Fast bridge action in a fast train

Press, 31 August 1977, Page 23

Fast bridge action in a fast train

Contract bridge

JR.Wignall

I have played bridge in all manner of surroundings — in ships and in aircraft, in comfortable private houses, and in university cafeterias, where we scored .on the backs of old envelopes. I have taken part in congresses and tournaments both here and overseas, and played in world championships in luxurious hotels, encircled by officials. scorers. and directors But for sheer excitement nothing can equal a fast moving commuter game. More years ago than I care to remember, as a student at Manchester University. I lived in Southport. England, necessitating a daily train trip of some 50 minutes. That was my introduction to contract bridge. Needless to say f soon saw the light, moved to the city and found more time to enjoy the new game. All over the world commuters play bridge to fill in ; the time between leaving thej city and arriving home. This! Is particularly true, fori obvious reasons, in America, i Alan Truscott, who was bom | in England and became a; European chammon before he moved to New York, recently!

; reported what he described as the world’s strongest commuter game in his daily column in the “New York Times.” Four other games were in progress on the 5.24 p.m.: Grand Central to Stamford train, but it was the fifth that engaged the attention of the news photographer. Two American champions were playing with Tannah Hirsch, who writes many of the I Cltarles Goren columns, and! Omar Sharif, the frequent: partner of Italian world champions, horse breeder, and film actor. In this particular school, where the object is to race through 15 deals in 55 minutes, there is not much time for shuffling, so the deals tend to be freakish. This was an early example:— A 4 V KJ63 ♦ 954 A J 9842 W. E. A AQB63 A J 109752 V A 4 V 1098752 : 4 A 1073 ♦ J * QlO A S. A K ♦ Q ♦ KQB62 A AK7653 I The auction was brisk and 'dramatic: S. W N E. j 14 1A No 6A |7A Dble Al > Pass I After Sharif as South had: dealt and opened one diamond, he was somewhat taken aback at the turn of events. West overcalled one spade. North naturally passed, and East with no high cards but with massive distributional strength made an imaginative and fullblooded raise to six spades. As it happened he was absolutely right for the slam was unbeatable. Assuming a diamond lead (n.o other lead is in fact better), West wins with the ace and plays the lace of spades, drawing both I the outstanding trumps m ione round. Subsequently he ruffs his three small ■ diamonds and two clubs in I dummy and simply concedes j lone trick in hearts to his i helpless opponents. A slamj with only 17 high-card points! between the two hands is no. I small achievement, but it was, ■ not to be.

Sharif, on the second round or the auction, decided that since his vulnerable opponents must know what they were doing he had i better sacrifice. His call of seven clubs was duly doubled:' I by West, who after all had] : no less than three aces to j : justify his action. ■ When the ace of spades! > won tire first trick, West J switched to the ace and an-| other heart, taken in dummy. It looked as though South still had to lose two I more tricks in diamonds but an accurate piece of card-1 reading enabled him to hold] the result to down three only. I He drew tramps with the ace and king, crossed to dummy with a club to the ! : jack and led a diamond to the| king. West correctly allowed this to win. for if he had taken the trick he would have been end-played. The position was: » .16 ♦ 95 A 98 W E. A QB6 A .1 W9 V V 1098 ♦ A 107 4 - A- A - S. A - V ♦ QB6 A 76 5 Sharif entered dummy! with a club to the eight, icashed the jack of hearts on I which he discarded a low diamond and led the six of hearts. When East covered with the 10 he was allowed | to win the trick as South followed with his second 1 small diamond. East now had | to lead a spade or a heart, : on either of which the declarer discarded the diamond oueen while he ruffed in ■ dummv. He then claimed the last three tricks with trumps in his own hand. He was rewarded for his bold bidding and careful play bv saving against the vulnerable slam at a cost of only 500 points. After this. Sharif’s luck took a turn for the better and he finished a big winner. As the tram drew in to its destination, in the usual : scramble to disembark he forgot to collect his winnings, but it is on record that, if he ever plays again, he has a credit of 50c.