Mark Horton
Reversal of Fortune
As the royalty checks from my publisher diminish in size, my ambitions at rubber bridge are confined to the more modest tables where a reasonably steady income is usually guaranteed despite the somewhat adventurous approach to the bidding which most of my partners appear to favor.
Towards the end of the evening I pick up a promising collection as South (none vulnerable):
♠ A J
♥ A Q 7 4
♦ A K
♣ Q J 10 9 7
Although I have always considered 5–4–2–2 to be an unbalanced distribution, I do not wish to get involved in a complicated auction with my present partner and I open 2NT. When he bids 3♣, asking me if I have a four-card major, I dutifully respond 3♥. Evidently that is not what partner is looking for, as he continues with 3NT.
He has promised a major, so I can place him with four spades, but I have nothing to say which leaves us with this auction:
| West | North | East | South |
| 2NT | |||
| Pass | 3♣ | Pass | 3♥ |
| Pass | 3NT | All Pass |
When West leads the ♠4 partner puts down a number of useful cards.
♠ 10 7 5 3
♥ K 6
♦ Q 8 7 3
♣ 5 4 2
♠ A J
♥ A Q 7 4
♦ A K
♣ Q J 10 9 7
There are six tricks in the red suits, and after the lead, I must make two in spades, so I will need to develop the clubs.
East plays the ♠Q and I win and cross to dummy with a heart. This will cost a trick in diamonds, but I want to play the first club from dummy. When I do so, East produces the king and continues with the ♠6. West takes the trick with the king and continues with the ♠9, East discarding a diamond as I win with dummy’s 10. When I play another club it is West
who turns up with the ace and he cashes two spades to leave me a trick short.
The full deal:
| ♠ 10 7 5 3 | ||
| ♥ K 6 | ||
| ♦ Q 8 7 3 | ||
| ♣ 5 4 2 | ||
| ♠ K 9 8 4 2 | ♠ Q 6 | |
| ♥ 9 8 2 | ♥ J 10 5 3 | |
| ♦ J 9 | ♦ 10 6 54 3 | |
| ♣ A 6 3 | ♣ K 8 | |
| ♠ A J | ||
| ♥ A Q 7 4 | ||
| ♦ A K | ||
| ♣ Q J 10 9 7 |
Post Mortem
East did well to go in with the ♣K, protecting his partner’s entry. I had a stronger line available, however. Suppose I simply duck the opening lead? I win the next spade and play on clubs. West can win and clear the spades, but he has no entry.
Later I spotted another possibility. Suppose I win the opening lead and simply return the suit? West wins and persist with spades but I duck the third round and win the fourth. East, under pressure in the red suits, will have to part with a diamond and a club. Now I unblock the diamonds, cash three rounds of hearts and exit with a club. East can win and cash a heart, but then has to lead into dummy’s diamond tenace. Or West can win (crashing partner’s king) and cash a spade but then has to give me two club tricks.