Bridge

Alan Hiron
Sunday 14 March 1999 00:02 GMT
Comments

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.

ON THIS deal from match play one declarer had an easy run and made a comfortable overtrick in his game contract. It all seemed straightforward and he was not expecting to gain on the board, but his team-mate, sitting West at the other table, found a way of inducing the other declarer into error.

The bidding was the same in both rooms - South's One No-trump (15-17 points) was raised directly to game and West led the three of clubs against Three No-trumps. It was clear that the diamonds had to be developed so, after winning the lead in dummy, both declarers led the two of diamonds to their king.

At the first table West took his ace and led another low club but now, after winning, it was easy for South to come to hand with a spade before leading a second diamond. When West followed with the three, declarer put in dummy's nine. East won but had no more clubs to play and it was all over.

The other West found a much more imaginative defence - when the first diamond was led to the king, he allowed it to hold! Not unnaturally, declarer continued the suit and this time West followed with his jack. From South's point of view, all of this was perfectly consistent with West having started with + J 10 3 and East with + A 8. If that were the case, it would be fatal to play dummy's queen on the second round, so West's jack was allowed to hold. Gleefully, West now cleared the clubs while he still had the ace of diamonds as an entry. As a result, the defenders now came to five tricks.

North-South game; dealer South

] Q 8 3

_ 10 7 3

+ Q 9 6 4 2

[ A K

] 10 7 6 5

_ Q 9 6 5 2

+ 10 8

[ 8 4

] A K 4

_ A K 4

+ K 7 5

[ 10 9 7 6

] J 9 2

_ J 8

+ A J 3

[ Q J 5 3 2

Join our commenting forum

Join thought-provoking conversations, follow other Independent readers and see their replies

Comments

Thank you for registering

Please refresh the page or navigate to another page on the site to be automatically logged inPlease refresh your browser to be logged in