J98 QT64
872
843
AKQ6
753
N E S W
p p
1H p 2H p
4H p p p
The bidding had kept me in the dark for lead but I got off with the best lead
of my 4th C anyway. Declarer's K won Fred's J.
Declarer then played a low H to my J. Not seeing the C2 so not sure if I led
from 5C's, from Fred's point of view, I could have SAJ and CQT642, in which
case it would be essential to push a S through so Fred overtook my HJ with HQ
and pushed a S4 through.
I won declarer's T and put face value on the S4, as the lowest spot suggested
interests. After long thought I decided that indicated SK and returned another
S, but now declarer had his contract.
Fred's defense was thoughtful, although returning the S6 might be better as he
really doesn't want me to return a S if I had S Axx. S6 cannot cost since if I
had SAJ, I would know to cash out and no point to wait.
My S return was putting all eggs in one basket. There's no layout that we can
set up a S trick AND Fred would return S4. So returning S only wins if Fred
had the alleged K. So it cannot cost to return a C and see Fred's count before
deciding which suit to cash after winning the trump A.
Letting this 4H through only worths 8/51.

Board 8. Love all. Dealer W.
AK7
KT9
AT92
T85
QJ3 96
Q876542 AJ
543 Q87
- AJ7632
T8542
3
KJ6
KQ94
N E S W
3H
p p p
Fred chose the right hand and right timing to strike. The 3H opening will not
be everyone's choice but worked out well. I gave it a brief thought before
passing, with my primary trump support and a good C suit -- switch Fred's back
suit and 4H might have some play.
You might be able to make a case for South to make a paper thin balance
double, with the perfect shape and 5S. In matchpoints, that probably should be
the preferred action. But I might be sitting with a stack and lurking.
Against the 3H, North led a top S and failed to find the D switch. Instead, he
switched to a trump. Fred won the A and pitched a D on the CA. He lost 2S, 1H,
2D for -50 but a great 44/51 as there's no defense against NS's 3NT. 4S by
South also is cold but would fail from North on C lead. But without the
devilish preempt, NS will probably play in some S partial.