[shyams]

I wonder if people remember the first time they successfully executed a play technique (or a bidding gadget?) and it felt great. I am not referring to set problems in books etc. but instances where one chose a line in actual play.

Today I successfully executed an Intra-Finesse. I don't recall ever executing one "at the table" and I have played this game for decades!

Would be great to hear from others about their "achievement unlocked" moments.



PS: Scored 97.4% on that board (#6 from yesterday's Just Declare Daylong)

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This post has been edited by shyams: 2025-May-16, 23:36

[pescetom]

Many of them although very ordinary things (I've "only" been playing for 15 years and still have a lot to learn about, let alone execute successfully).

Probably the greatest satisfaction was the first time I threw in an opponent knowing he was thus obliged to concede me two tricks for 3NT making. Felt like witchcraft.

Almost as good was the first time I executed a trump coup (but I was aware I had stumbled upon it).

[apollo1201]

Thanks Shyams, I remember lots of good memories of pride thanks to your post. I started with one but remembered others during the writing. And I am thankful I « recovered » them from where they were in my brain.

Bidding the 1st grand slam and making it. A long sequence where I did not know until a few rounds where partner was driving me to. But the satisfaction, after rewinding all the bidding, when the opening card hit the table, to exactly see what he had promised and what I had explained to the opps. And playing the hand like I knew I would play it from the bidding.

Dropping my 1st offside sg K (even more rewarding when it was against a rather obnoxious player at the club) - a hand where opps had 10 spades but peacefully let me play 3C, I felt sth fishy and banged the CA on the table from AQT 6th with 3 small opposite. Needless to say I also picked the J.

Not sure it was my 1st Buffalo but I remember this one, I was playing with a very good player and she congratulated me after I buffaloed the D8 (!!) in RHO.

1st false card that worked. Declarer gave me a weird look a bit suspicious and I tried to look as innocent as a lamb.

I keep other stories for myself as even if successful and going to lots of emotions, tjey do not relate to particularly smart bids or good uses of play techniques😅😅

[shyams]

Jettisoning an honour card

This one was a memorable Rueful Rabbit style "achievement".

I was defending (West in the South = Declarer format) and was 100% sure that South held AJx in a particular suit (I held Qxx). He cashed the King of that suit, then led low from dummy, and played the Ace! I was so sure that South will finesse that I blindly "won" with the Queen. It took me a split second to realise my blunder.

Fortunately for me, South held Axx and partner had the Jack. Declarer exited in that suit, partner won (thanks to my jettison) and we scored another trick to defeat the contract. Had I played low instead of the Queen, I'd have been endplayed at the next trick.

Partner (a buddy of mine & a very accomplished player) was mighty impressed; I told him after the sesion what really happened and we both had a hearty laugh.

[Cyberyeti]

One bizarre one that I'm sure will never be repeated, winning the last 2 tricks with the 5 and 4 of trumps as an opponent followed twice. 3♠ with lots of ruffing and overruffing.

One that got away, never had a 24 IMP swing, I've posted this hand before.

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When W didn't lead a diamond or a club, that was the end of the party for +2470.

At the other table, 6♠x was played, this should have been easy, any of the elimination/throwin lines work on the club lead they got, but declarer went wrong so put a doubled vulnerable slam on the floor and gained 20.

[awm]

Here are a few for me:

Finding the only defence to defeat a 4M game by underleading an ace at trick one and again at trick three (in the Vanderbilt, no less)
Executing a surrounding play on defence
Making a redoubled partscore, with overtricks, for an average result in an NABC+ matchpoint event
Defeating a team of world champions in a full day KO match
Squeezing my LHO in three suits including the trump suit for a top result at pairs
Declaring 2♦XX+1 for lose 8 in a team game

[AL78]

A couple that come to mind:

1. Defending a 3NT contract partner led his 4th best and declarer had one stop so his suit was established but I had none left. There was AT98x in hearts in the dummy, I held Kx. I worked out early on partner held a few values. During the play, it was apparent declarer was trying to establish enough tricks for the contract but hadn't touch the heart suit at the time I gained the lead. I questioned to myself why, then figured out partner must hold ♥QJ and a couple of small ones. I played the ♥K, ducked, followed by another heart, locking declarer in dummy who could only cash a couple of tricks before dummy only had hearts left, so was forced to put partner on lead with his jack to cash his winners for one down.

2. I misplayed a 6-2 trump fit because I played for a 3-2 break where I could have guarded against a 4-1 break and that is what happened. I was in danger of losing two trump tricks as I couldn't finesse through the defender with long trumps so my only chance was to play for a trump coup which I had never tried before but had read up on, and I managed to pull it off. I'd have rather not cocked up the play in the first place though.

[TMorris]

I remember a surround play that i was pleased to recognise in time to execute. No-one else on the night appeared to find it from the results & it was the first time I had made one.

The first time I played queen from AQx when partner was on lead against 3nt and led low. Neither of us had bid so I knew she had almost nothing. Declarer gave it a look but took his king and we needed the play to get the contract off. Very satisfying.

[mw64ahw]

The first 70% with a new partner using a few new bidding techniques