THE GAME OF BRIDGE

Evening Post, Volume CXX, Issue 126, 23 November 1935, Page 23

THE GAME OF BRIDGE

Weekly £hat on Contract Specially Written for "The Post" by "Approach Bid" - . f

THREE HANDS FROM THE

AUSTRALIAN OLYMPIC

In each of the hands set for this: contest there is some problem, of play. Players are prepared for unusual situations, and consequently will regard every hand with ; a certain amount of suspicion, feeling that there .is sure to be a trap for the unwary in it. "Looking ahead" must be the watchword. -

In hand No. 8, hearts have been called by South, the final contract being four spades by North. In spite of this,/ West at. the first opportunity leads a heart up to South. East concludes from this play that West has either the Ace or King of trumps, and also has a chance for a ruff.' The only way in which East can assist his partner is by making a ducking play which results in setting the contract. Hands No. 13 and 16 are examples of unblocking, and in the latter case, of the second player deliberately sacrificing a high card, as a possible chance of creating an entry for his partner. Hand No. 8. West—Dealer. Love-all. Par: East-West for defence.

■j 4 K.q.j.0.6. 9 1043- i > X.4. Jf, K.J.10. ♦ A S-3 North. I4k 8- + A.9.7.6.2. 5 ' £ ♦ QJ-10.8.5. ♦ 8- 6- 4- : I South, I «fr 9.T.5.2. 4 10.7.4.2. 9 K.Q.,7.37.' ♦ 3--4 A.Q.3. Par explanation: For the defence East holds up on the first heart, lead by his partner, who' later' ruffs the' third round. Against North's four-spade contract the Queen of diamonds is led. The Ace goes up, and dummy now being void in diamonds, and the King-being marked with the declarer, there-is'- no point in continuing, the suit. West's only-lead'is a heart (the five). East, on ,the bidding, will deduce that5 this is hardly a singleton. He holds up his Ace of hearts on the 'first, lead. On the first trump lead West immediately plays his Ace, and leads the two of hearts. East now plays the Ace and leads, his third heat "for West to ruff, North-South being set one trick. Hand No. 13: North—Dealer. : All vulnerable. Par: East in 3 no trumps. . , 4 J. 8.5.2. ' 9 X.5.3. + Q. 10.7.2. 4.Q.3. ♦ A.Q.7.*. - _; S 4.2. ♦ 8-3- £ £ + K.J.9.4. Jf, A.5.7.6.5.4. [ s ou th. |. j, X.10.9. 4 X.6.4.3. 9 J. 10.9.8. 4 A. 6.5. 4. «■ Par explanation: East leads the Jack of hearts. West realises that in order

to make his contract he must have an even break in clubs, but his nine will block the suit for dummy,, whose only entry is being taken out by the lead of hearts, On the third round of hearts, therefore, East discards .his nine of clubs, and is able to makehi» contract of three no trumps.r Hand No. I*6. West—Dealer. East* West vulnerable. ; Par for defence for North-South. 4-8.7.4.' 9 J.10.9.8.T.S ' ' ' ' 4A.4. • • , $ 10.6. " • - • V A.0.4.2. ~ - I K. ♦ Q- 10' 2- \ g • I ♦ IJ-8.7.5.fc Jf, A.X.7. - ?P!>3l^ I4> Q'9.8.2. ' 4 Q. 9.6.2. JQ.6. ' * v'X.9.6. ' jf, j.8.5.4. ': West plays the hand in three n<* trumps, and North leads the Jack of hearts. Dummy's King of hearts is a singleton, and South has only two of the suit. He knows that West,' having opened with one no-trump (distributional), can have at most four hearts, possibly three. North's lead, then, must be from a six-card or longer suit headed either by Ace, Jack, ten, or by a Jack-high sequence. South must therefore immediately unblock ttie suit by playing thi; Queen of hearts under dummy's King. In order to make his contract > of three no-trumps it is necessary for West to establish the diamond suit. At trick two a small diamond is led from dummy. . South must put up his King at once in the hope of .creating an entry for his partner. The King holds the trick, and he leads a heart. -West is now obliged to part with his Ace of hearts before the diamonds are established. North, by Souths play, has been able to keep the Ace of diamonds, his only entry card, and the contract is defeated. Had South not played his diamond King on the first round of that suit, the second lead would have removed North's Ace before his hearts were established, and East's contract would have been safe.