Import 9F14 Main
Local Teacher Wins Open Pairs
by Charles WhitebrookImport 9F14 Main |
| by Charles Whitebrook |
January’s Florida Regional was a good one for Broward County players. Foremost of all, the coveted Open Pairs was won by Mabel Pavlicek, paired with Walter Murphy of Miami, by almost two and a half boards over second place.
Mabel conducts some of the area’s most popular bridge classes with her husband Richard, a nationally known expert. “She’s a clever player and knows what’s going on at the table”, said Richard. “Those who underestimate her ability usually regret it.”
The following deal was instrumental in her win. Mabel credits her Precision system (strong artificial club opening) with the good result, as this allowed West to make two revealing bids. (Note the different impact if South opens one spade.) Even so, she took full advantage by setting up a flexible squeeze-endplay.
| South deals |  — | West | North | East | South | |
| None vul |  8 4 3 | 1  1
| ||||
 A Q 9 8 6 5 3 | 1 | 2 | Pass | 2 NT | ||
| 5 3 2 | 3 | 3 | Pass | 3 NT | ||
| A J 10 9 5 |  | 6 3 | Pass | Pass | Pass | |
| K 5 | Q J 10 7 6 2
| |||||
| 4 | J 10 2 | 1. 16+ points | ||||
| K Q 10 7 4 | 9 6
| |||||
| K Q 8 7 4 2
| ||||||
| A 9
| ||||||
| Lead: J | K 7
| |||||
| 3 NT South | A J 8 | |||||
Mabel won the opening lead with the spade king and proceeded to run six diamond tricks. With everyone discarding as best they could, this was the ending before the seventh diamond was led:
| NT win 4 | — | Trick | Lead | 2nd | 3rd | 4th | |
| 8 4 3 | 8. N | 5 | 6 | 9 | 5
| ||
| 5 | 9. N | 3 | 9 | A | Q | ||
| 5 3 | 10. S | A | K | 3 | 10 | ||
| A 10 |  | 6 | 11. S | J | K | 5 | 6
|
| K 5 | Q J 10 | West is endplayed | |||||
| — | —
| ||||||
| K Q | 9 6
| ||||||
| Q 8
| |||||||
| A 9
| |||||||
| —
| |||||||
| North leads | A J | ||||||
On dummy’s last diamond, East threw a club, South the heart nine — and West wished he were playing backgammon: (1) If he throws a spade, declarer enters her hand with a club and leads the spade eight to establish the queen; (2) if he throws a heart, declarer wins her two aces and exits with a club to endplay West in spades; (3) if he throws a club, declarer merely wins her club ace to drop the other honor.
Actually, West chose Option 2, but at this point it’s just for the record. Making two overtricks earned Mabel a top score on the board.
A bridge player went to an auction sale, determined to buy a prized parrot. After lengthy auction, he finally prevailed with the highest bid. “For what I had to pay,” he told the auctioneer, “this parrot better talk!”
“Talk?” came the reply. “Who do you think was bidding against you the past 10 minutes?”
| Import 9F14 Main | | Top Local Teacher Wins Open Pairs |
© 1979 Charles Whitebrook