A hole in one?  No, better yet...+7,000!     by Alvin & Beverly Levy

You never forget +7,000!  A score we attained in a Sectional Swiss match against Marty Bergen and a client about 15 years ago.

7,000...a score never to be repeated, but one that could be repeatedly reported, even if it takes 15 years.

So...to put the record straight.

The following deal appears in Marty Bergen's well written and fun book, Points Schmoints!

Dealer West, All Vulnerable.
  ♠ 9 7 5 4 2
♥ K 5
♦ 9 3 2
♣ Q 10 8
♠  A 3
♥ A 6
♦  A K Q J 8 5 4
♣ K J		 Bridge deal ♠ K Q 10 8 6
♥ J 9 2
♦ 10 7 6
♣ A 3
  ♠ J
♥ Q 10 8 7 4 3
♦ ----
♣ 9 7 6 5 4 2
 
West North East South
  Client   Bergen
2♣ P 2♠ 4♠
4NT P 5♦ P
6♦ 6♠ Dbl 6NT
Dbl P P Rdbl
P P! P  

Opening lead ♦A.

With the hands shown, Beverly (East) would have bid 5♠ showing 2 keycards and the spade Q, not one keycard, as we would assume spades as trump.  The reason for the 5♦ response is that these weren't the actually hands dealt at the table.

The actual deal follows:

Dealer West, All Vulnerable.
  ♠ x x x x
♥ x x
♦ x x x
♣ A 10 x x
♠ A K x
♥ A K Q
♦ K Q J 10 9 8
♣ x		 Bridge deal ♠ Q J 10 9 x x
♥ x x
♦ A x x
♣ K x
  ♠ --
♥ J 10 x x x x
♦ x
♣ Q J x x x x

Opening lead ♦K, +7,000 EW

You might question the 2♠ response as East didn't hold two of the top three honors, but that is immaterial, especially since a response of 2♦ might not allow East to fully describe her hand later.  2♠ was the winning bid.  Over 2♦, South would have ventured 4NT planning to correct 5♦ to 5♥, and not allowing us to bid keycard.

Interestingly, at the other table 6♦ by East was defeated on a club lead and spade return, so we scored +7,000.

Marty writes..."Bridge hands come and go.  However, the deal ... I shall never forget."  Unfortunately, he didn't remember the details or the fact that 6♦ went down at the other table.  Its hard to remember too clearly when you just went for 7,000!  On the other hand, we were careful to record most of the details for bragging rights.  When we saw the hand appear in print we carefully compared the hand with our notes, and now 15 years later, want to put the record straight...for the few who may ever see this and the fewer who care.

I thank Marty for the inscription in our copy and for being a good sport...reporting a -7,000!

"To Beverly and Alvin,

the pair that got me for 7000!

Best wishes

Marty Bergen."