AUCTION BRIDGE.

Star (Christchurch), Issue 18190, 24 June 1927, Page 6

AUCTION BRIDGE.

UNBLOCKING.

(Written for the “ Star ” by A. E. Manning Foster.) The necessity of getting rid of a card which blocks a suit is a point of play which is often missed even by experienced players. Sometimes it is impossible to get rid of the blocking card. But often by a little ingenuity it can be done. Here are two examples from actual play where the declarer by unblocking contrived to make game. Y S.—A.6. H.—10.7.6.5.4.2. D.—5.7.3.2. C. 6. A B S.—K.Q. S— J. 9.8.3.2. 11.—1C.3. 11.—9.8. D.—K.Q.J.9.4. D.—lo. C.—9.5.3.2. C.—J.108.7.4. Z S.—‘-10,7.5.4. lI.—A.Q.J. D. —A.6.5. Cv—A. K.Q. Score: Y Z 18 in first game, A R nil. Y dealt and said “No bid;'' B “No bid;" Z “ One no trump." All passed. Personally I think it was unwise of Y not to bid “Two Hearts" over the no trumper. But Y was one of those obstinate people who do not believe in taking out a no trumper. So I give the bidding as it occurred, « w A led the King of Diamonds which Z allowed to make and followed with the Queen which Z took with the Ace, B discarding the 4 of Clubs. Z had his contract 6afe with two Hearts, three Clubs, a Diamond and a Spade. But this was Insufficient for game. The problem was how to make the eighth trick with the 10 of Hearts as Z’s Hearts blocked the suit, This was how ho did it, At trick three he led Ace of Hearts and followed with the Queen which A was obliged to take, A could now have circumvented Z by leading Spades, but he did not do so. For one thing he was not certain that Z held Jack of Hearts and for am other he thought he should make his Diamonds at once while he was in as his partner could not put hint in on thg suit. £>o he led out his Diamonds. On the fourth round of Diamonds Z discard--64 his Jack of Hearts using the Ace of Spades later as entry for Dummy’s suit,. He therefore made game losing four Diamonds and one Heart. The. second case was as follows. Z

dealt at love all in the rubber game and bid “ One No Trump.” All passed. Y 5.—10.6.3 H.—lo. D.—9.7.6.5.3.2. C. A.Q.6. A B S.—K.J.B. 5.—97.4.2. 1T.—J.7.6.5. H.—KQ.B. E>.—A. D.—K.8.4. C—J.10.9.7.5. C.—8.3.2. Z A.Q.5. H.—A.9.4.3.2. D. —Q.J.IO. C.—:K.4. A s lead was the seven of Clubs which Z took with his King. He had only six “surface” tricks, with the seventh if the King of Spades lay with B. But a better scheme was to establish Diamonds, provided *he could unblock—his lowest card being higher than Dummy’s best. He started the Diamonds. A winning and continuing Clubs. Dummy went on with the Diamonds. B’s King took that trick, and he led his last Club on which Z threw the Jack of Diamonds. The lead was now in Dummv and four Diamond tricks followed, 'which gave the game with one Spade, one Heart, and three Clubs. At double dummy of course B could have defeated the manoeuvre.