Games: 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.Game all; dealer South
North
4none
!10 8 6
#10 8 7 4 3
2J 8 6 3 2
West East
49 7 2 4J 10 8 5 3
!5 3 !9 7 4 2
#J 9 6 5 2 #A
29 7 4 2K 10 5
South
4A K Q 6 4
!A K Q J
#K Q
2A Q
Extremely powerful hands, such as South's on this deal from a pairs event, are traditionally difficult to develop - probably because players rarely get any practice in handling them.
Some pairs stopped in Three No-trumps, which was comfortable enough; some played in Four No-trumps (when it was not clear whether the bid was natural or conventional) and found that they could scrape home by extracting all of East's red cards and putting him in with the fourth round of spades, enabling them to finesse in clubs when East eventually led one.
Three pairs reached the only slam that offered any play - Six Hearts - against which West led a diamond to his partner's ace. Twice a trump was returned and now it was plain sailing: win, ruff spade, finesse 2Q, ruff spade, 2A, draw trumps, and claim.
The remaining East, however, introduced a bizarre diversion which proved effective. After winning with #A he returned 2K. Goodness knows what he had in mind, but can you blame South for thinking that this was the singleton rather than #A?
So South won, ruffed a spade, came back with a trump, and ruffed another spade. Now he needed to come back to hand to draw the last trumps and, not unnaturally, attempted to do so with #K - which was ruffed by East!
Join our commenting forum
Join thought-provoking conversations, follow other Independent readers and see their replies
Comments