AUCTION BRIDGE.

Auckland Star, Volume LIX, Issue 260, 2 November 1928, Page 6

AUCTION BRIDGE.

HOW NOT TO PLAY

(By A. E. MANNING FOSTER.)

An interesting object-le-sson is afforded by the following hand of a game and rubber lost which might easily have been won.

Score game all. Y deals and bids "One Diamond"; B "Xo Bid"; Z "One Spade"; A "Two Hearts"; Y "Two Spades"; B "Three Hearts"; Z "Three Spades"; A "Four Hearts"; Y and B "No Bid"; Z 'Tour Spades"; A and Y "No Bid"; B "Double." All pass. There is not much to be said as to tlie bidding except that B's double of four Spades was rather rash, as he had little defensive strength and could not expect to make two tricks in his hand. However, I will give it as it occurred. Now you see all four hands, and doubtless notice that Z can make his contract. But in actual play he missed it, and probably missed, it just because B had doubled. This is how it was played. A opened the King of Hearts ayd followed with the Ace, which Z trumped with the 4 of Spades. Z then quite corredtly led 10 of Diamonds. A, having four to the Queen, rightly did not cover, and Z's 10 held the trick. Z now led 5 of Spades (again .his play was) right) and allowed Dummy to make both King and Queen. The lead was now in Dummy, and Z, of course, wanted to get back into his own hand to take out B's trumps. He could only get back by leading a Club, which he did. Ae led the 5 of Clubs, B played the 3, Z the Ace, and A cleverly threw his King on the trick. Z now led his Ace of Spades, followed by the 10, which B took with the Jack. B now proceeded to make two tricks in Clubs — Queen and Jack—and Z was one down on his contract, losing a Heart, a Spade and two Clubs. This result was brought about partly by A's clever discard of the King of Clubs on the Ace, but really by Z's bad play. The whole thing depended upon Z's plav at the fifth trick. Instead of allowing Y's King of Spades to make he should have taken it over with his Ace and led the 10 of Spades. B must take this trick with the Jack. Whatever B leads now, Z has not only the game certain, but actually five by cards. If B leads a Heart, Z trumps draws B's last Spade and makes Y's Diamonds, discarding his two losing Clubs. If B leads a Club, Z puts up his Ace, draws B's trump and makes the Diamonds. Z's mistake was in getting rid of his Ace of Clubs while B had an entry.