Better Bridge in Barry County January 2 2014

Better Bridge in Barry County

By Gerald Stein

 

 

	North ♠  10 9 6 4 3  ♥  8 5  ♦  5 4   ♣  A K Q 5
West ♠  J 8 5 2 ♥  9 2 ♦  K J 10 9 6 2   ♣ 7		East ♠  Q ♥  K 7 6 4 3 ♦  A 7 3 ♣  10 9 6 2
	South ♠  A K 7 ♥  A Q J 10 ♦  Q 8 ♣  J 8 4 3

 

 

Dealer: Vulnerable: Lead:

South Both 7♣

 

North   2♥ (1) 4♠	East   Pass Pass	South 1NT 3♠ (2) Pass	West Pass Pass Pass

(1)   Transfer to spades

(2)   Super accept the transfer

 

When is losing a trick a winning proposition? Today’s hand from a recent online American Contract Bridge League tournament had such a deal. Let’s take a look.

The bidding at the 18 tables was straightforward for the most part, with most North/South pairs using the Jacoby Transfer Convention arriving at a 4♠ contract. The very few pairs who opted to play in 3NT soon found out that the diamonds in the East/West hands were a definite contract-killer. An opening lead from West of a diamond saw North/South down two tricks before they ever knew what had hit them.

With 17 high card points in the South hand and nine high points in the North hand, it looked like an easy hand to claim early. This South declarer had use the “super accept” convention of one bid higher than necessary to invite to game in spades. With good spade honors and at the top of the no trump range, it appeared that 4♠ was a good contract. Diamonds posed a threat with two losers in each hand as well as a trump loser and a potential heart loser. Still, South was prepared for the opening lead and saw the 7♣ hit the table. From her experience, and looking at the solid clubs on the board and the four clubs in her hand, South guessed correctly that West had led a singleton club hoping for a ruff from partner East.

South thanked her partner and set to work on the 4♠ contract. Winning in the dummy hand with the A♣, South was prepared to draw trumps immediately. She played the 3♠ from dummy and won with the A♠ in her hand with the Q♠ falling from the East hand. That suggested a 4-1 trump split, hardly a nice Christmas present. South played the K♠ next and verified the split as she had guessed. Putting West on lead would be a great part of her plan. South led the 7♠ from her hand, and West took the J♠ for their first trick. Back came the 9♥, the top of a doubleton, and when West had to play the K♥, third hand high, South was back in control of the hand, winning the trick with the A♥.  The heart loser had disappeared, but there was still danger out there for South.

Leading a club would be disastrous with West and her last trump ready to pounce. West would then find the two diamond winners, one in the West hand and one in the East hand. Here is what the successful South declarer did: Playing the Q♥ next, South saw all play to that trick. South continued the heart suit with the J♥. West trumped the J♥ with the 8♠. Instead of overtrumping with a spade on the board, South chose to discard one of the loser diamonds. This was a key play as she made one of the two diamond losers go away.

Stuck with the lead, West led a small diamond to the winning A♦ in the East hand. With no more diamonds in the dummy, East shifted back to a club, but it was too late as West had used up her last trump on the heart trick. South was able to claim the last four tricks with two good spade winners as well as the good club winners in the North and South hands. It also appears that had South overtrumped with a spade winner on the board, and lost the two diamond losers, the outcome would have been the same, making the 4♠ contract.

While a total of 18 tables were played, only three tables made the 4♠ contract. Those three South declarers essentially realized that the lead of the 7♣ was a singleton. Most of the 15 tables which failed to make the contract did so by leading a second club trying to get back to the board to draw the last outstanding trump. The opening lead was a marked lead without a doubt to the three who realized what West was doing. To the top three tables, scores of 620 were awarded to them and top places in the tournament. To those 15 who missed the significance of the opening lead without asking the question: “Why is West leading the 7♣?” bottom scores were their just desserts. Happy New Year 2014 to all bridge players in Barry County!

 

Gerald Stein

December 28, 2013

Number of words: 850