CONTRACT BRIDGE.

Auckland Star, Volume LXV, Issue 134, 8 June 1934, Page 6

CONTRACT BRIDGE.

BRILLIANT PLAY GOES WRONG

(By ELY CULBEKTSON.)

Many bridge players bemoan their tough luck. They like to recite how everything "bad happens to them, how their finesses lose, and how, when everything' seems to be right, an opponent will show up with a blank suit, secure a ruff with possibly a singleton trump, and thereby defeat an otherwise ironclad contract.' The latest and to me the most affecting story of tough luck is that told of Mr. Alphojisc Moysc, jun., of New York, who held the West hand pictured below in a recent rubber game. North dealer. East and West vulnerable.

The bidding is both interesting and daring. As a matter of fact, Mr. Moyse could have made two no-trump doubled, but South was unwilling to leave that contract in, and North then, quite correctly, went after game. Mr. Moyse, in the lead against the contract of four Spades, made the brilliant opening lead of' the three of Clubs, knowing that he must bo again in the lead on the first round of trumps and hoping that the cards in the dummy would discloise some method of putting East in the lead and perhaps defeating the contract. This trick was won with the Ace in dummy, and a small Spade led, which Mr. Moyse won with the Ace; and now, without an instant's hesitation, he led the three of Diamonds, knowing that he could put his partner in the lead only if the latter held the Diamond 8. True enough, there were two chances to one that this would cost an over-trick, but it was, as Mr. Moyse could see, also the only chance to defeat the ' contract. Happily for the defence, East held the Diamond S .and also the trick. But, although it is apparent that all that was necessary to defeat the contract was for East to cash the Club King and then give Mr. Moyse a rulT with his remaining trump, Ea.st's notion,s of defence were not so definite and clear. Tie returned a Club, but not the King, and Mr. Moyse' brilliant defence had gone for naught. • * • » If South, mistakenly or not, has reached a contract, of six Diamonds, what line of' play gives him the best opportunity to reach hie contract? North dealer. Neither side vulnerable.