A little care wins a lot of tricks

Press, 31 December 1980, Page 11

A little care wins a lot of tricks

CONTRACT BRIDGE

J.R. Wignall

Some players have the knack of producing tricks from nowhere but an even more valuable asset at the bridge table is to be able to take from the opponents what seems to be rightly theirs. With imaginative defence on this deal. West was able to do just that. South was the dealer, with both sides vulnerable:

; *lO 2 After a reasonable, auction South finished in the good contract of four hearts: S. W. N. E. IV 2> 3* No 3V No 4V AH Pass Against four hearts West started with the ace and king of diamonds, East following suit with the three and eight, conventionally -showing an odd number of cards in the suit. Had West lazily continued with a third round of diamonds -the hand would have been over. The declarer ruffs, plays the ace

and another heart allowing West to make the third defensive trick with the king, and trumps the fourth round of diamonds. Then he draws the outstanding heart and makes his contract with five tricks in trumps, four in clubs and the ace of spades. But after winning the first two tricks West looked more deeply into the situation. He would make a third with the king of hearts, but it was too much to expect his partner to hold the ace of spades for South was clearly marked with that.card for his opening bid. He realised, however, that the declarer could well be embarassed if his entries to dummy were removed early. So he switched to a small club, which was won by North’s jack. The jack of hearts was led and allowed to run to W'est’s king and now another club put paid to the contract. The declarer could not draw the outstanding trumps for if he did he

would be locked in his own hand with no quick entry to the dummy. Furthermore if he led clubs, East would ruff apd again South after over-ruffing would be on lead. Taking his best chance, he led the queen of spades in the hope that East held the king. When he played low from hand, West won to put the contract one down. In the next hand, it was the declarer who had to remain awake. South dealt, with both sides vulnerable:

over. South opened two notrumps and North raised him to six. West led a low spade which the declarer won to cash the ace of diamonds. Suddenly the hand was all over for there was no play for 12 tricks. The diamond suit had to be developed but in doing this South had to lose two tricks in the suit The declarer was in too much of a hurry.

If the diamonds were producing five tricks the slam was always cold, for in addition there were three more tricks in spades, three in clubs and the ace of hearts. But if the diamonds were breaking badly, another trick would be, required in hearts, so it cost nothing to tackle this suit immediately. South should win the opening spade lead with dummy’s queen, to lead a low heart to the jack in his hand. When this wins only four tricks are required from the diamond suit and there is a perfect safety play available. The declarer leads a low card towards dummy’s jack, leaving the defenders helpless. The jack loses to East’s queen, and the spade return is won in the North hand. When the three of diamonds is led, Eas.. s forced to put in the nine, or the declarer will make a cheap trick with the eight. South wins with the king, returns to the table with the ace of clubs, and leads the diamond seven. If East plays the 10 South makes his ace and clears the suit with the eight, while if East follows low, the declarer’s eight is finessed. Either way the contract comes home with four tricks in diamonds, two in hearts, three in spades and three in clubs.