LEARNING CENTER

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One of my favorite stories in bridge happened when a player replied "Lose 'em all" during a score comparison. "All" means 24 IMPs which (see IMP table at the end of the article) is the most you can lose on a deal, thus "all."

A similar instance occurred in the 2007 National Open Swiss Teams. Kit Woolsey held:

3
A Q J 10 6 5
--
A 10 7 6 5 4

With both sides vulnerable, RHO opened 1, and Kit tried 2, Michaels. LHO bid 3 (natural) and RHO bid 3. Kit now bid 4, which was doubled. His partner, Fred Stewart, redoubled. This was supposedly for rescue*, but Kit stuck it out. This was the full deal:

Vul: Both Dlr: North	J 5 3 4 7 6 5 2 K Q J 8 2
Q 7 K 9 8 7 3 A Q J 10 8 4 --		A K 10 9 8 6 4 2 K 9 3 9 3
	2 A Q J 10 6 5 -- A 10 7 6 5 4

East	South	West	North
1	2	3	Pass
3	4	Double	Redouble
Pass	Pass	Pass

 

West led the Q and continued the suit. Declarer ruffed the spade, then played the A and the Q in an attempt to make his contract (on 4-2 or 3-3 hearts). Disaster! West was in control. He played diamonds every time he was in and declarer was held to only his 5 natural trump tricks. Down 2800!

At the other table, East opened 4, South bid 4NT, takeout, West raised to 5. North bid 6 and East doubled. Declarer had no trouble making this for 1540 to go with 2800 from his teammates.

Kit was ready for the score comparison. When his teammates read off "minus 1540," the reply was "lose 'em all."

* No, I don't understand why North wouldn't bid 4NT to ask partner to choose a minor, and no, I don't understand why the partnership wouldn't presume South held clubs (since West bid diamonds).

IMP Table

Point diff. from	Point diff. to	IMPs	Point diff. from	Point diff. to	IMPs	Point diff. from	Point diff. to	IMPs
0	10	0	370	420	9	1750	1990	18
20	40	1	430	490	10	2000	2240	19
50	80	2	500	590	11	2250	2490	20
90	120	3	600	740	12	2500	2990	21
130	160	4	750	890	13	3000	3490	22
170	210	5	900	1090	14	3500	3990	23
220	260	6	1100	1290	15	4000		24
270	310	7	1300	1490	16
320	360	8	1500	1740	17

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