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Two-Beer Session

It isn't in the official Laws of Bridge, but every real player knows that if you win the last trick of a hand with the D7 and get a plus score, your partner owes you a beer. This little twist adds some zest to bridge strategy, as players angle for unusual ways to play that score a beer in addition to getting a good bridge result.

I usually pull off a beer only once every few months, but suddenly it happens twice in a session! First comes this hand:

S A 4
H 9 5
D 10 7 6 5 4
C K 9 8 6
S 9 5
H K Q 7 3
D A K J
C A Q 10 3
       
W
N
E
S
1C
X
2C
P
3C
P
P
P

Partner would have redoubled with 10 or more points, so I think 3C is enough. West opens the SK. I take the Ace and cash the CAK (in that order, so I can finesse next in case East started with four clubs to the Jack). I may need an extra entry to the board to cash dummy's long diamonds, so I lead to the CK with the C10. If necessary, I can later run the C9. But no, West drops the CJ on the second trick.

Now I could take the diamond finesse, but there are two problems with that. First of all, if West, who doubled, started with four diamonds to the Queen, East could get a diamond ruff with the last trump. And besides, there are only 14 HCPs out, so West seems like a favorite to hold the DQ anyway. So I think I'm going to draw trump and not bother with the diamond finesse.

I take the last trump in hand and cash the DAK. I am rewarded when West drops the DQ under the King. Now I see a good score and a beer coming: I cash the DJ and lead the HK. West takes the HA, cashes a spade, and leads another heart. I win with the Queen. Now I lead my carefully preserved C3 to the C9 in dummy, cash the D10 and win the last trick with the D7! A pretty good score (7.5 matchpoints out of 11) for making 150 and a beer to boot.

The full deal was:

S A 4
H 9 5
D 10 7 6 5 4
C K 9 8 6
S K Q J 3
H A J 8 6 4
D Q 2
C J 5		 S 10 8 7 6 2
H 10 2
D 9 8 3
C 7 4 2
S 9 5
H K Q 7 3
D A K J
C A Q 10 3

Just six boards later, I pick up:

SAK3 / HQ974 / DAK9 / C J109

We are vulnerable (the opponents not) and my partner is the dealer. After two passes, I open 1NT. Partner transfers with 2H and I duly bid 2S. Now partner rather unexpectedly bids 3D. That shows at least four diamonds and is game forcing, with some suggestion of slam. I am maximum for my opening notrump bid, but I don't see how there can be a slam given that partner is a passed hand. So I just bid 4S, which ends the auction. On the opening lead of a low heart I see:

S Q J 10 7 6
H 5
D 10 8 7 6 5 2
C 4
S A K 3
H Q 9 7 4
D A K 9
C J 10 9
       
W
N
E
S
P
P
1NT
P
2H
P
2S
P
3D
P
4S
P
P
P

Imaginative bidding by partner! I don't think I would have done the same with his three high card points, but he's put us in an excellent game contract; well done. I ruff the second heart in dummy and draw trump, which split 3-2, and I cash the DAK, which bring down all the opposition diamonds. Now I could just cash all my tricks and lose a club at the end, but why give up a beer? So I give the defense its club trick. On taking it, the opponents start to throw in their hands, but I say, "no, lead another card!" They are mystified as to why we are still playing, but I explain that I will ruff the return, overtake the D9 with dummy's D10, and finish by cashing the eight, then the six, and finally the seven of diamonds, to score +650 and a beer. We get 7 out of 11 matchpoints.

"The things that give you pleasure," my partner says, shaking his head.

[Alexandria Regional, 7-1-2006]