Skill, luck and win
By Djanwar Madjolelo
JAKARTA (JP): Fred Stewart and Steve Weinstein combined luck and skill to win the NABBC Open Pairs II: Spring National, April 1995, Phoenix.
Here's the skill.
Board No. 3
Dealer : South
Vulnerable: East-West
NORTH
(S) 3
(H) A 10 7 5 3 2
(D) 10 9
(C) J 9 6 5
WEST EAST
(S) A K Q 1 0 8 6 3 (S) Q J 10 7 3 2
(H) K 4 (H) A 10 4 2
(D) J 8 4 2 (D) 6
(C) A 8 7 2 (C) K J 10 3
SOUTH
(S) K 9 8 6
(H) K Q 8 7 3
(D) 10 9 5
(C) 8
WEST NORTH EAST SOUTH
Weinstein Stewart
- - - 1NT
Pass 2D* 3S 4H
4S Pass Pass Double
All Pass
* Transfer to Heart.
South led the Diamond Ace, North playing upside-down signals, played Diamond 9, and Stewart seeking to confuse the issue, played the Diamond Jack.
South shifted to the Heart Queen and continued a Heart, which Stewart ruffed. He drew trumps and conceded a Diamond trick for plus 790 and most of match-point.
Here's the luck.
Board No. 7
Dealer : South
Vulnerable: Both
NORTH
(S) A 5 4
(H) 6 5
(D) K Q J 4
(C) A Q 9 7
WEST EAST
(S) Q J 10 7 3 2 (S) void
(H) J 9 (H) A1042
(D) 6 (D) A8732
(C) 6 5 4 2 (C) KJ103
SOUTH
(S) K 9 8 6
(H) K Q 8 7 3
(D) 10 9 5
(C) 8
WEST NORTH EAST SOUTH
Weinstein Stewart
- - - Pass
2D* 2H** Pass 2S
Pass Pass Double All pass
* Multi -- usually a week two-bid in a major
** Take-out of Hearts.
Stewart, of course, knew his partner's suit was Spades and that his opponents had no place to go.
Plus 800 was worth all the matchpoints.