AUCTION BRIDGE.

Star (Christchurch), Issue 18339, 16 December 1927, Page 8

AUCTION BRIDGE.

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(Written for the “Star” by A. E. MANNING FOSTER.) Hands frequently occur where alternative methods of play are open to the Declarer. Sometimes it*does not matter which method he adopts. lie can get his contract or game either way. But more often it happens that the successful issue depends upon the view he takes of the situation and the probability?- of the lie of the cards. The following is an interesting" case which illustrates the point:— S—lo, 8,5, 3. ll—7, 6,4, 3,2. A B Z S—None. lI—A., K., Q., J. D—7, 6, 3. C—J., 9,7, 5, 4, 3. Score game all. Z deals and bids “One Heart”: A “One Spade”; Y ' Two Hearts”; B “Two Spades”; Z “No bid”; A “Three Spades”; Y “ Four Hearts.” All pass. A opens the King of Spades. Howshould Z play the hand and why? I have purposely refrained at present from giving you the cards held by A and B, as 1 do not want you to be influenced consciously or unconsciously by them. You are Z and can see on!}- Dummy's cards, and can form certain conclusions from the bidding. How would you play it? There are two methods. One is by ruffing the King of Spades with the Jack of Hearts and leading out two rounds of trumps. Then if the adverse trumps lie two and two and have been drawn, make three winning Diamonds, ruff another Spade with Queen of Hearts, leaving three trump tricks in Dummy, This will make game with two rulfs, three Diamond and live trump tricks—ten in all. But it might not work out like this, because the trumps might not be evenly divided. 13 might have three or even four. The second method, which at first sight might seem to offer equal prospects of success, is to go for the ruff of Spades at once. Z takes the first trick with Jack of Hearts, leads Diamonds to put Dummy in three times, thus ruffing Spades four times altogether, then leading Dummy’s trumps, of which he will make three" if A and B hold two each. Again, this produces game four ruffs, three Diamonds and three of Dummy's trumps. But it must be observed that the lat- | ter method requires not only the equal j division of trumps, but also that nei- | ther opponent holds less than three Diamonds. If either opponent holds ] only two Diamonds, he will ruff the third round of Diamonds and upset the j scheme. Which is the better plan ? I Undoubtedly it is better to choose the simpler way, where only one condition is required for success, viz., the equal division of the trumps. In the hand in question Z chose the more spectacular method of using all his four honours for ruffing Spades. A, having only two Diamonds, ruffs on the third round, thus saving the game with one Spade, two trumps and one Club. | This is how the cards lay:— Y. S—lo, S. 5, 3. H—7. 6,4, 3,2 D—A., K., O. C—o. A. S—A ,K,J ,G, 2. H—9, 8 D—lo, 5. C— A , Q , 10, 2. B. . S— Q , 9, 7. 4 ll—lo. 5 D—J., 9,8, 4,2. C—K., S. Z. S—None. H—A., K., 0., J. D—7. 0, 3. C- J, 0,7, a, i, 3.