Bridge
Your support helps us to tell the story
From reproductive rights to climate change to Big Tech, The Independent is on the ground when the story is developing. Whether it's investigating the financials of Elon Musk's pro-Trump PAC or producing our latest documentary, 'The A Word', which shines a light on the American women fighting for reproductive rights, we know how important it is to parse out the facts from the messaging.
At such a critical moment in US history, we need reporters on the ground. Your donation allows us to keep sending journalists to speak to both sides of the story.
The Independent is trusted by Americans across the entire political spectrum. And unlike many other quality news outlets, we choose not to lock Americans out of our reporting and analysis with paywalls. We believe quality journalism should be available to everyone, paid for by those who can afford it.
Your support makes all the difference.THERE WAS a curious route to success on this deal. South did not find it, nor did North point it out. It was only later that the winning play came to light.
South opened One Heart, West overcalled with Two Diamonds, and North bid Three Diamonds. The obvious raise to Three Hearts would have been purely pre-emptive - the cue-bid showed a genuine raise to at least Three Hearts. Although South held the least attractive 15-count, he jumped to Four Hearts.
Against the heart game, West led the ace and another club. South won and started on trumps, but the worst happened when East won and led another club for West to ruff with his 10 in front of dummy. Now, what should declarer discard? A useless spade or a useless diamond? Declarer chose a diamond.
West solved this problem. Judging that a spade lead would now be fatal, he tried a diamond. This gave away a trick, but the defenders still had to come to a spade at the end and the contract failed. Any better for declarer to part with one of dummy's spades? No, for then West, although end-played for a trick, can exit with a spade, coming to a diamond at the end. I expect you've got there: discard a low trump under West's 10! West, say, exits with a diamond but now declarer takes his two diamond tricks and plays the rest of his trumps, squeezing West in spades and diamonds, for dummy's six of diamonds is still there as a menace and West has to part with a spade to give South three tricks in the suit.
Join our commenting forum
Join thought-provoking conversations, follow other Independent readers and see their replies
Comments