Absentminded experts

Press, 3 October 1979, Page 13

Absentminded experts

CONTRACT BRIDGE

J.R.Wignall

Though most of us find it frighteningly easy to indulge in lapses of concentration at the bridge table, we do not expect the experts to display such human weakness. How wrong we are. When this deal came up in this year’s European championship the Yugoslav declarer took his eye off the ball in an unusual way. South was the dealer, with only his side vulnerable: N. A 6 V A 752 6 A 10 3 A KJ 10 6 4 W. E. A KJ 102 A 97 543 V 64 V 9 ♦ K 5 4 ♦QJ9S6 A Q 832 A 75 S. A AQB V KQJIOS3 ♦ 72 A A 9 S. W. N. E. IV No 2 A No 3f No 3 V No 6V No 7 V All Pass The opening bid and the response of two clubs were straightforward enough, but the remainder of the auction is buried in obscurity. Be that as it may the final contract was excellent. West, in approved style, led a trump against seven hearts, and the declarer’s task was simple. Win in hand with the king of hearts, draw the last adverse trump with the queen, cash the ace and king of clubs, and ruff a club. The ace of spades is made, a spade trumped in dummy, then another club ruffed in hand. North is re-entered by trumping the queen of spades, the estab lished last club is cashed on which the declare discards a small diamon< and South claims the re: of the tricks. So much for what shou have happened. In far the declarer won the ope ing heart lead and took second round — so far good. Now he was in t’ minds how to continue. First he pulled out t ace of spades, then replace it and laid down the a' of clubs. He continued wi a club to the king and club ruff. After som further thought he decide to trump a spade i dummy, so he led the eigl from his hand. Unfortunately he ha omitted the essential pre liminary of first cashin the spade ace, so Wes won a cheap trick witl his 10 of spades. The opponents wen very sympathetic but still wrote down plus 100 on their score-sheets. Sometimes a nlayer falls asleep durina the auction. This deal is from the trials to select the Great Britain team for the European

championships. North, need it be said, did not qualify: N. A KQ V A Q 10 7 3 ♦AKQJ3 A Q W. E. A 432 A 10 976 V J6 V K 8542 ♦ 94 ♦ - A A 109853 AKJ74 S. A A J 8 5 V 9 ♦ 1087652 A 62 West was the dealer, with only his side vulnerable, and at three of the six tables in play South reached the par contract of six diamonds. There were of course no problems in making this, for the only trick for the defenders was the ace of clubs. At one table, however, the final contract was rather more modest: W. N. E. S. No 1A No !♦ No IV No 2< All Pass Playing a Strong club system, North had to open one club to show his good hand and South made the negative response of ong diamond. When North rebid only one heart, he

was conscious he could have made a much stronger call and nervously vaited in the hope that his tanner would find another id. For his part South gave te matter considerable tought. Should he call vo diamonds, his longer tit, or one spade where s strength lay? Perhaps it could be right pass tf the hands were misfit. The seconds ked by. Eventually South proiced two diamonds and orth heaved a mental gh of relief. Then he ied to weigh up the gnificance of the call in ;e light of the huge fit in amends that had just ten revealed. What did he need from is partner to make six 'atnonds a good contract? ;ne of the black aces cerlinly, plus something in ■earts. Was there any way to ind out about them? Not really, so it might be best to give up any real hope of six. Having come to his conclusion, North duly passed, then realised with horror that he had made the final contract two diamonds and not five.