Take That, Meckwell

May 2004
Raleigh NC
Evening One-Session BAM
Board-a-Match

3.	A Q A K Q 10 9 7 K 3 K Q 4
10 2 2 A Q J 9 6 2 J 9 7 5		K 9 3 J 6 5 10 7 5 10 6 3 2
E-W Vul	J 8 7 6 5 4 8 4 3 8 4 A 8

Lynch West Pass

Me North 4 ²

Dawson East All Pass

Noble South 2 ¹

1. Yes, our 1st favorable preempts usually look like this...
2. I'm not screwing around with spades

4 by North
Made 6 — NS +480

East led a club. I won my A in dummy and led a spade to the Q, which Dawson ducked after some thought. Way to go. Making 6 when I ruffed my Q in dummy in order to lead up to the K.

3.	A Q A K Q 10 9 7 K 3 K Q 4
10 2 2 A Q J 9 6 2 J 9 7 5		K 9 3 J 6 5 10 7 5 10 6 3 2
E-W Vul	J 8 7 6 5 4 8 4 3 8 4 A 8

Raghu West Pass All Pass

Rodwell North 2 NT²

Prahalad East Pass

Meckstroth South 2 ¹ 4

1. See, he does it, too
2. The auction was some complicated OGUST auction, ending in 4S. I don't know the details

4 by South
Made 4 — NS +420

Raghu led his singleton heart, which resulted in a defensive ruff when Meckstroth finessed the first round of spades.

Both tables are beating the +650 par

Board-a-Match

4.	A Q 6 4 K 8 7 3 A Q J 10 8
K J 8 5 3 A 9 4 K 10 8 4 A		10 9 7 2 Q J 10 6 2 7 2 6 5
Both Vul	— 5 Q J 9 6 5 3 K 9 7 4 3 2

Lynch West 1 Pass Pass Dbl

Me North Pass 3 NT 5 All Pass

Dawson East Pass Pass Pass

Noble South 2 NT¹ 4 ² Pass

1. Minors
2. I guess I can understand why he didn't want to play 3NT

5 x by North
Made 6 — NS +950

Can't really blame Dawson for leading his partner's bid suit.

4.	A Q 6 4 K 8 7 3 A Q J 10 8
K J 8 5 3 A 9 4 K 10 8 4 A		10 9 7 2 Q J 10 6 2 7 2 6 5
Both Vul	— 5 Q J 9 6 5 3 K 9 7 4 3 2

Raghu West 1

Rodwell North 1 NT¹

Prahalad East 2 ²

Meckstroth South All Pass

1. I would probably have overcalled 1NT, too in retrospect
2. Yes, he really bid this. Yes, he has more balls than I do

2 by East
Down 6 — EW +600

Apparently, Meckstroth stared at 2C for about 2 minutes before finally passing. Declarer managed his two aces.

Both tables beat the 620 par