Two deals, one lesson

[rod]

The Country Teams Northern Zone Final was held at the Coffs Harbour Bridge Club this weekend. Eight rounds of 11 boards each. The full set of hand records may be found here.

Two deals taught the same expensive lesson. Here's the first one.

Match 5, Board 12, NS Vul, West deals

♠ Q10765
♥ --
♦ 8642
♣ QJ72

♠ A9
♥ K94
♦ AJ753
♣ K54

♠ KJ84
♥ A8653
♦ K10
♣ A10

♠ 32
♥ QJ1072
♦ Q9
♣ 9863

The bidding proceeded:

West    North   East    South
1NT*    Pass    2♦**    Pass
2♥      Pass    3♠      Pass
4♥      Pass    4NT     Pass
5♦***   Pass    6♥      Dbl
Pass    Pass    6NT     All pass

* 15-17
** Transfer
*** Three key cards

It's safe to say that South would have beaten 6♥, but beating 6NT was not so easy. After declarer gave up a diamond and then played off all his red winners the ending was something like this:

♠ Q1076
♥ --
♦ --
♣ QJ

♠ A9
♥ 9
♦ --
♣ K54

♠ KJ84
♥ --
♦ --
♣ A10

♠ 3
♥ QJ
♦ --
♣ 986

North was forced to unguard clubs to keep 4 spades. Then declarer cashes 3 rounds of spades (with a finesse) to squeeze South in hearts and clubs.

That one went in our favor. But then there was the next one...

[rod]

Match 8, Board 27, None vul, South deals

♠ K97
♥ K65
♦ AK9
♣ AK83

♠ A1065
♥ 10
♦ QJ64
♣ J1062

♠ J42
♥ --
♦ 108753
♣ Q9754

♠ Q83
♥ AQJ987432
♦ 2
♣ --

I don't recall exactly how the bidding went but South figured she had a 4-loser hand and opened 2♣. How often do you hear that from your partner while holding 20 HCP yourself?? North ended up bidding 7♥. That was passed around to my partner who was pretty sure his Ace would cash, and doubled. Then North tried 7NT, also doubled.

The only problem with that was me being on lead against notrump. My diamond guess was not successful.

The lesson? I think you can guess!