CONTRACT BRIDGE Declarer Chose A Safe Way To Defeat

Press, Volume CIX, Issue 32036, 10 July 1969, Page 8

CONTRACT BRIDGE Declarer Chose A Safe Way To Defeat

CCsntrlbutsd by

J RW)

There are as many different approaches to the problems of playing the dummy as there are declarers. Some are nervous and uncertain, some tackle the job with great selfconfidence, appearing to take defeat as a personal insult. Others play very slowly, contributing each card with about the speed of Moliere’s miser dispensing largesse. Some declarers, on the other hand, proceed at a great pace, firing out cards like a machine-gun. About the only thing to be said for this approach is that it at least shortens the agony. This article is about a thinking player, one who, as all of us were taught to do, studied both his hand and dummy’s before playing to the first lead. He assessed the problems of making his contract, studied all possible pitfalls, decided on the safest way to ensure success, and smoothly and quickly went down to an honourable defeat:

With South the dealer and both sides vulnerable the auction was soon over:

South opened one heart, which North, playing the Acol system, raised to four, showing in the particular methods being used a hand of approximately opening bid strength. The opener decided it was worth a look at a slam, and trotted out the Blackwood convention, four notrumps asking for aces. The reply of five hearts showed two, over which South regretfully passed. The partnership for all he knew could be missing both the ace and king of diamonds. In fact, of course, his first instinct was absolutely correct, for twelve tricks are

available without too much difficulty. Assuming a club lead, the declarer wins in his own hand with the ace, to lead the queen of hearts. If West covers with the king, North’s ace wins, and the jack and ten will draw the adverse trumps. If West on the other hand does not cover the queen of hearts, a low trump will be played from dummy. The jack of hearts from South will follow to repeat the finesse, and no matter what the defence does the declarer can draw their trumps without loss. He then settles down to running off the clubs, finishing in dummy so that on the fifth club he can discard the ten of diamonds from his hand. After this he concedes a trick to the ace of spades, but wins the last tricks with the ace of diamonds, the queen of spades and the rest of his trumps. In all he makes five tricks in hearts, five in clubs, and one each in diamonds and spades. So much for what might have been. In practice West led the ten of clubs against five hearts, and our thinking

declarer looked for the Safest way of ensuring his contract. Correctly diagnosing the lead as a singleton, he decided the best way was to draw as many trumps as he could, as quickly as possible. After winning the first trick with the king of clubs. South led the queen of hearts. When West played low without a quiver, dummy’s ace was put up, and a second round of hearts led. On this East dropped the nine of spades to indicate strength in that suit, and West captured the jack of hearts with the king. He led a spade to his partner’s ace, and when he ruffed the club return the contract was defeated by one trick. While it is a very moot point whether or not the declarer misplayed the hand, it is certainly ironic that had he been in four hearts he could not be defeated, and had he been in six hearts be would have made twelve tricks. His actual contract of five hearts gave him just sufficient margin of error to ensure that he defeated himself.

s. W. N. E. 1H No 4H No 4NT No 5H All pass