Scottish Cup Plate Round 2

After our sensational win against Fiona Greenwood's team we were up against it to repeat that feat against Harry Smith's team. Tonight England's men's football team were also in action and I'd been listening to how they've been preparing for their 7 pm kickoff: long lie-in, relaxing as much as possible, big nap in the afternoon. Not quite the same preparation for Anna and I: she didn't get in from work until 655 pm and I was still looking after both kids until about 8 pm.

On the first few boards were were rather sluggish, and underbid. However, looking at the hands afterwards it wasn't clear we'd done badly, as the games we'd missed our way were marginal at best, and maybe our +100s were good scores. Sadly, everything was indeed bid and made at the other table, and we went into the interval down by 61-8. The good news was that being behind by so much took the pressure off, and when Michael apologised for not making his part-score on Board 11 no one really minded.

The match was on RealBridge, which is not our preferred format. Three reasons; firstly it's harder to multitask and read a bedtime story when you're dummy. Secondly it's harder to look back at the hands and export them. Thirdly, we are not so familiar with it. Anna in particular somehow didn't know there was a button to review the auction, which cost us dear when she played a handsome 6♥ contract. She ducked the Spade lead and was rather surprised to see one returned and ruffed, the slam failing on a 7-1 Spade break. What she'd forgotten is that an opponent had opened 3♠.

In the second half I took slightly riskier actions, and they generally paid off. With two game swings each we won that section 30-24. Our big results were Kevin and Michael making a solid 6NT, and Anna collecting 4♠= that was two down on the other table.

This could have been a big swing too, on the very last board.

West opened 1♣, East replied 1♠ and West jumped to 3NT. One of the advantages of RealBridge is that it's easier to ask your opponents about the meaning of bids, and when I enquired West belatedly told me that the 3NT was based on a long minor. Based on very little, I decided to double 3NT. Among experts I believe this sort of double of 3NT ask for partner to lead dummy's suit, here Spades, and indeed if Anna had something like ♠Ax and dummy ♠xxxx then the Spade lead would have beaten 3NT. However, neither Anna or I are experts and it's not clear that Anna would have led a Spade. Furthermore, as you can see, if she does then declarer gets 12 tricks and even on hte best Diamond lead declarer gets 11, so doubling 3NT looks costly.

But much to my relief West removed to 4♣. East quickly bid 4♥, passed out. It would have been a better story if after duping them out of 3NT we took them down in 4♥, but unfortunately didn't. We needed to play Spades to tap dummy, but didn't quite get it right. Anna led a top Diamond, then switched to a Club (good plan, in case declarer has a singleton Club and wants to draw trumps then play Clubs). Declarer took as many Clubs as possible, with me finally ruffing. I needed to switch to a top Spade, but didn't, and declarer was able to draw trumps and enjoy the Clubs so 4♥ made. Team-mates were safely in 5♣+1 for a flat board.

Our cup-run is over. Shorter matches from now on.