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.East found a truly remarkable defence against South's slam on this deal but, as you will see as you read on, he did not find it until much later. To be fair, even its belated discovery was praiseworthy.
South opened One Club, North responded One Spade, and East overcalled with Two hearts. South reversed with Three Diamonds and, over North's Three No-trumps, pushed on with Four Diamonds. North gave preference to clubs and South went on to Six Clubs against which West led !5.
Dummy's diamond holding was a disappointment to declarer. He appeared now to have two certain losers (a diamond and 4A), but he found a neat avoidance play. After ruffing East's !K, he crossed to dummy with 29 and led a low spade. East played low and the jack won. Declarer re-entered dummy with 2J and led !Q. East covered and South ruffed high. Now 2Q drew West's last trump and !J provided a discard for the losing spade. After conceding a diamond trick, South was now home.
East does no better to play 4A at trick three, for now South can get three discards on dummy's hearts and spades and so avoid a diamond loser.
So what were East's belated thoughts? He should let dummy's heart win the first trick! Forced to take a discard before he is ready for it, South cannot escape two losers.
Game all; dealer South
North
4K Q 7 2
!Q J 10
#7 4 3
2Q J 9
West East
49 4 3 4A 10 8 6
!8 5 4 2 !A K 9 7 6 3
#Q J 9 #10 6
27 5 2 24
South
4J 5
!none
#A K 8 5 2
2A K 10 8 6 3
Join our commenting forum
Join thought-provoking conversations, follow other Independent readers and see their replies
Comments