Slam Menagerie #2

                                      by

                                   Owen Roth

                                 oroth@att.net


Some types of matchpoint players enjoy complex auctions like the I just wrote about, and disapprove of "blasting" to slam. Even the sound of it, "blast," is perjorative, as if we'd shown up to a sculpting contest wielding dynamite.

But a direct bid of slam has advantages:

Matchpoints                  North
Vul: None                    -----
                             8 6 4 3
                             Q J
                             A J 5 4 3
                             7 3

               West                        East
               ----                        ----
               Q T 7			   9 5 2
               K T 8 7 6                   A 9 5 4 3 2
               T 8 2                       K 9 6
               9 4                         T

 Results                      South                    Bidding:
-                             -----                    P -P-2H-X
 7H -5 1100                   A K J                    4H-x-P-6C
 4@6C  920                    -                        
 2@5C  420                    Q 7                 
 6S   -150                    A K Q J 8 6 5 2                  
 4NT  -150
 - 
The opponents placed maximum pressure on us by preempting to the four level before I could tell partner about my club suit. She didn't have enought to make a suit bid, so she made an excellent value showing-double, which was all I needed to "blast" to slam -- A grand wasn't in the cards, and slam would be playable with my 10 tricks, even if partner didn't hold a diamond card (QTxx in spades, say), as I rated to get a heart lead.

Frequently, in jammed auctions with a void in the enemy's suit, a "blast" to slam is the correct option, since we'll never bid a grand and 5C will pay poorly. Six might be cold, might make on the wrong lead, and since the opponents know that you're gambling they will frequently chose wrongly about sacrificing. 

Turning to the traveler, we note that one pair bid and raised on weak spades, instead of doubling or bidding minors. Another had a serious accident in 4NT (I'll bet they weren't sure when 4NT is to play, see the previous column), and a third pair blasted to the grand in clubs, and found a way to win anyway as the opponents sacrificed at the 7 level!

Blasting can be the right call, even if you have fancy tools.

On the next hand, failure to use a basic tool combined with confused agreements got us into trouble...