CONTRACT BRIDGE

New Zealand Herald, Volume LXXVI, Issue 23284, 1 March 1939, Page 20

CONTRACT BRIDGE

DEFEATING DECLARER A CLEVER RUSE BY 0. L. EASTGATE In spite of the opinion of those who claim that bridge was played just as well ten years ago as St is now, I think it must be conceded that the play of the cards has improved vastly in the last few years. Competitive and duplicate bridge has exposed many an oldtime error. Where there was one good player in-the old days there are a, hundred now; and in addition, the good work is helped along materially by excellent articles by tho world's best analysts in bridge magazines and works on play. In the following hand there is an illustration of quick thinking on the part of the defence that is worthy of note: — West dealer. Both sides vul. v

The bidding is fairly sound except, perhaps, for East's jump bid in hearts; a free bid of two would have sufficiently shown his strength. West opened the heart jack, taken by tho ace jin dummy. Declarer noted that if he played two rounds of trumps and failed to drop the queen he would bo in danger of losing tho contract, on account of his three losing diamonds, so the ordiuary safety play was made of finessing the first round of spades. The nine of spades tvas therefore led from the North hand, and it held the trick. Declarer continued with another spade and finessed again. West, who was the gentleman who had done the quick thinking, took with the queen, led his diamond ace, and on a come-on signal from his partner gathered in two more diamond tricks to defeat the contract. Judgment and Execution Now, don't blame the declarer too hastily. Seeing all the cards it is, of course, easy to see how to circumvent tlze defence. But how was the poor declarer to know that East did not haye four trumps tc the queen, and that a further finesse was vitally necessary? Credit must be given to West, for sound analysis and speedy execution. The moment dummy went down it was apparent to him that declarer must have a singleton heart on account of East's double heart raise, which must -indicate four hearts. Thus, the only tricks; the defenders could take were probably one in trumps and two in diamonds; to accept the spade queen would limit the losers to three, as there would be a trump still in dummy to ruff tlvs third round of diamonds. The only chance was to persuade , .declarer to take the two trumps from dummy, and he might just as well let him make an overtrick as give him his contract without a struggle. .The declarer fell into the trap, as, no doubt, 99 per cent of players would in similar circumstances.

South is playing a. contract of seven spades- after East had made a defensive heart bid. West opens the deuce of hearts. Solution: Dummy's heart nine is played, East covers and declarer ruffs. Dummy entered with a trump, and" the heart king is led through; East must cover, and declarer ruffu. The diamonds are cashed and trumps run off. On the last trump West is squeezed; he must either let go his heart jack, which will establish dummy's ten, or let go the only defensive club stopper. The heart stopper has to be into West's hand, along; with the club stopper for tho squeeze to operate.

CURRENT EVENTS Northern Contract Bridge Club.— First qualifying round New Zealand pairs championship, 14 pairs to qualify. North-Soinfch: Mrs. Wolfers and Wolfers, 64.2 per cent, 1; Miss Langley and Mrs. Chilwell, 64.1 per cent, 2; Bruce-Smith and Eastgate, 58.9 per cent, 3. East-West: Watson and Morgan, 71.4 per cent, 1; Mrs. Wylie and Miss N. MacCormick, 64.3 per cent, 2; Stratton and Heigh way, 60.5 per cent, 3. Auckland Bridge Club. —First round of the Pascoe Cup' resulted: NorthSouth.—L. McKillop and N. 0. Morgan, 59.6 per cent, 1; Miss P. A. Acheson and Mrs. 0. D. Warren, 58.7 per cent, 2; C. L. Eastgate and C. Bruce Smith, 58.5 per cent, 3. EastWest: Mrs. W. S. 11. Bloomfiekl and Mrs. J. L. Nettleton, 64.5 per cent, 1; P. Scaletti and G. Cox, 63.3 per cent, 2; Misses L. and F. Hall, 58.3 per cent, 3.

South is in a contract of seven spades. West leads the heart ten. How should declarer play?