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.Love all; dealer North
North
4 A K 6 4
! A 8
pounds K 5 3 2
2 10 9 4
West East
4 10 9 7 4 Q J 8 3 2
! Q J 9 7 2 ! 10 5
pounds 10 6 pounds J 9 8 7
2 K 8 2 2 Q 5
South
4 5
! K 6 4 3
pounds A Q 4
2 A J 7 6 3
There have been celebrated instances of chess masters resigning in positions where subsequent analysis showed that they had a forced win. I feel much the same about the following slam hand which I described elsewhere as being well played by declarer. Oh dear! It appears that I, as East, could have defeated the contract no matter what South had tried.
Ken Barbour (South) and Alan Truscott bid well to reach Six Clubs. Albert Dormer, as West, led the queen of hearts and declarer won on the table. At trick two, he led the ten of clubs which went to the five, three and two.
This was a good try by Albert. If only I had not held the queen of clubs, declarer might have been tempted to repeat the club finesse which would have allowed West to play a third round and leave South a trick short. In practice, a second round of trumps saw my queen pop up and, after winning, declarer was able to abandon the suit and claim twelve tricks.
A French reader, Raymond Vallet, has helpfully pointed out that I should have covered the ten of clubs with my queen. It looks wrong, but can you see the effect?
Declarer, after winning, cannot play a second round of trumps without the defenders playing a third. So he has to ruff a heart on the table first. If he ruffs with the four, I can overruff with the five. If he ruffs with the nine of clubs, Albert now has two natural trump tricks. Quite infuriating!
Join our commenting forum
Join thought-provoking conversations, follow other Independent readers and see their replies
Comments