First-rate performances by local players

Press, 16 June 1982, Page 16

First-rate performances by local players

■•: There is np doubt about it; ■’the standard of dummy play is much higher how than it was a few-years ago. This week’s hands were played by experienced players; who are pot perhaps of the top rank, but no world champion could have done better on either. The first occurred in a . duplicate game at Crockford’s Club. North was the dealer, with neither side vulnerable: N ♦A9 8 7 • ▼AQ ♦ AB5 ♦ AKQ4 W E ♦ 3 ♦ 42 ▼ 1097 32 VKJB64 ♦ KJ4 ♦ Q ♦ 9765 ♦ J 10832 S ♦ K Q J 10 6 5 ■ ▼ 5 • ♦ 1097632 - *' At all tables North opened with some big bid such as two no-trumps or two clubs, and South usually finished in six spades.- After winning the opening lead, the declarer drew trumps in two rounds and played the ace and another diamond. West took the king and jack to put the contract a. quiet one 'down; ’-Everyone was very sympathic. If the diamonds were divided two with each opponent the declarer would have lost only one trick and made ■ the slam, but as it was .there was no way. M; A. Lewis, however, found a way. Against him West led a heart, so he won the ace, ruffed thequeen, drew trumps' with the king ■and. ace;... of spades then cashed the three top. clubs. ;■ He ruffed dummy’s last club and led a diamond. When West followed with the four, by • far Tits- best defence, dummy's eight was taken by East’s-queen.

CONTRACT BRIDGE

J.R. Wignail

The position was: N ♦-98 ♦ A 5 ♦ - ■'* W. E ♦ .-'-. ’ ♦ 109 ■ '- ▼ JB6 ♦ KJ ♦ - ♦ - ♦ J ’ S : . ♦QJ V - . ♦ 109 ♦ - When East had to return a club or a heart, South discarded -a losing diamond from his hand as he ruffed in dummy and then claimed the rest of the tricks. The carefully planned and executed end-play had worked and brought the declarer his slam bonus. If the diamonds had in fact split two-two Lewis would have made the same 12 tricks as the other declarers, but he gave himself the extra chance of finding one opponent with a singleton honour. The second hand was played by A. Swords in the Ashburton Open Pairs a few weeks ago. South was the dealer with neither side vulnerable: ...... N . ♦ AJ6 ▼ Q 7 ♦ Q'10982 ’ ♦ KB6 W ’ E ♦ KB2 * 4 10952 ▼ 10862 ▼ J 93 '♦ AK3 4J4 ♦ AQ7 +95 4 3 .. S . ♦ Q 74 ■ • .■▼AKS4 ' 4,765 -■ ♦ JlO 2

•After West had opened the bidding, Swords finished in the . distinctly adventurous contract of three no-trumps: <W N E . S It Dble No 2NT No 3NT. All Pass A heart was led and the declarer regarded his prospects with no' great enthusiasm. Deciding that desperate measures were called for, he won in dummy and led a low diamond. No East would play the jack in this , position'.so the four was covered by, the seven and won by the king; A' second round- of -hearts was taken by the king? and the declarer continued... with a . diamond towards dummy. West ducked but the' queen won. and a third diamond put .him on lead with the ace. The defence could do nothing better-than carry on with hearts so Swords took his ace and led a spade to the two and jack. Then he cashed a round of diamonds to produce this position: ♦ ' N ' ♦ A 6 ▼ - ♦ 10 ♦ K 8 W E ♦ K 8 ♦ 109 ▼ 10 ▼ - ♦- ♦ - ♦ AQ +954 S ♦ Q 7 ... - ▼ 4 •♦ - . ♦.no On the 10 of diamonds the declarer discarded a heart and West had a problem. He dare not discard a spade nor did he want to let go of his -established ‘heart; so he threw his queen of clubs. . . Swords led a club from dummy to the jack and ace, 'allowing West.to make the ■ fourth -trick, tor the defence with the ' J 10; of ‘hearts; But then he had to lead away from the king of spades and the declarer had made three tricks in - spades; three in. diamonds, and three in - hearts for his contract. ■