Last night I went to Malahide Bridge Club outside Dublin where we have pre dealt boards. Our section was an 8 table Relay Mitchel run by the Muldowneys. Charley Higgins ran the dealing machine.
Board 1-3 played against Kitty and Ann
1. Eamon played in 1D making 9 tricks losing the minimum 4 tricks. Tried to get 10 tricks but ended up scrambling for the normal 9.
2. Opponents declared 4H and after getting an Italian discard strong diamond signal from pard I was able to kick the Diamond Ace out of dummy before it could be used as an entry to a slow spade.
3. Opponents played in a quiet 2H after a Kitty opened a light 1S with 5-5 majors and Eamon overcalled 1NT with AQJ of Spades and opponents made 9 tricks which is the normal amount but at other tables some made 10 and some even bid game.
Board 4-6 versus Dave Galavan and Fred Newell
4. This was a error strewn 1Nt defence by both Eamon and Pat. Pat started by leading AK diamonds setting up 2 tricks in dummy while the Heart Ace remained as entry. This was quite distracting and when the next card a club jack Eamon let it ride when taking with the ACE and returning a club will gather in our entitlement of 6 tricks. Declarer gleefully wrapped up 9 tricks not bothering with a working Spade finesse. Reckon it was a zero.
5. Happy opponents compete to 4Diamonds on next board before realising that 11 tricks were there easily. Not clear to reach 5D though.
6. Pat Cassidy got home in 2NT which does not look like a Christmas present
Boards 7-9 versus Muldowneys
7. Somehow Eamon in 4th seat opened 1Nt with a 14 count and played there , going 2 off vulnerable. This is weird as dealer had an opening but I don't remember.
8. A normal 4S making 11 tricks ..with trump king offside slam cannot make. Eamon stirred pot here with 3D opener and after a double and a mild 3S responce opps played in 4S
9. The lads bid 7H and opponent finds queen of trumps with the book trump lead against a grand slam much to chagrin of the guy with Q83 of trumps
boards 10-12 opponents unnamed
10. Eamon cracked opponents 3S but Pat decided this was further takeout and bid 4Ds going -200 unmolested. 3S is going off handily doubled. Eamons 3 opponents killed him there.
11. opponents played in 2S and after some struggles this contract eventually drifted 1 off.
2H is a more normal contract but you get higher and probably drift off. Bidding at our table went 1H (2D from pard) a weird 2S from next opp and there they played ..
12. Eamon drifted 1 off in a too high 4H contract after PAt produced a jump Heart raise while holding 3 card support. 4 is the normal for this bid but what you don't know you don't worry about.
boards 13-15 opponents unamed
13. Eamon bid a quiet 4H holding AKQTxxx after a 1C opener by Pat. Opps have a profitable sacrifice in 5D going 1 off and 4S going 2 off but Eamons 4H left alone.
14. Eamon and Pat are allowed steal the pot in 2C. Opponents busy thinking about previous hand as we steal their dinner. Opps have lots of tricks in Diamonds
15. Eamon steals away with 10 tricks in diamonds when opps fail to find club switch.
boards 16-18 versus Kate Crossan and Eileen Ludden
16. Eamon gets 10 tricks in 3NT after no help from defence holding 2 aces and a useful AJ of clubs. Eileen Ludden mentioned the possibility of 12 tricks during defense despite holding the 2 aces and the favourable club jack but Eamon not falling for that trickery. However fair play for the effort.
17. Eamon gets 10 tricks in 3NT ...... Don't ask me but I will take it
18. a 10 count overcalled 1H and then bid 2S and finally raised her unwilling 16 count partner to 3NT. Declarer took the least amount of tricks to go 5 off
boards 19-21 versus unknown
19.Eamon plays in 3N with lots of stuff wrong and gets home. With A7x opposite KJ984 in diamonds Eamon considered running the Jack into the 55 major hand but then went somewhat wrong.
20. Pat found the unfortunate low diamond lead and declarer rolled in 11 tricks in 3NT ..not good for us. Declarer took a club finesse early and Eamon when in with Spade Queen continued diamonds to pards expected Ace but it was not to be ..low promised honour and the only missing honor was ACE.
21. Eamon chose the wrong time to mix it up with an Acol 2D opener as it might have got passed but instead the opponent was happy to bid 3NT over the 2S overcall and 3Nt rolled home for 630. Best defence probably holds it to 9 tricks although a non-spade lead can probably beat it but Eamon was confident with a club AQ to be entries but it was not to be.
22-24 versus unknown opps
22. Eamon held 11 major cards opposite a weak 1Nt and played in 2S making 10 tricks.
I bought a 14 count with aces but it might have been 12. Got all the tricks I am entitled to and might have lost another heart
23. We defended against 2S and got it 1 off. This is at least normal but when partner failed to consider ducking the opening heart lead it became a good score. Ducking heart lead gives us easy 6 tricks with chances of another.
24. Pat cassidy played in 2S after some competition and got home for 2S+1 which is quite a good score by the looks of things.
Overall we have too many zeros to win or even place but if everybody plays bad we might get up there. I estimate about 1.0 tops at best but probably we are 0.6 over average. Too many self inflicted errors.
This is written for those with hand records to see it. I might get a pbn file later. Thanks Eamon Galligan eamongall on BBO.
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