CONTRACT BRIDGE Onlooker spoke, and paid penalty

Press, Volume CXII, Issue 33110, 28 December 1972, Page 12

CONTRACT BRIDGE Onlooker spoke, and paid penalty

(Contributed by J.R.W.)

They were playing definitely the last rubber, or rather, as the sole onlooker, the Expert, told them several times, they were misplaying it.

He had had many opportunities to display his unrivalled talent for sarcasm, for the Admiral was receiving most of the good cards which he butchered with a sort of clinical efficiency that his partner, the Doctor, could i only admire. Eventually, with both sides vulnerable, the following deal arose: N. S—lo 8 3 H—A KQ 8 4 i D—lo 4 C—A JlO W. E. S—A Q 7 6 S—9 5 2 H—lo 962 H—J 3 D—J 86 5 D—A Q 9 7 3 C—3 C—7 4 2 S. S—K J 4 H—7 5 D—K2 C—K Q9B 6 5 South was Charlie, a substantial overbidder at the best of times, who for about an hour had held an average of ■some five points a deal. When he picked up his hand, he felt the gods had relented and when his partner, the Scientist, started bidding too, he decided it would be a nice dramatic end to the rubber to make a slam. He tried his best, but the auction after threatening to go out of control altogether, came to an uneasy halt in five no trumps. The Doctor doubled, more on the bidding than anything. Obedience to Orders The Admiral’s opening lead: gave him great- concernJ Normally a staunch believer in the “fourth highest of your longest and strongest” rule he felt that on this occasion a spade lead might give away a trick unnecessarily, but eventually years of blind obedience to orders took their toll. Charlie won the first trick with the jack of spades, played off the ace of hearts and settled down to running the clubs. The Doctor’s first discard was the jack of hearts, with the intention of making it clear to his partner to hold that suit. Then he played high-low in diamonds rather emphatically. The Admiral discarded all his diamonds, to retain his hold-' ings in spades and hearts. This left the following position: N. S—lo H—K Q 8 4 D—C— W. E. S—A Q S—s 2 . H—lo 9 6 H—D— D—A Q 9 C— C— S. S—K4 H-5 D—K2 C— From his' own hand Charlie led a heart, West put in the nine and dummy’s queen won. The declarer now knew the position of every card, so he led the spade from dummy, and played low

from his own hand, which he then spread with a characteristic flourish. He explained that West could win two spade tricks, but must then lead away from his 10-six of hearts into dummy’s kingeight.

“Hm! Shouldn’t have doubled partner,” said the Admiral, throwing his cards on top of dummy’s. Charlie was explaining how he could have used a less elegant endplay, when the Expert cut in. “I should have thought,” he sniffed disdainfully, “it was obvious to all of you that West should capture the 10 of spades with the ace. He then leads the queen to South’s king, who must give away two tricks in diamonds and be one down.” Rule book quoted After a pause, Charlie admitted this, but pointed out the opponents had not found this defence and had already conceded the contract. “But dash it all man,” exploded the Admiral, “you can’t do that. You said you had made the contract, so we gave it to you. Now you say you shouldn’t have, so you must give it back.” The Scientist produced Rule 71 and quoted: “Declarer’s claim must be

allowed ... if either de-. | fender has allowed any of his > remaining cards to be mixed! with another player’s cards.” The Doctor grabbed the! rule book, and diagnosed that the section did not apply, for! Charlie had not followed thecorrect procedure for claim-: ing his contract. Tempers,] which had been strained by] the Expert’s earlier jibes, now became very short as the argument raged. At length they decided to end the rubber, and refer the question to the Card Committee.

There was widespread approval of the ruling which the chairman subsequently delivered. Going straight to the heart of the matter, he quoted the propriety regarding onlookers: “A spectator should refrain from gratuitous remarks or mannerisms of any kind,” and he added: “If four players wish to play in happy ignorance, it is an impertinence to try to teach them.” The hand would be scored as five no-trumps doubled one down, and again as five no-trumps doubled and made the difference in the scores was to be paid by the Expert. Wtih one exception, all! members agreed this was ai judgment of Solomon.