Eau Claire is outside of Minnesota and District 14. Nevertheless, some Minnesotans traveled to the nearby regional last week - and the top five masterpoint winners were all from our fair state!
Congratulations to Barry Purrington, winner of more points than anyone else with over 74. Mike Cassel was a hair behind Barry. Tom Grue, Greg Van Dyke and Steve Gaynor were 3rd through fifth.
Mike was excited about this statistic; he entered six events in Eau Claire - and won every one! Well done, Mike.
Mike's favorite hand was this one,
He held: x, AQJx, x, AKQxxxx.
As he was weighing whether he should open a Precision 1C strong, forcing and artificial call, his vulnerable left hand opponent opened a strong 2C!
East bid 2D, promising game forcing values!
Mike was pretty sure that his LHO had a big two suiter in spades and diamonds. So, Mike "put it to him" and bid 6C!
Without much pause for thought, LHO bid 6S. Thinking that 7C would be a good sacrifice, Mike bid it.
His partner held the king fifth of hearts, so unless the opponents found a diamond shift after cashing one spade, 7C is only down 1.
At the other table, the auction was slower. Holding two aces, Mike's counterpart did not wish to save.
Mike's team won by only 10 IMPS, so his judgement to preempt the auction, then save, was critical to success.
The full hand:
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