High powered play at bridge table

Press, 1 December 1987, Page 34

High powered play at bridge table

CONTRACT BRIDGE

J.R. Wignall

Many years ago when I was young and supercilious, I partnered a now departed member of the legal fraternity. He was highly respected in his profession, feared by his partners and colleagues, but not a terribly good bridge player. After one auction, he put down a totally unex--pected dummy. Without thinking I said facetiously, “What is that? I thought you were a lawyer, not a liar.” It was three years before he spoke to me again. Bridge seems to appeal to lawyers, for there are many who play the game, including Justice John Paul Stevens of the United States Supreme Court. He had to play this hand well when his wife, showing great faith in his ability, drove him into a borderline slam. North

was the dealer with only her side vulnerable: N ♦ AQJ7 V AKIOS ♦ A 932 ♦ 9 W E 4 . 4 6532 V J 74 V 9862 ♦ K 1075 ♦« 4 QJ8642 ♦ A 1053 S ♦ K 10 9 8 4 4 Q 3 ♦ QJ64 ♦ K 7 The auction was: W N E S - If No 14 24 24 No 4f No 64 All Pass East’s failure to support

his partner’s clubs was surprising for his side could do quite well by • cross-ruffing despite their paucity of high cards. But North, with the bit between her teeth, would probably have bid six spades anyway. The opening lead of a low heart was covered by the five, eight and queen, and the Judge cashed the ace and king of spades. The bad split of the missing trumps meant it was dangerous to draw any more, for then there may have been two losers in clubs.

The declarer, therefore, continued by leading a heart to dummy’s 10, and cashing the ace and king on which he discarded the seven and king of clubs. Having taken care of the club problem he drew the last two trumps with the 3ueen arid jack, then led a iamond to the queen and king. West returned a club which Judge Stevens ruffed with his last spade. The jack of diamonds found East showing out, so a diamond to the nine won and the ace was the decisive twelfth trick. That was well played, but would he have found the sparkling defence necessary to defeat a humble two hearts on this next hand, dealt by East with both sides vulnerable?

N 4 1076 ▼ Q 7 ♦ AKIOS 4 Q 1062 W E 4AKQ4 4 53 4 A 3 V 10 6 2 ♦ 8742 4 J 963 4J74 4 A 853 ■ S 4 J 982 V KJ9854 ♦ Q 4 K 9 The auction was soon over. W N E S - - No No 14 No No 24 All Pass In two hearts it appears the declarer can restrict his losers to three in spades, and the aces of

hearts and clubs. It is not, however, quite that simple. West started the defence with the ace and king of spades, noting his partner played the five and three, showing a doubleton. He then found the thoughtful switch to the three of hearts. After capturing. East’s 10 with the jack, South made the mistake of playing a second round. West took his ace, cashed the queen of spades and only then led a fourth spade for his partner to ruff. That was five , tricks for the defence, and the ace of clubs put the contract one down. South should, of course, have cashed the ace and king of diamonds, discarding his fourth spade before he led a second trump, but this does not detract from West’s fine defence.