Two Hands Against Meckwell

At the 1998 Spring Nationals in Reno, I got to play two fun hands against Meckwell in the Open Pairs II. One board was a near-top, and the next board was a tie for bottom. Here's the tie for bottom.

Wirt K9 J43 KQ109764 A Me AT8753 92 A5 J83

Wirt 1 3 Pass All Pass

Rodwell Pass Pass Pass

Me 1 Pass 3?

Meckstroth 2 3 Dbl

Meckstroth leads the top two hearts, Rodwell following with the 5 and 7 (udca). Now Meckstroth continues with the Q, Rodwell thinking a moment before pitching the 3. After ruffing in hand, how do you plan on tackling trumps? Do you know why Meckstroth played a third round of hearts instead of making the killing club switch?

Here is the complete deal.

Dlr: North		Wirt
Vul: E-W		K9
		J43
Meckstroth		KQ109764		Rodwell
QJ62		A		4
AKQ865				107
8		South		J32
64		A108753		KQ109752
		92
		A5
		J83

Since Meckstroth had a lot of hearts and probably some club stuff, I decided not to lead a spade to the nine, but to lead a spade to the king, intending to finesse through Rodwell (unless he showed up with a stiff honor). This works when spades are 3-2 (ha) or when Rodwell does has a stiff honor. Well, Rodwell showed out and I was royally screwed. -300 was a horrific result.

In retrospect, it looks like Meckstroth was trying to find Rodwell with the 8 or 10, to ensure two trump tricks for the defense. Oh well. I gave this hand to Billy Miller and he immediately got it right. It just goes to show.... =)

This was the good board.

Dlr: West		Wirt
Vul: None		Q5
		9854
Meckstroth		AJ932		Rodwell
K10864		65		J2
AQ				1K10762
108		Me		Q654
KJ97		A973		82
		J3
		K7
		AQ1043

Meckstroth 1 2

Wirt Pass Pass

Rodwell 1NT* 2

Me Pass All Pass

Against 2 Wirt led the 9. This was covered by the ten, jack and ace. Meckstroth then led the Q and overtook it with the king in dummy. When he tried to cash the 10, I ruffed and he overruffed. Then he tried the 10...jack, queen, king. I returned a diamond to Wirt's ace. When Wirt played the 8, I discarded a club as Meckstroth ruffed. Now came a spade toward the jack. Wirt won the Q and returned a spade to my ace. I exited with a spade, leaving Meckstroth on lead with this funny ending:

	Meckstroth KJ97
Me AQ104

Meckstroth led the jack. I took my queen and played back the 4. A progressive endplay. =) I've never seen one before or since.