Selfishness seldom pays

Press, 22 April 1986, Page 16

Selfishness seldom pays

CONTRACT BRIDGE

J.R. Wignall

It is sometimes said that one’s true personality is revealed by behaviour at the bridge table. If this is correct, one charming, well-mannered gentleman recently showed an unexpected side of his character when playing bridge with his wife. I was given the hand by M. Lewis, who has an eye for the foibles of human nature. South was the dealer with both sides vulnerable:

The auction was soon over: S W N E 1* No 14 No 3NT All pass Playing Precision, the husband opened one club, simply showing 16 or more high card points, to which his wife dutifully replied one spade. There may be many ways of continuing the auction with the South hand, but the one that appealed to the redblooded male was a direct leap to three no-trumps. After all, he probably played the cards better than his partner. she was a loyal spouse, North -knew better than to argue, so that became the final contract. West, with no clear-cut opening lead, was a think-

ing player, and decided that the auction indicated South had no great liking for his partner’s spades. Hoping to find East with some strength there, he started the defence with the queen of spades. When the declarer called for the four from dummy, East brightly overtook with the king to return a low heart. Was it not crystal clear that West had started with the queen, jack and eight of spades, leaving East with the singleton king? So the declarer .took the second trick with the ace of hearts, to lead a low spade to dummy’s nine. He was a -shaken man when the jack won, and even more shaken when a second heart came through. The defenders took four more tricks in the suit, to defeat the contract by one. No doubt rather late, his partner realised that, with the favourable break, six spades was makeable, the only loser being one in trumps. It certainly did not pay to be selfish. Another deal on which the declarer failed to shine occurred at the trials to select the New Zealand Women’s team this year. South dealt, with only her side vulnerable:

The auction was a little unusual: S W N E INT 24 3V No 3NT All Pass Over one no-trump, West’s two diamond call showed a heart suit, after which I thought that North-South did quite well to reach the good contract of three no-trumps. There would have been no problems had West led her long suit, but instead she found the excellent shot of a diamond. The declarer won this with dummy’s king, to continue with the jack of clubs to the five, four and queen. Back came a second diamond, taken perforce by the ace. South now cashed her four club tricks and then led a spade to the king. The position was:

* - Having taken seven tricks, South needed two more, and I thought she had played so well to this point that she was going to do it. She should, at this point, cash the ace of spades, and continue with a low heart. When East plays the seven, it is covered by the eight, putting West on play. Whatever is returned the declarer must make the king of hearts for her ninth trick. Alas for what might have been. The declarer, for no very good reaso, led a heart to the seven, eight and nine. Left with an exit card, West used it. The 10 of spades was won by the ace, and whatever she led from dummy, the declarer had to concede three tricks to the defence for one down.