Voids for Meckwell
The chance of a void in a bridge hand is slightly over 18%. From
a late round of the Rosenblum Round Robin, Meckstroth/Rodwell had
a sequence of five boards in a row, each with one or more voids.
This is almost 5000 to 1 against (more precisely 4772) for the voids,
but each hand was also played in a major-suit game. They started
well with this one.
Board 5. Dealer North. N/S Vul.
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ª K 7 5 4 3 2
© K Q 9 6
¨ K Q 10
§ - |
ª A 6
© A 8 3
¨ J 9 6
§ 10 8 6 5 4 |
![Bridge deal](../../../Graphics/Hand/board3.gif) |
ª 10 8
© J 4
¨ A 7 5 4 3 2
§ A 9 3 |
|
ª Q J 9
© 10 7 5 2
¨ 8
§ K Q J 7 2 |
West |
North |
East |
South |
|
Rodwell |
|
Meckstroth |
|
1ª |
2¨ |
2NT(i) |
4ª |
All Pass |
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(i) Limit Raise
With the ©A well placed (although not the ©J) for declarer, only
a heart ruff is likely to defeat 4ª, even with the promising club
suit in dummy being entirely wasted values opposite declarer's void.
The actual defense was a spade to the ace and a small heart switch.
Rodwell drew the other trumps and had no problems on a diamond return
after the leading to the king and ace.
Board 6. Dealer East. E/W Vul.
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ª 8 5 4 2
© K Q 6 4
¨ K J 10 5
§ 7 |
ª 10 7 3
© A 10 9 7 5 2
¨ A
§ 8 6 4 |
![Bridge deal](../../../Graphics/Hand/board3.gif) |
ª A J
© J 8 3
¨ Q 3 2
§ K Q 10 5 3 |
|
ª K Q 9 6
© -
¨ 9 8 7 6 4
§ A J 9 2 |
The play on Board 6 was always going to be more challenging. In
4ª, Rodwell got the lead of the §K and won the ace. In with the
ace of diamonds (North unblocking), West found a good return of
a trump and East played ace and another. There were only ever nine
tricks this time, with the defense taking two diamonds and the major
suit aces.
Board 7. Dealer South. All Vul.
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ª Q 6 4 2
© K Q 7 2
¨ -
§ A K Q J 7 |
ª A 9
© 10 5 3
¨ 10 8 7
§ 10 8 6 5 4 |
![Bridge deal](../../../Graphics/Hand/board3.gif) |
ª K 7 5
© 6 4
¨ A K J 9 6 5 4 3
§ - |
|
ª J 10 8 3
© A J 9 8
¨ Q 2
§ 9 3 2 |
West |
North |
East |
South |
|
Rodwell |
|
Meckstroth |
|
|
|
Pass |
Pass |
1§ |
5¨ |
Dble |
Pass |
5© |
All Pass |
|
East then applied the maximum pressure on Board 7, with a leap
to 5¨ over the strong club. Double was presumably take-out as Rodwell
bid 5© quickly enough. Pass would certainly not have been a good
choice, with 5¨ unbeatable. If East happens on a spade lead his
side might take the first six tricks with the aid of a few ruffs,
but naturally enough he tried the ¨A. North ruffed, overtook the
©Q and ruffed another diamond, this time high, and played the last
trump from his hand. Unfortunately the ©10 didn't appear under the
jack which would have given him eleven tricks assuming the clubs
were worth another five. A nice try but two down.
On Board 8, East held a 4-3-6-0 three-count, another void, but
the play lasted only a few seconds and it wasn't relevant to the
hand.
Board 9. Dealer North. E/W Vul.
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|
ª Q
© A K 8 6 5 3 2
¨ A
§ Q J 6 3 |
ª K 5
© Q 10 9 7
¨ Q 9 5
§ 10 7 5 4 |
![Bridge deal](../../../Graphics/Hand/board3.gif) |
ª A J 10 9 7 4 3 2
© -
¨ J 7
§ 9 8 2 |
|
ª 8 6
© J 4
¨ K 10 8 6 4 3 2
§ A K |
Finally, Board 9 was probably the most interesting as, if the defense
failed to shine, declarer would have a chance for a spectacular
play. This time East only jumped to the three level on his second
eight-card suit. West's 4ª save would probably have gone for 500,
but North pressed on to 5© and the final double seems a little optimistic
(trade the ©J for any of North's hearts and it's an easy make).
West |
North |
East |
South |
|
Rodwell |
|
Meckstroth |
|
1§ |
3ª |
Dble |
Pass |
4© |
Pass |
Pass |
4ª |
5© |
Pass |
Pass |
Dble |
All Pass |
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|
East led the ªA
and thought for a while about continuing with a spade, perhaps thinking
of forcing declarer. In fact, any switch will succeed in defeating
the contract, but a spade continuation allows declarer the extra
ruff he needs to bring off a trump coup. Using the two club honours
and a club ruff in dummy as entries to ruff diamonds in hand (including
one over-ruff), then exiting with a trump to the jack in the three-card
ending.
Whether Rodwell would have played for the four-zero trump break
we'll never find out, as East played the ¨J
for one down.
Board 10 was 4-3-3-3 - how dull.
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