Obvious not always best

Press, 12 July 1988, Page 10

Obvious not always best

CONTRACT BRIDGE

J.R. Wignall

During the hand below, East had the opportunity to find an unusual defensive play. South was the dealer, with neither side vulnerable: N ♦ K 74 V 64 ♦ Q 108 6 4 ♦ AB7 W E ♦ 865 ♦ 10 932 ♦J9732 V AQS ♦ 75 ♦ A 3 ♦ 10 43 ♦ 9652 S ♦ AQ J ♦ KlO 8 ♦ KJ92 ♦ KQJ When South opened two no-trumps, his partner raised him to three, and West led the three of hearts. Had East played automatically by winning with the ace before returning the queen, the declarer would have had an easy time. After ducking the second trick he wins the heart continuation with the king, and drives out the ace of diamonds. East has no more hearts to lead so South takes the rest of the tricks. At the table East brightly foresaw this possibility, and without apparent thought played the queen of hearts to trick one. The declarer was more or less forced to win with the king because, for all he knew, West had led away from the ace, jack, and four or five small hearts.

Now when East gained the lead with his ace of diamonds he was able to unblock his ace of hearts and lead a small one to his partner. The contract was thus defeated by one trick.

Of course, when trying to make this play it is vital to do it smoothly. Even a few seconds thought will alert a smart declarer. This is a second hand on which the obvious play

was wrong. West was the dealer with neither side vulnerable: N ♦ KJB ♦ J 5 ♦ K 852 ♦ K 10 6 4 W E ♦ 4 ♦ 6532 ♦ AKIO 974 ♦ Q 8 62 ♦ 964 ♦ Q J 10 ♦ A 75 + 82 S ♦ AQIO 9 7 ♦ 3 ♦ A 73 ♦ QJ93 The auction was: W N E S IT No 2T 3T 4+ All Pass Against four spades West led the ace of hearts, followed by the king. Automatically, South ruffed and began to draw trumps, planning to make five tricks in spades, two in diamonds, and three in clubs. When West showed out on the second round of spades, the declarer had to think again. If he drew all the outstanding trumps he would have none left himself, so ; when he attacked clubs, ' the opponents could take the ace and run off sev- , eral tricks in hearts. South ; therefore, after making * the king and ace of spades, switched to clubs. ; West allowed the queen - to win, noted his partner Z followed suit with the eight, took the second ; round with his ace on * which East played the deuce, and led a third round for East to ruff. In * time, South had to lose a fourth trick in diamonds so he was one down. The declarer lost his contract at trick two. On the king of hearts he must discard a diamond, rather than trump. It is an un- " avoidable loser anyway. * Then he can win the next trick in dummy, draw trumps, force out the ace of clubs, and collect the ■ 10 tricks he needs for his contract. South was certainly un- • lucky to find the opposing * trumps so badly divided, but he might have remembered the auction. East-West had bid up to ; three hearts with little in ’ the way of high cards so were very likely to have strong distribution.