An ace and a king were a liability

Press, 18 November 1981, Page 12

An ace and a king were a liability

CONTRACT BRIDGE

J.R. Wignall

Very rarely the fates decree that one of those par hands beloved of problemists and double dummy analysts should be dealt at the table. This example occurred at Crockford’s Bridge Club at a recent Friday evening duplicate: North was the dealer, with both sides vulnerable: N A K 72 V AK ♦ A ♦ 10 986432 W E ♦ 9 854 ♦ - V - Y Q 654 32 ♦QIO 87 3 ♦ J 6542 ♦ AKQJ + 75 S + AQJIO63 V J 10987 ♦ K 9 ♦ -

On a freak like this anything is likely to happen, including five diamonds doubled and made by EastWest despite their paucity of high cards. Against this contract North should lead the ace of diamonds, but no continuation matters.

West ruffs a spade switch in dummy, or a heart in hand, plays off the high clubs and cross-ruffs. South is welcome to make his diamond king whenever he likes but that is the only other trick for the defence' It is however, much more likely that South will become the declarer in a spade contract, and at most tables four spades was the final spot. There was, of course, no problem in making a game contract but after the evening’s duplicate there was considerable speculation as

to whether 12 tricks could or should be made. Playing in six spades, South is likely to ruff the opening lead of the ace of clubs, and then try to cash the ace and king of hearts. He receives a nasty shock when West trumps, and leads a diamond to dummy’s ace. Now the contract is unmakeable, for sooner or later East will make his queen of hearts.

It was M. A. Lewis who pointed out the virtually guaranteed way of making the slam, and who brought the deal to my attention. South ruffs the ace of clubs to take the first trick, and wins the second with the ace of diamonds. The king, ace and queen of spades follow, and now come the two key plays. On the jack of spades, dummy’s king of hearts is discarded, and on the king of diamonds the ace

of hearts. Having drawn the outstanding trumps and cleared away the heart blockage. South simply, gives up a trick to the queen of hearts and claims his contract. For the record,, this line is known as a double jettison unblocking play. Another interesting gambit that has a. strong appeal is called “Morton’s Fork.” It is named after one of Henry Vll’s collectors, who claimed that if a man had the appearance of poverty he must have been saving his money,

whereas if he seemed rich he clearly had plenty. Either way he could afford to pay his taxes. An excellent example is given in a new book by Alec Traub, “Trump Technique.” North dealt with only his side’ vulnerable: •• • N 4»KJ64 V AKS3 ♦ KQS4 . « Q 3 W E ♦ - £ 95 lO 642 .♦A72 & 10986 ♦ K J 8 <§>lo 9.5 4 S ♦ A Q 108 73 2 . ♦ J 3 ♦ A 762 South quickly reached six spades:

W N E S INT No 34» 4V 4* No 6* All Pass West led the king of hearts, the declarer played low from dummy and ruffed in his hand. After drawing the trumps in two rounds, South lead his three of diamonds and West was caught in Morton’s Fork. If he played his ace, the king and queen in dummy would allow South to discard two of his low■: clubs, and the ace of hearts the third. So West played lbw bn the three of diamonds but he was no better off. Dummy’s king won, the ace of hearts allowed the declarer to discard his jack of diamonds, and he then played off the ace and another club. That was his only loser, as his remaining two clubs were ruffed on the table and the slam had been made.