CONTRACT BRIDGE

New Zealand Herald, Volume LXXV, Issue 23130, 31 August 1938, Page 7

CONTRACT BRIDGE

[p GIVING await a tkick RETURN WITH INTEREST BY C. L. EASTGATM Different and fascinating situations ariso in tho play of the hand are, ono ,n '- ht almost say, unlimited. Any unusual typo is well worth noting, psjftcially it is the result of a V cll-thouffht-out plan which will bo successful whero no other plav will ncliievo the same result. Such 'a play j s to bo found in tho following hand Tvhere declarer deliberately throws away a trick, only to get a two-for-one rotting in oiclor to mnko liis contract:— JCorth dealer. North-South vul. ■ 30. part-score.

North East South West pass 1 N.T. 3 p a „ pass pass Had West opened the diamond suit, the defeat of the contract was assured, but tho lead of the ten of clubs gave the declarer the opportunity for a pretty piece of play Ho won the first trick and laid down tho heart king. East won, and played the king and queen of clubs. South ruffed the second with the eight of-trumps, and led two moro rounds of hearts, which disclosed tho fact that East had started with four, and which gave declarer the key for his right play*. It did not look very likely that the diamond king would prove "an entry into dummy. If declarer drew all the trumps, cashed his ace-king of spades and led a diamond,. he would virtually be throwing up tho spouge. On tho reasonable deduction that East, holding four hearts, would have a 3-3-3 dis~ tribution otherwise, lie saw a splendid opportunity for his contract. He cashed the ace-king of spades, and then led the deuce of trumps to let East win with tho nine, and to throw him on lead. After that, the defence was helpless. A spade return would concede two tricks to the dummy, whereas tho lead of a diamond would have precisely the same result. Thus by conceding a trick unnecessarily, ho saved two tricks and tho contract.

EUROPEAN CHAMPIONSHIP While the world championship meeting is only scheduled every two years, a European championship meeting for men's and women's teams of four was held at Oslo in June last, with Hungary emerging the winners in the men's event and Denmark in the women's. •Austria, last year's winners of the world's championship against the Americans, seem to have missed getting through the elimination rounds, but there is no doubt, I understand, that last war's team is not intact, and has been broken up for the time being.

However, the Hungarian team, this year's victor, is spoken of very highly, and proved a very tough combination. The final results were as follows: Men: Hungary, 9 points; Norway, 7; Holland, 5; England, 3. Women: Dei> mark, 10; Sweden, 9; Norway, 8; England, 8; Finland, 5.

South is in a contract of four hearts and 'West leads the spade ten. East overtakes and continues for two more rounds. This is another example of "smother" play. Declarer ruffs tho third round of spa.des and finesses twice for the heart king. After the trump break is repealed, he must make an end-play by cashing three diamond tricks and aceking of clubs, and throwing East in with the third clubEast must then return a spade or the thirteenth diamond. Declarer ruffs. AY est is down to the' king and Bix of trumps; if he over-ruffs Sopth with the king, dummy plays tho ace, and the last trick is taken with South's ten of trumps. If he under-ruffs, dummy's ace is kept for the last trick. CURRENT EVENTS Northern Club.—Monthly cumulative individual: North-South—Miss Swap and Dr. Mackenzie, plus 4780, 1; Miss F. Hall and Tucker, plus 2760, 2; Miss E. M. Upton and Warren, plus 2610, 3. East-West—Mrs. Sheldon and Cahill, minus 530, 1; Miss Coutts and Morgan, minus 1100, 2; Mrs. Mackenzie and Lamb, minus 1140, 3. Pritchard's Kickstart.—Mrs. Pritchard and Farmer, plus 2075, 1; Mrs. Mottram and Miss O'Callaghan, plus 1475, 2; Mesdames McMillan and Murray, plus 645, 3. Miss Coutts'.—North-South: Mesdames Aclieson and Heighway, 63.9 per cent, 1; Mesdames Lewins and Gillett, 56.1 per cent, 2. East-West: Mesdames Cadman and Hickey, 59.5 per cent, 1; Mesdames Finlay and Taylor, 53.9 per cent, 2. Auckland Club. —Final of par-con-tract, three nights: It. K. Wylie and X. Watson, 1; Dr. Mackenzie and Bruce-Smith, 2. Pascoe Cup (seventh round): North-South —Mrs. Heighway and Stratton, 65.2 per cent, I; McKillop and Morgan, 62.7 per cent, .2; Bruce-Smith and Eastgate, 62.5 per cent, 3. East-West —Mrs. Chihvell and Miss Swap, 64.8 per cent, 1; Misses Upton (2), 61.2 per cent, 2; Mesdames Mitchell and Bruce-Smith, 59.5 per "cOnt, 3. NEXT WEEK'S HAND

The bidding: South West North East I 9? pass 3 N.T. pass 6 W double redouble all pass West led the spade jack. How should declarer play the hand to get his contract ?