BRIDGE NOTES.

Press, Volume LXVIII, Issue 20523, 16 April 1932, Page 7

BRIDGE NOTES.

UNUSUAL HANDS. (•HCZALLT waiTTl* FO* TBS PAXS9.) [By William Shackle.] The following hand, which I saw 1 played the other evening, is an example of the necessity of counting tho cards as they fall. Z was playing the hand in No Trumps, While the first five rounds played were 2 in Diamonds and 3 in Hearts. Ace of Diamonds being played on first round l And all players following suit and Heart suit being cleared, with the exception of Z's Q x. Dummy Declarer ; y.j! i s X x S K J i. H ~ H Q x i D Q D K x x i C A Qx x x C x i Z to lead ■ Now 5? was very tempted to play a club and take tho finesse from A Q and then lead Spades through B, in order to make a trick in Spades, lie reasoned that even if his Club Queen did not make he could get over into Dummy by a lead of a small Diamond. Had he actually played this way, though his Queen and Acq of Clubs would have made, iT have made four tricks, as he held 4 Spades, including, Ace, Queen over Z's King, Jacjc. The correct play was—King of Diamonds followed by two small Diamonds, as the thirteenth card must be forced by the King. During these three rounds A and B will be foreed to discard five Cfl,rds and quite probably one will be a Club The,i two rounds of Hearts will complete the disorganisation of the opponents. After these five tricks have been roade then Z should take his finesse of Club Queen if he is already sure or game, or otherwise play his Ace, if i s necessary to score sufficient points for game. most unlikely that if A held I the King of Clubs he would keep three Clubs m preference to Ace of Spades, and if he discarded Aec of Spades, Z would, of course, load his King before going for his Club • finesse. Thus provided A held Ace of Spades and King of Clubs, Y Z would make all eight tricks. Even though Ace Queen of Spades were known to be in B s hand the play should have been a 8 above, in order to make tho B lead instead of A. _ The bidding will often tell one that . in all probability a certain number of cards are in a certain hand. For this reason when one is dealt an unusual hand oneself, one must expect equally unusual distributions in the other three hands, and therefore more than ever make as full a use as is possible of any and all information which can be obtained from the bidding. Such a hand as the following is a case in point:— 8 AK x x x Declarer II "Z" DKQ Jx x C xxx Z. A. Y. B. 1 Spade. 2 Hearts. No Bid. 3 Clubs. 3 Diamonds. 3 Hearts. Double. 4 Clubs. No Bid. No Bid. 4 Spades. Doublo. No Bid. No Bid.. No Bid. From the above bidding one places tho number of cards of each suit somewhat thus:— "A"—Because he bid Hearts, twice, the second time in denial of partner's Clubs. S H 7 at least. D 4 or 5. C 1 or 2. "Y"—Because he doubled Hearts, and later preferred Spades to Diamonds; also because lie disliked Clubs: S 4 It 4, and possibly 5. D 2 C 2 or 3 "B"—Who disliked Hearts, but liked Spades: — S 4 H 1 or none. D 2 or 1 O 7 One should work out some such list immediately Dummy is down, and the first trick hag been played. It soon becomes surprisingly easy, and a great deal of benefit will soon result in one's game. , ~ Even when one is dealt normal distributions it will usually be quite well worth while mentally counting the number of cards in each suit, which are likely to be held by each opponent. This can often bo done accurately if there have been soveral rounds of bidding. __________