The Game of Bridge

Evening Post, Volume CXXXII, Issue 83, 4 October 1941, Page 15

The Game of Bridge

FURTHER OLYMPIC HANDS

The first of the two interesting hands * which follow is an elimination play by the declarer, designed to yield a ruff and discard for his contract. The second hand, a slam contract, can be made only by a squeeze. East-West par. Make four spades. East dealer. Both sides vulnerable. A 6.4. 9 Q.J.10.8.2. 10.7. A 10.7.6.2. 4 A.Q.10.3. —j^oh—l A K-J.9.8.2. 9 A.9.4.3. ~ j 9 X.6.5. + X.5.4. £. | •fr K4- South. 1 Jf, 8.3. + a.q.j.8.3. 1 jft a.q.j.9.5. Directed bidding: East. . South. West. North. _ Pass 1 + Dble. If •■ 12 A 3 4 4 Pass Pass Pass ; Official analysis: "South is directed j to lead the seven of hearts, which : East ; can read as a singleton in view of North's heart bid and Souths bidding ! in the minor suits. Faced with the loss of four tricks, East must plan to execute an elimination play so as to make South yield a sluff arid ruff. "East, therefore, wins the opening lead, draws two rounds of trumps, and leads a club. After two rounds of clubs are out of the way, East regains j the lead (by a trump if necessary) and ' [ leads a diamond. ; "Regardless of when South chooses j to take his Ace of diamonds, the King wins the first or second round, and the third round forces South into the lead. Souths forced minor suit return allows , West to ruff while East discards the losing heart." ;, North-South par. Bid and make six ' spades. . ' ■•■ ; North dealer. East-West vulnerable. ▲ A.Q.10.9.5;3. 9 A.9.5. ■' ': ' ' ■. 8.3. ■■.... A 7.6; . ▲ 7. North. ' I 4 8-42---9 J. 7.6.4.2. •g i * Q.lO. ▲ 9.7.(5.5. I k ♦ K.Q.J.4.J j AQ. 5.2. \ Souttt.. 4* J-9-8-3- j ♦"K.J.6. . j 9 X.8.3. . i ■ f A.10.2. ' ! ■ - . .. ' J A.X.10.4. . ■ j The bidding: North. East. South. West. . 1 ▲ Pass 3 A Pass ,3 4 Pass 4 N.T> Pass 5 N.T. Pass 64: Pass Pass Pass Official analysis: "The suggested bidding follows the 4-5 no-trumps convention, but players are, of course, free to use any system of bidding they wish, s Any reliable system of slam bidding ' should reach six spades or six notrumps. "East opens the King of diamonds, and North notes eleven top tricks, with a chance for an extra club trick or for a squeeze. To improve chances for the squeeze, he should let East hold the King of diamonds. "East can do no better than continue diamonds, forcing out the Ace. North . draws trumps, cashes the top clubs, and ruffs a club. When the ten of clubs does not set up, North must play for the squeeze. He therefore runs all of the trumps. 1 "When the last trump is led, East holds the top card in each minor suit, and two hearts, while South holds two hearts and the ten of each minor suit. To illustrate: ♦ 5." ■• ' . - * ■'■ 9 A.9.5. ■■■ ' *Z North. I ♦ **" (immaterial.) tS £ 9 Q-10- ---£ • 3 ♦ '•' • I South. I AJ. j. '9 K.B. ■ ♦ 10. "North's last trump is now led, and East must discard the ten of hearts. South now releases either ten. The heart King now picks up East's Queen, and North can then finesse through West's Jack."