Reeling 'Em In

Son Arne with Fisherman Dad Peder

 

The Granite City Sectional in St. Cloud ended yesterday.  Results are not available yet; they'll be posted as soon as available.

In the meantime, however, Steve Gaynor was kind enough to report a most entertaining "fish tale" from the tournament. Think that age 91 is simply too old to be still playing winning bridge?  Then you are not familiar with Peder Langsetmo!  Steve presents the super story below.

Thanks for the story, Steve!  And Peder - you keep on baiting the hook!

 

HE'S THE FISHERMAN; I'M THE FISH - YOU'LL SEE, KER-PLOP!

 

Playing in the 25 table pair/team game at the St Cloud Sectional on Friday we came up against Peder Langsetmo and his son Arne.  Peder, with over 10,000 masterpoints and a Platinum Life Master, is now 91 years old and has been around a long time winning events.  He has always been an imaginative player.    Arne does not have as much experience at the game, but his dad has shown him some of the finer points and Arne has picked them up quite well.

Anyway, I am West. White versus red, I pick up J9763, A42, 82, AT5.  The bidding starts with Arne sitting North.

N             E              S              W

2D           2S           4D           4S

P             P             5D           ?

 

What would you do?  I am thinking I have the ‘death holding’ in diamonds (2 small) and a couple of Aces.  5 spades looks like it may be a bit rich and partner must have a trick over there for her bid.... So with two aces, I double. 

I have long preached that when a good player makes what looks like a bad bid, he has a surprise up his sleeve.  So he does. 

Peder took a bit of a risk that we may pass out 4D, but he was pretty sure I had some spades and values. Thus, he envisioned me bidding so he could reel me in with his 5D call. 

I swallowed the bait hook, line, and sinker.  Dummy was void in spades and had good hearts and clubs. When diamonds went 2-2, I could take my two aces, but nothing else. 

Five spades would have been a good sacrifice.  When will I ever learn?

The whole deal:

 

                                ♠105

                                ♥10

                                ♦AK9764

                                ♣J762

 

                ♠J9763                         ♠AKQ842

                ♥A42                            ♥863

                ♦82                               ♦Q10

                ♣A105                          ♣ 83

 

                                   ♠none

                                   ♥ KQJ975

                                   ♦J53

                                   ♣KQ94

 

 

 

 

Comments

[Peder Langsetmo]

Thank you! It was fun playing and meeting you all again. Arne and I are hoping to do some sessions at the Aquatennial. Hope to see you then!