Bridge: Dealing with riddles
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.A RIDDLE - why was declarer irritated, despite making a vulnerable grand slam in no-trumps with a neat double squeeze?
Game all; dealer South
North
A K Q 6
6 3
A J 7
Q 10 5 3
West
J 10 9 8 5
9 2
10 8 6 4
9 6
East
4 2
J 10 8 5
Q 9 5 3
8 4 2
South
7 3
A K Q 7 4
K 2
A K J 7
With an awkward opening bid, South chose to start with a slightly off-beat Two No- trumps. An excited North ascertained, via Gerber, that his partner held two aces and three kings, and plunged to Seven No-trumps.
West led the jack of spades against Seven No-trumps. Declarer started by testing the hearts, only to find that East guarded the suit. Next came two more top spades, discarding a heart from hand, to leave West in sole control of the suit. South saw that when he cashed his club tricks, neither opponent would be able to hold on to three diamonds and the queen would be bound to fall.
It did not go quite like that. First, South cashed the king of diamonds and played the jack from the table - an apparently pointless, but cost- nothing play. Then he played off his clubs, ending in hand. West came down to 10s 10d, dummy to A 7d, and East had to discard from Jh Q 9d. He threw the jack of hearts, and South made the last two tricks with the seven of hearts and the ace of diamonds.
Why was South cross? It is a Danish tradition that if declarer wins the last trick with the seven of diamonds, all his team-mates have to buy him a drink. Now you can see the point of following suit with the jack of diamonds and preserving the valuable seven.
Join our commenting forum
Join thought-provoking conversations, follow other Independent readers and see their replies
0Comments