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The Sweetest Slam Machine Alive

 

by Bernard Marcoux, Sainte-Adèle, Québec

 

     

You have :

 

Kxxx

A

AKxx

AJ9x

 

You open 1.

 

You     LHO   Part.    RHO

 

1      1       2       p

 

2 says : I have at least a limit-raise in diamonds.  You like that.  So you bid 3.

 

You     LHO   Part.    RHO

 

1      1       2        p

3      p          3        p

 

Partner comes back to 3 : Enough said, I have a limit-raise, not more.

 

You are not done.

 

You     LHO   Part.    RHO

 

1        1       2        p

3        p          3        p

3        p          3

 

3 first asks for a heart stopper.  But you know you will continue if ever 3NT is the response.  Partner makes you even happier: 3 says No heart stopper, but I have a nice card in spades, i.e. the Ace obviously.  You like that a lot.

 

You     LHO   Part.    RHO

 

1      1       2         p

3       p          3        p

3       p          3        p

4

 

4 is the infamous KBRKCB (Kick-back Roman Key-card Blackwood), very, very useful and space-saving.  For adults only.

 

You     LHO   Part.    RHO

 

1      1       2         p

3       p          3        p

3       p          3        p

4       p          4

 

1rst step : 1 or 4.  So you ask for the trump Queen.

 

You     LHO   Part.    RHO

 

1      1       2         p

3       p          3        p

3       p          3        p

4       p          4        p

5       p          5NT

 

4NT would be to play.  5NT says : trump Queen, no king elsewhere.

 

You     LHO   Part.    RHO

 

1        1       2       p

3       p          3        p

3       p          3        p

4       p          4        p

5       p          5NT       p

6

 

Dummy

 

Ax

7xxx

Q10xxx

Qx

 

You

 

Kxxx                      

A                  

AKxx                     

AJ9x                      

 

Optimistic evaluation by dummy ?

 

When we explain losing trick count, we tell students that, when they think of making a limit-raise, there are real limit-raises and false limit-raises.  A false limit-raise is a hand with the right point count, but with more than 8 losers.  The LTC of 8 losers confirms the real value of a limit-raise.

 

My wife does the contrary.  She counts losers first, then points J.

 

Can’t argue with success, they say in the USA.

 

27 points total, 6 making 7, the club King onside and the 10 falling on 3 rounds, clear top.

 

In real life, after my 3, my partner, always the optimist, did not come back to 3, to calm me down.  No, sir. 

 

3 appeared on the table, getting me really excited.

 

The sweetest slam machine is not a gadget.  It is not a convention.

 

The sweetest slam machine is my wife J.