A neat defense from Gatlinburg

In the Friday two-session Swiss teams in Gatlinburg last week, Robert Todd and I put together a nice defense. E-W subsided in 2NT after an invitational sequence in which West may or may not have had four spades. I got off to the lead of the two of diamonds. Declarer played low from dummy, and Robert made the very thoughtful play of the seven! Declarer won with the king, cashed the king of clubs (Robert playing the six, his lowest, as a Smith echo - showing that he liked my opening lead), and played a diamond up. Not yet believing that partner had made the good play in diamonds, I split my honors to guarantee me a trick in the suit if RHO had KQx(x). East let me hold the trick. Not really seeing anything else constructive to do, I played another low diamond. Dummy won and declarer pitched a heart. A club was led to the ace, and a spade to the queen. Two more rounds of clubs were played, ending on the table, and I pitched down to AJ of spades, KJ of hearts, and the good jack of diamonds. A heart was led to my jack; I cashed the good diamond and exited the now-stiff king of hearts to the now-stiff ace, and a spade through the queen was our sixth trick for down one. At the other table, our teammates were +400 in 3NT!

Fun in Bracket XVI

I've been spoiled playing in higher brackets with McKenzie, but this week, it's bracket sixteen for me and my squad of players who actually all have more points than I do. It's sort of awful down here, but it's really fun, too. My biggest laugh of the week so far was this auction and the post mortem that followed:

I opened the bidding:

1C (1D) 1S (P)
1N (2D) all pass

Dummy hit with the world's fair -- an 11-count with clubs double stopped and diamond support. When declarer made 4, dummy said, "Whew, I was starting to worry I hadn't bid enough!"

Declarer said, "Oh no it was perfect -- I only had a weak 2."

There's more where that came from, but for now it's back to the bridge table.

Gatlinburg Regional

Everything they say about Gatlinburg is true. If you've never been to this regional, you're missing out. McKenzie and I will be rolling into town in time for the first session of the tournament, and we're really looking forward to the week!

I'm pretty sure this is the only tournament in America where you can play five sessions a day, and I must have forgotten to take my brain medicine, because that's what I'm signed up to do -- stop by and say hi; I'll be there around the clock!

I am currently soliciting ideas for something I have wanted for a long time. Gatlinburg is the capital of tacky souvenirs, and I would really like to get a customized airbrush t-shirt this year. I just have no idea what I want on it! Any ideas?