TVS Online Pairs Report, 30-May-21

The Bridge Calendar for the next few weeks is packed with a lot of exciting events with many more in the pipeline. As of now, the following events are coming up on RealBridge

• BFH Grand Matinee (01-Jun).This is a new event we are offering in response to requests to hold tournaments in the morning.
  In response to another request, we are also pricing it at a bare minimum level of Rs. 100 per pair
  This also provides people one more opportunity to practice for the tournament outlined below

  Please click here to register

• Dr. KK Bhatnagar Mixed Pairs National Tournament (04-Jun to 06-Jun). 

  This mixed pairs tournament, organized by the BFI, in addition to having attractive prize money of Rs. 75,000, also awards ranking points for the selection trials.We invite all mixed pairs to participate in this event in huge numbers.

  Please click here to register

• Tolani Online Summer National Bridge Championship (19-27 June 2021)

  Details of the same are awaited

• Shree Cement Online Bridge Championships (10-11 and 17-18 July 2021)
  
  Details awaited.
• BFI Online Inter-State Championships (o7-15 August 2021)All state associations will be required to complete their state championships by 31st July in order to ensure that their state is appropriately represented. For more details, viewers may visit the BFI website

Keep watching our upcoming events table to stay abreast of the latest in the bridge schedules.

Queens can be costly

  - Sukrit Vijayakar

This is just a tale about a hand that cropped up in Flight C yesterday which I happened to be covering from a directing perspective. The featured participants were the National Champions, MJR Vasudevan and (Cool) Vijayraghvan, who also was the prime organizer of this event opposing the sponsor of next week's event Devi Bhatnagar and Andrey Purushottam.

The early part of the auction is simple enough with East showing hearts and clubs in a 'Kokish' sequence. After the suit was set, East cued spades and, hearing a cue from partner, launched into RKCB.

After confirming the presence of all key cards came the 5NT bid which is where East West got their wires crossed. While East was asking for 'specific kings', East for some reason upvalued his hand and bid the grand slam. North doubled the contract asking for a diamond lead in Lightner fashion (discussed yesterday).

South duly led a diamond which declarer won and found out about the vile trump break at trick two. Now declarer shunned the spade finesse in favor of the ruff. He then cashed the club Ace and entered dummy with the HA and played out the club 10. It is not quite possible to describe what may have gone on in declarer's mind at the critical moment, but he finessed and lost to the doubleton club queen!

Had he dropped the queen EW would have scored at least 15 imps from every pair in 6♥ and lots more from those who failed to bid the slam. Instead, would lost 15 imps on the board. What they lost in terms of momentum in the match itself cannot really be counted.

To quote from yesterday's article " bridge hands can be treacherous and take the unsuspecting through perilous journeys."

Experts can advise whether, if one has to take a finesse at all, the spade finesse offers a better chance. Once it works, the third club can be pitched on the spade Ace and then either the club queen drops, or South's ♥ 9 can be picked up. Even if the club finesse works, the way the hand was played, declarer needs the clubs to break 3-3.

Having said the above, it is easy to discuss all this away from the table without any pressure on any of us.

Sukrit Vijayakar