Games: Bridge

Alan Hiron
Wednesday 17 December 1997 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.

North-South game; dealer North

North

4J 9 8 2

!4

#A Q 8 7 2

2A Q J

West East

4none 4A Q 10 7 4

!10 8 7 6 5 !9

#J 9 6 5 #K 10 4 3

2K 9 8 7 24 3 2

South

4K 6 5 3

!A K Q J 3 2

#none

210 6 5

I suppose that, as in any competitive game, you can make enemies in curious ways. This deal, from match-play, caused North and East to be "no-speaks" for a long time.

The bidding followed the same route at both tables: North opened One Diamond, East overcalled with One Spade, and South ended in Four Hearts. Unable to lead his partner's suit, West chose 27.

Now the play diverged. One declarer successfully finessed the 2Q and, after playing four rounds of trumps, soon had 10 tricks. (Five hearts, three clubs, a diamond and a spade.) The other declarer went up with dummy's ace at trick one and eventually lost four tricks. (A club, two spades and a trump.)

"What was the point in refusing the club finesse?" demanded North. "Even if it loses and East gives his partner a spade ruff, it is only one of your losers that is trumped."

"First," replied South, "I am always home if the trumps are no worse than 4-2. Second, if the club finesse loses, East will indeed give his partner a spade ruff. But he will return 4Q, not the ace and another or a low one. Then he still has two spade tricks to come later."

"Do you really think that East would have been capable of such a play?" persisted North.

Unfortunately, East had just come back into the room after comparing scores, and overheard the last part of North's remark.

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