Independent Pursuits: 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."IT MAY seem a trivial defensive point but it eluded East at the table on this deal as he allowed a vulnerable game to slip through.
South opened One Diamond, North responded One Spade, and South rebid Two Clubs. To use the fourth suit now would have been an unnecessary complication, and North gave an invitational jump preference to Three Diamonds. South made another move with Four Clubs and, perhaps attaching too much weight to his club holding, North accepted the invitation. Mind you, it was difficult to stop short of game with such a high combined point count.
West led !3 against Five Diamonds and, after winning with his king, East cashed !A. Now he had a problem - had his partner led from !Q763 or !Q63? It was all guesswork now, he thought, and (otherwise there would have been no story) East attempted to cash 4A. Declarer ruffed and claimed.
East really was asleep. If the ace of spades was going to live, was it conceivable that all of dummy's spades would go away after a heart return? There was an alternative way out of East's supposed dilemma that is worth noting for future occasions. As the opening lead promised an honour, which had to be the queen, East could have returned !2 at trick two. This would have made it clear to his partner that East had started with exactly four hearts and West would have been able to see from where the setting trick might come.
Game all; dealer South
North
4K Q J 9
!J 10 8
#J 10 9 4
2K 5
West East
410 6 5 4 3 2 4A 8 7
!Q 6 3 !A K 9 2
#7 3 #5 2
27 3 210 8 6 2
South
4none
!7 5 4
#A K Q 8 6
2A Q J 9 4
Join our commenting forum
Join thought-provoking conversations, follow other Independent readers and see their replies
Comments