A CLUB PROBLEM

Southland Times, Issue 21773, 30 July 1932, Page 11

A CLUB PROBLEM

S: H: 8-3 D: A-J-7 C: Q-5 S: N. ?= K - 3 H: A-K-J w v H: D: K-10-8-5 W ’ « D: 6 - 4 ' 2 c . s - C: K-7 S: A-2 H:Q-9-4 D: C: A-9 Clubs are trumps. South has the lead and must take six tricks against any defence.

LAST WEEK’ HAND.

S: Q H: 6-5-4-3-2 . D: K C: Q-6 c. 4 N. S: 10 H: 10-9 W. E. H:K-7 S ' S: None. H: A-Q-J-8 , D: None C: A-J-7-5-2 Spades are trumps, South has the lead South and North to win eight of the nine tricks against any defence. South leads' the Ace of Hearts, on-

which East plays the King to avoid being forced to take the second Heart trick and lead into North’s hand. South then leads Jack of Clubs, North playing the 6, East again would refuse to take this trick. South now leads Ace of Clubs, followed by the 8 of Hearts, forcing West to win the trick. North wins the next trick whatever West leads, and South discards his two high Hearts on the Spade and Diamond tricks, and North’s three small Hearts win the remaining tricks. There are a number of variations, but this solution shows the best defence. ’ '

change of bids was profitable to the partnership and, despite its seeming daring, was reasonably safe. South was Mr Shreeman Rai Krishnaji, of Pandepur, Benares. S: K-Q-9-7 H: 2 D: 9-6-4 C: K-J-8-5-4 S: A-J-10-8-4-3 N. S. 5-2 H . 9 W. E. H. A-K-10-8-7-S-3 p. 7 S. D: 8-2 C: A-Q-10-9-6 C: 7-3 S: 6 H: Q-J-5-4 D: A-K-Q-J-10-5-3' C: 2 N—S vulnerable, E-W ' not vulnerable, and East is the dealer. The bidding was: —' Ist Rnd No No IS No 2nd Rnd 2H No . 3C No 3rd Rnd 3H , 3NT Dbl No 4th Rnd ,No No Mr Krishnaji’s' interpretation of the bidding is:— “As the partners denied each other’s suits,' South reasoned that both suits were stopped in his partner’s hand, so there was reasonable probability of making 8 tricks and a fair possibility of rubber. South’s previous passes, followed by an Overcall, led West to think that South held a regular notrump distribution and the Overcall was made to induce him to a game bid which he could not make so his best policy would be to double and gather in penalties. “There is nothing remarkable in the play, but I give it as it occurred. West led ’his Heart. When East saw both the black Kings were well guarded in Dummy’s hand, he allowed the 9 of Hearts to ride as the only chance of defeating the contract in case West held another Heart. South won it with the Queen and played out his Diamonds. At the eighth trick West and North each had three spades and three clubs. Perhaps in disgust West discarded a Club. South shed a Spade from Dummy and led a Club, confining the opponents to the two black Aces.”