CONTRACT BRIDGE

New Zealand Herald, Volume LXXVI, Issue 23319, 12 April 1939, Page 20

CONTRACT BRIDGE

INTERESTING END-PLAY STUDYING POSSIBILITIES

BY 0. L, EABTGATE

Certain bridge situations are very interesting, inasmuch as there is often a get-out when at first sight tilings look rather hopeless. This applies both to attack and defence, and many players are very apt to "throw in the towel" without first studying the possibilities for a play, which, although it may be contingent on partner holding certain cards, is to be recommended because it may have everything to gain and nothing to lose. In the following hand an end-play arose which is well worth studying:— South dealer. Both sides vul.

South opened with two spades and eventually reached a contract of four spades. West led the king of hearts, followed by the ace. Declarer ruffed the second round, drew two rounds of trumps, and then for want of ft bettor alternative, played ace, king and jack of diamonds. East won the third round with the diamond queen, and this is where lib practically gave up the defence.

With two tricks lost declarer cannot afford to lose two club tricks. East, resigned to what he thought was inevitable, led the acc of clubs and a small one, hoping, perhaps, that declarer would be fooled as to where the queen was. But declarer had no option and had to let it run to the jack to have any hope for his contract. Dummy's jack won and the contract was made. When thrown on lead with the diamond queen East had no choice as to what suit to return: a heart would have allowed a ruff and a discard, with dummy's two long diamonds to come home on. A club must be played, but which? The correct return was the club queen. If bv any chance West held the club king, the queen lead would be on a par with the ace lead; but if the king were in South's hand (where it should be) the lead of the queen was the only one which might (and would) have a satisfactory result. Only by this lead could East retain anything of a tenace over dummy s jack. Of course, if declarer held the ten as well as the king, nothing could be done about it, but there was just the chance that West held the ten-nine or the ten-eight of clubs. Declarer must cover the queen or concede two club tricks right away. After he covers, however, he is-helpless: if he returns the two West covers with the eight and the jack loses to the ace; if he plays the nine West plays the ten and the eight is set up for the setting trick.

South is playing a contract of seven spades, and West leads the diamond three. . Solution. —Diamond taken in dummy and nine of spades led and finessed, holding the trick. Another diamond led from dummy and ruffed in South hand. Heart king overtaken with the ace in dummy, and another diamond led and Yuffed. Heart jack overtaken with the queen and the last diamond led and ruffed. The singleton club is then led and taken with the ace. and a club led and ruffed. Now the six of hearts is taken by the ten in dummy and a club led through East, who is down to the Q-7-4 of trumps. Declarer takes the fast three tricks with his A-K-J of trumps whichever wav East plays. This is a quadruple grand coup, an unusual play, where declarer has to get rid of four trumps in ruffing, to get down to the same level as one of his opponents; five "entries into the other hand aro necessary, four for the ruffs and another entry to bring off the coup. In the above, care must be taken as to which entry to use at the last; if the last heart entry is used up before the club, the play will fail, as there will be no final entry after the club ruff.

CURRENT EVENTS * Northern Contract Bridge Club Kickstart Tournament. —North-South: Mosdames Keesing and Hill, minus 150, 1; Mrs. Nettlcton and Miss Gudgeon, minus 1020, and Mesdames Hume and Noakes, minus 1020, equal, 2. EastWest: Mrs. Duncan Clerk and Miss Murray, plus 5010. 1; Mrs. Waugli and Hamilton, plus 4860, 2; Mrs. Acheson and Miss N. MacCormick. plus 4080, 3. Ladies' team-of-four challenge match for Mrs. Nutter's trophy: Mesdames Nettleton and Newell and Misses E. and M. Wright (Northern Cluh) defeated Mesdames Webb, Buscke. Scoullar and Harvey (Lyceum Club) by 1680 points. Pritehard's Meyer Cup.—N. Mitehell and Wolfors. 60..3 per cent, 1; White and Cahill, 58.3 per cent, 2; D. Mackenzie and Eastgate, 56.4 per cent, 3. East-West: \lrs. Fronting and Salvin. 65.] per cent, 1; Mrs. Mottrnm and Miss Knock. 61.1 per cent. 2: Mrs. McMillan and Mrs. Pritchard, 59.8 per cent, 3. NEXT WEEK'S HAND South dealer. Both sides vulnerable.

South is in a contrtiot of six spades and West leads the diamond queen. With all hands exposed how should declarer play?