Defence and bidding excel

Press, 13 October 1982, Page 16

Defence and bidding excel

CONTRACT BRIDGE

J.R. Wignall

Though last year's European Championship was won easily by Poland, there was a very close struggle for second place between Great Britain and France. Brilliant play at both tables on this hand dealt by West with only North-South vulnerable brought a crucial victory to the British when the two countries met:

In the Open Room, where France sat East-West, the auction was:

The French made it as hard as they could for NorthSouth to reach their best contract of four spades, but eventually they decided to sacrifice in five clubs. After doubling, North

cashed the king and ace of hearts then found the clever switch to the queen of diamonds. When South won with the ace, he wondered why his partner, who had bid diamonds and was marked with both the king and queen, had chosen to lead the queen.

It soon became clear that he wanted him to return a heart, and when North ruffed the third round of hearts that was four tricks to the defenders. The declarer quickly claimed the rest, but the British had earned a penalty of 300 points for their excellent defence. When the deal was replayed with Great Britain sitting East-West, the auction

No 4 ♦ All Pass Again the North-South players did not find it easy to reach their four spade contract, but when they did West decided to pass and justified his action by some more brilliant defensive work.

He led his singleton diamond . which the declarer won in dummy to lead a spade. It was a blow when East showed out, so South’s king lost to the ace. West now had the problem of putting his partner on lead but he had a. clue. On the

first round of spades, East had discarded the 10 of clubs, denying a higher honour but showing the nine as well. Fearlessly, West led the six of clubs, away from the ace, king, queen and jack. When his partner won with the nine he returned a diamond for West to ruff and a few seconds later the queen of spades took the fourth defeating trick.

The British had scored 300 at the first table and 100 at the second, for a total of 400 on the board, all earned by excellent defence.

By contrast, from the United States comes a deal played in a Women's teams final which features magnificent bidding. East was the dealer, with both sides vulnerable:

It is not easy at first glance to see what the optimum final contract should be, even with all four hands on view, but clearly NorthSouth can make a lot of tricks with clubs as trumps. A careful assessment reveals, in fact, that enough can be made to bring home a small slam.

Assuming that West, against six clubs, finds the best lead of a spade, East wins the first trick and continues with the suit. The declarer, ruffs, draws trumps with the king and queen of clubs, then plays off the. queen, ace. king and jack of hearts on the last of which he discards dummy's low diamond. After crossing to the now singleton ace of diamonds South ruffs

dummy's last spade, and the rest of the North hand is good.

One of America's top women pairs bid it in the way shown above. South opened one club, which may have been only a three card suit, to which North responded two clubs, showing, by partnership agreement, at least 10 points.

The opener naturally pressed on with two hearts, North called three diamonds indicating some strength in the suit, at the same time denying the ability to bid two no-trumps and hence showing weakness in spades. At this news, South pricked up her ears. If her partner had nothing in spades the two hands were fitting very well and a high level contract was very probable.

Her jump to four spades announced a control in the suit and interest in a slam. That was enough for North. The top honours in clubs, the ace of diamonds and the queen of hearts were all golden cards, so she had no hesitation in calling six clubs.

It was a sequence of which any pair in the world could be proud.

w N E S 1 ♦ 1 ♦ . No 1 ♦ 2 ♦ 2 ♦ 3 NT 4 ♦ Dble No 5 ♦ No No Dble All Pass

was very different: S W N E 1 4 No No 1 4 3 NT Dble 4 4 No

The auction was: W N E S — . — No 1 ♦ No 2 ♦ No 2 V No 3 ♦ No 4 ♦ No 6 ♦ All Pass