Bridge Problem

Auckland Star, Volume LXXVI, Issue 11, 13 January 1945, Page 6 (Supplement)

Bridge Problem

SIDE SUIT BEFORE TRUMPS * Xi Take Care Of Your Own Losers While Dummy's Entries Remain By BRUCE C. BELL HOW often do the best of players refuse to give that- vital modicum of consideration to the state of things when their partner places the Dummy on the table? It cannot be denied that a reasonable moment or two spent examining the situation at this stage will often mean all the difference between success and failure. In support of which incontrovertible fact, the following evidence is submitted:

The bidding: East 1 Diamond. South 3 Hearts, North 3 No Trumps, South 4 hearts and ail passed. West led the 7 of Diamonds, the top of his partner's opening suit bid, and Dummy put up the Ace to take the trick. Declarer was so obsessed with the idea of getting out trumps (being a fervent believer in the old adage about the gentleman who is walking the streets of London because he failed in this respect), that he came back to his own hand with the King of Clubs and ied the Ace and Queen of Hearts. East took the trick and realising the danger of allowing the Ace -of Clubs to remain in Dummy, returned a Club. Nothing could now prevent Declarer from losing the Ace and King of Spades, and a Club trick which put him one short of his contract. The Correct Play The hand is not difficult, but it does require recognition by South of the fact that he has a losing Club which has to be taken care of. It is hopeless to try and set up Diamonds to provide a discard, as there are not enough entries in Dummy for the purpose, and moreover there is the very substantial risk of having-West trump the suit at the inappropriate moment. This leaves Spades as the suit to be set up—and this must be done quickly before Declarer loses his one remaining entry to Dummy. At trick two, therefore, a small Spade should be led from Dummy, and Declarer's Queen played. The best defence is for West to take the trick and return a Club, which South should capture witn his King, carefully preserving the Ace in Dummy. South still has no time to lead any trumps (except the Ace, which it is perfectly safe to play). When the King of Hearts does not fall. Declarer must lead a small spade up to Dummy, playing the 10, which falls to East's Ace. If East chooses to return any suit but Clubs, South should take the trick and proceed to knock out trumps at his leisure, but he is forced to win a Club return (if East selects the best return), with the Ace in Dummy. Now there is no alternative for Declarer, as this is the last time he will ever niake an entry to tiie eX Hoping l that each defender still has a Spade left, South must now play Dummy's Jack of Spades and discard his losing Club. Both defenders obligingly follow suit, so that tne rest of the hand presents little difficulty. South returns to his own hand bv ruffing a Club, forces out the adverse King of. Trumps and claims the rest of the tricks in his own hand. NEXT WEEK'S HAND South played the following hand at 4 Spades after West had dealt and passed: North South A A 10 8 3 A KJ 9 7 4 8 6 2 a r in 0 KQ 0 A HIO jf. A 8 5 2 * CJ43 West led the King of Hearts and continued with the Queen and Ace which South trumped. Now the Ace and King of Spades were played by Declarer, and the adverse trumps fell, West dropping the Queen. How would you play to get joui contract?