Apropos of Mark

I played in the Sunday Swiss at the Lansing Regional today with Kevin (what’s the deal with seven seven-board matches for the final Swiss?).  Things were going swimmingly at 4-0 with 64 VP’s (20 point scale), when…

* – 4+ card constructive raise

Looking at these two hands, you would figure that I am posting this as a disaster that Kevin and I had in the bidding.  Unfortunately, no…

On the lead of the ♦K, declarer won, dropped the ♥K, drew the other trump and lead the ♣J.  I was helpless.  I won the ace, but had no way over to Kevin.  So, declarer pitched two diamonds and a spade on the clubs and made 6.  The slam needed hearts 2-1 with a singleton king, diamonds 6-1 AND the club ace to be with the short diamonds.  All in all about a 1.5% slam.  Some days you’re the pigeon and some days you’re the statue.