The Game of Bridge

Evening Post, Volume CXXXII, Issue 77, 27 September 1941, Page 15

The Game of Bridge

TWO FURTHER 1941 OLYMPIC

HANDS

TWO, DEFENSIVE PROPOSITIONS.

(By "Approach-Bid.") North-South par: Defeat three notrumps. South dealer., Neither side vulnerable. ;! * 9-7.6. tp 9.3. 4 8.7.6,2. JL J. 10.9.3. y A.X.8.6; -j ~ * Q-7.5. 4J. 10.9.3. | $ 4> K.Q.4. X K.Q.5. Sou.ti. I _fr 6.4. ' 4 A.Q.5. 9 J. 10.4.2. A.5. £ A.8.7.2. Directed bidding: South. West. North. East. Pass 1 V Pass 1 ♦ Pass 1 N.T. Pass 2 N.T. Pass / 3 N.T. Pass Pass Pass North is directed to lead the Jack of clubs. ■ *'.-"' Official analysis: "The burden of defence in this difficult hand rests on South, From the opening lead he should read that North holds, at least three clubs headed by J. 10, and he should foresee at once that if declarer develops a diamond suit, the South hand will have trouble in discarding. "On the first trick it is obviously best to play low, allowing West to win with the King or Queen of clubs. Declarer's best play is now to knock out the Ace of diamonds; South should re-; turn a low club, forcing out West's remaining stopper. "Declarer should then cash his diamonds, and South finds trouble in discarding. His first discard can be the low spade, but the only other good discard is his club Ace! Thus South can hold his stoppers in the major suits, and preserve safe exit without sacrifice of a club trick.

"If South takes the opening trick with the club Ace, declarer,can. make the contract, as the diamonds will later squeeze South, and cost the defence a trick."

In the second hand there are no directions with regard to bidding or opening lead.

East-West par: Defeat any adverse game contract. West dealer. North-South vulnerable. jjfc J. 9.6. K.Q.J.10.6.3. * 2. * 7.4. North. j * A-52----y X.9.7.6. S SJMJ. 10.5.3. +.2. | _! 4 A.9.8. AJ. 9.6.5.4.3. \ South. ' 1 JL, Q. 10.8.7. £ K.Q.10.8.3. 9 A.8.2. 4} 7.5.4. 4. A.K. The bidding: West. North. East. South. Pass Pass Pass 1 JL Pass 2 Pass 2 N.T. Pass 3 PaS£ 4 ♦ Pass Pass ' Pass Official analysis: "A contract of three no-trumps by either North or South is defeated easily after the normal club opening lead. |

"Against a spade contract, West should open the singleton diamond— his desperate hand calls for desperate measures. East wins the trick with the Ace and knows that he can give West an immediate diamond ruff. East's own Ace of spades will give the defence- a third trick, but where is the setting.trick? It .cannot be lost if West has the heart or the club Ace, but if West has the.heart King,, he needs a heart lead from East to set it up for him.

"Note that, the heart shift does not jeopardise the diamond ruff, since East still has time to lead the diamond on taking the trump Ace. Then West cashes the heart King, setting the contract.

"East should not expect South to hold a four-card spade suit, so should not try to give his partner two diamond ruffs. Nor is it likely that South has a six-card spade suit, so -East should not fear that an immediate diamond ruff is vital to the defence,"