A Discussion on Bridge

Hawera Star, Volume LIII, 26 August 1933, Page 13

A Discussion on Bridge

Z leads the mree of clubs, trumping in Y’s hand and coming back to his own hand with a lead of diamonds, taken, of course by Z’s ace. Z next leads the nine of clubs and trumps again in Y’s hand, then leading the ten of diamonds. Whatever B does now he can only make his ace of hearts. If he trumps, Z over-trumps and loads another trump, forcing the ace. If B discards the spade Z discards a club and B can only make the ace of hearts. The solution depends upon the order in which the tricks are played. If Z opens with the ace of diamonds, followed by the club, which he trumps in dummy, the next lead of diamonds gives B a chance of discarding his jack of clubs. However the cards are played, if Z plays the ten of diamonds before the second round of clubs Z and Y can be defeated.

The value of “ruffing” is not always recognised. Beginners are often led astray by the general rule, to lead trumps early. Ruffing may be made use of when there are small trumps in dummy with either a singleton or a blank suit, or to help establish a suit in the declarer’s hand. For instance, with dummy holding S —9, II —G, 5,3, 2, D—K, 8,6, 4 and C—A, Q, 4,2 and hearts trumps, if the declarer immediately on getting in leads the spades, there is an opportunity of making two little trumps on two losing spades. With cards like these in dummy the opponents should lead trumps at the first opportunity. Take tnese nands:—Y: 'S —0, o, 4. 3; lI—A, K, 8, G; D—A, 10, 4,3, 2. Z: S—A, K, J, 9,3; LI—Q, 5; D—G, f>; C —A, K. Spades are trumps and a diamond is led. Y’s ace takes the trick and a small heart should lie led to Z’s queen, then a losing club is led and trumped by Y, who leads his ace and king of hearts, Z discarding his losing diamond on the king. A lead of a small diamond from Y’s hand puts Z in with a .small trump and he then plays another small club, which he trumps in Y’s hand. Then he leads a spade. Many players holding nine trumps to the ace and king between 'the two hands will not finesse. If Z does not finesse he will lose one trick if the queen is guarded in one of the opponent’s hands. If he does finesse he will lose a trick if the queen is guard-, ed on the left of the declarer. If the

trumps are even in the opponents’ hands he will not lose a trick. Some players will play them one way and some another, according to temperament. But the point of ithe illustration is that by playing a cross ruff before leading trumps Z will only lose one trick at the worst, and by playing out the trumps he may lose three tricks and lose his slam. Here is another problem:—