Believe it or Not

by Mark Horton

Ripley's Believe It or Not! is a franchise founded by Robert LeRoy Ripley which deals in bizarre events and items so strange and unusual that readers might question the claims. The Believe It or Not panel proved popular and was later adapted into a wide variety of formats, including radio, television, a chain of museums, a book series and a pinball game.

In Round 18 there were a number of incidents that would be candidates for the bridge version of the program.

Board 18. Dealer East. N/S Vul.
	♠ J 4 3 ♥ 10 3 ♦ K 10 9 8 ♣ 9 7 6 3
♠ A K 10 6 ♥ A K 8 7 6 4 2 ♦ Q J ♣		♠ Q 9 7 ♥ Q J 9 5 ♦ A 7 ♣ Q J 5 4
	♠ 8 5 2 ♥ ♦ 6 5 4 3 2 ♣ A K 10 8 2

This sequence was reproduced at least two tables, West intending his bid to be Exclusion Blackwood, a possibility unfortunately excluded by partner.

Board 21. Dealer North. N/S Vul.
	♠ A Q ♥ 8 6 ♦ Q J 10 9 8 6 ♣ 10 5 2
♠ K 9 5 4 2 ♥ J 5 4 3 ♦ K ♣ Q 8 4		♠ 7 3 ♥ K 10 7 2 ♦ 3 ♣ A J 9 7 6 3
	♠ J 10 8 6 ♥ A Q 9 ♦ A 7 5 4 2 ♣ K

We have all risked bidding no trumps without a stopper, but doing it in a suit the opponents have bid is asking for trouble. When West led a club declarer finished up two down, not much of a result to set against the +600 recorded at the other table.

Board 24. Dealer West. None Vul.
	♠ A 9 7 3 ♥ Q ♦ 10 ♣ A K Q J 6 5 4
♠ K J 6 5 2 ♥ 10 8 3 ♦ K Q 8 6 ♣ 9		♠ 10 ♥ A K 9 6 2 ♦ A J 7 5 4 ♣ 8 3
	♠ Q 8 4 ♥ J 7 5 4 ♦ 9 3 2 ♣ 10 7 2

East’s overcall promised either clubs or the red suits. I gather this is a popular idea in Denmark (and they think it wonderful in Germany) but to my way of thinking it is misguided. If you want to do this type of thing it’s safer to use 2♠ to show clubs or the red suits. (3♣ would show diamonds or the majors and so on.) I also think the East hand is too good to make an essentially pre-emptive bid, but that is a side issue. Three Clubs did not play too well and 250 was added to the +400 recorded at the other table where Five Diamonds made.

Board 28. Dealer West. N/S Vul.
	♠ 10 4 3 ♥ A 7 4 ♦ K 6 4 3 ♣ 9 5 2
♠ K 9 7 ♥ K 9 6 3 ♦ 8 5 2 ♣ K Q 10		♠ A 6 5 2 ♥ J 5 2 ♦ A J 9 7 ♣ A 7
	♠ Q J 8 ♥ Q 10 8 ♦ Q 10 ♣ J 8 6 4 3

Quite why you would want to play these two hands in 5♣ is a mystery that only East/West can answer. Declarer emerged with eight tricks, and when 3NT failed at the other table this misadventure cost only 3 IMPs.