A Funny Bridge Story
This funny incident actually occurred in the late 80's when I had been playing bridge for a few years.
++++++++++++++++++++++++++++++++++++++++++++++
A young skilled player of my acquaintance was playing matchpoints with an expert partner against two of the LOLiest LOLs in the field. He held approximately this hand:
xxxx, Jxxx, --, Txxxx
The auction began:
Now I ask you. What are the chances that two LOLs are on their way to the right contract after this beginning? I'd say there are two: a fat chance and a slim chance.
To some, this might suggest caution. However, nothing would slow down our hero on this day. Perhaps he had been reading Terrence Reese recently--you know, the part where Reese advocates doubling with a void in trumps, because that was the bid that came out of his bidding box now.
His Left-hand LOL (LHLOL) looked uncomfortable, hesitated and finally quavered out a pass. His partner passed. The auction now took an unexpected and hideous turn. "Skip bid, please wait," says RHLOL, "...7H."
Our hero was in shock, but after having doubled 6D on a void, he could hardly pass 7H holding Jxxx so after a few seconds, he made what hoped sounded like a firm double. 7NT says LHLOL. His partner, who by this time was feeling quite left out, doubled 7NT. The full hand was approximately this:
Note the accuracy of our hero's bidding. The opponents could not make either 6D or 7H. 7NT on the other hand was quite a different story.
After the play was complete, our hero was livid. He screamed for the director. His LHO had cheated him! Her hesitation after his double of 6D had allowed RHO to make the inferential jump to 7H!
To our hero's annoyance, the director was unable to give a ruling. When the full auction had been explained to him, he was laughing so hard he could not speak. Finally, he emerged with the ruling that the score would stand. Grumbling that he would demand a committee, our hero left the table. His attention now turned to his partner. "That double of 7NT was fatuous," he said. "At least when *I* doubled they were going down."
Truer words were never spoken.
++++++++++++++++++++++++++++++++++++++++++++++
A young skilled player of my acquaintance was playing matchpoints with an expert partner against two of the LOLiest LOLs in the field. He held approximately this hand:
xxxx, Jxxx, --, Txxxx
The auction began:
| LHLOL | Partner | RHLOL | Our Hero |
|---|---|---|---|
| 2C | pass | 2D; | pass |
| 2S | pass | 6D; | ? |
Now I ask you. What are the chances that two LOLs are on their way to the right contract after this beginning? I'd say there are two: a fat chance and a slim chance.
To some, this might suggest caution. However, nothing would slow down our hero on this day. Perhaps he had been reading Terrence Reese recently--you know, the part where Reese advocates doubling with a void in trumps, because that was the bid that came out of his bidding box now.
His Left-hand LOL (LHLOL) looked uncomfortable, hesitated and finally quavered out a pass. His partner passed. The auction now took an unexpected and hideous turn. "Skip bid, please wait," says RHLOL, "...7H."
Our hero was in shock, but after having doubled 6D on a void, he could hardly pass 7H holding Jxxx so after a few seconds, he made what hoped sounded like a firm double. 7NT says LHLOL. His partner, who by this time was feeling quite left out, doubled 7NT. The full hand was approximately this:
| xxxx -- JT9xx Jxxx | ||
| AKQJT xxxx x AKQ | -- AKQTx AKQxxxx x | |
| xxxx Jxxx -- Txxxx |
Note the accuracy of our hero's bidding. The opponents could not make either 6D or 7H. 7NT on the other hand was quite a different story.
After the play was complete, our hero was livid. He screamed for the director. His LHO had cheated him! Her hesitation after his double of 6D had allowed RHO to make the inferential jump to 7H!
To our hero's annoyance, the director was unable to give a ruling. When the full auction had been explained to him, he was laughing so hard he could not speak. Finally, he emerged with the ruling that the score would stand. Grumbling that he would demand a committee, our hero left the table. His attention now turned to his partner. "That double of 7NT was fatuous," he said. "At least when *I* doubled they were going down."
Truer words were never spoken.
posted by Andrew G at 7:34 PM
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