Lady Death

As is his custom, Jeff had a number of houseguests during the recent regional in Pasadena. Near the end of the tournament, one of the guests, John Hodges, gave each of us a nice black T-shirt. Jeff's had a figure of The Punisher, and mine had a scantily clad woman named Lady Death. We wore our new T-shirts for the final day of the tournament.

A wonderful hand came up. I held: 7 AK3 986 A108643. Jeff opened 2NT and the auction proceeded:

Jeff	RHO	Me	LHO
2NT	Pass	3*	Pass
3NT	Pass	4**	Pass
4	Dbl	4	Dbl
4	Pass	5	Dbl
5	Dbl	6	Dbl
Pass	Pass	Pass

* 3

transfered to 3NT to show a minor suited hand.
** 4

showed clubs, slam interest and requested cue bidding if opener had a fit for clubs. The entire hand was:

	AKJ 985 AQJ2 KQ5
Q54 QJ764 5 J972		1098632 102 K10743 ---
	7 AK3 986 A108643

The opening lead was the

5. I won the

A and cashed the

K. After due consideration, I played a heart to the King, finessed the spade, ditched two diamonds on the top spades and then led the

Q for a ruffing finesse.

I don't know how low my odds were for this play considering the auction. I do know that I played for the plus score and it worked.

Maybe it was the T-shirt. You just shouldn't double Lady Death.

Sylvia Summers, sylviasum@earthlink.net, July 21, 1997