frs1016@centurylink.net
Cy the Cynic often favors me with suggestions about how to write my columns — on everything from punctuation to figures of speech.
“You need to avoid hyperbole,” Cy told me in the club lounge. “Not one writer in a million can use it effectively.”
| Dlr: West | ♠ A 10 | |||||||||||||||||
| Vul: E-W | ♥ 7 6 5 3 | |||||||||||||||||
| ♦ 7 6 3 | ||||||||||||||||||
| ♣ 8 7 6 3 | ||||||||||||||||||
| ♠ J 8 7 3 | ♠ 5 | |||||||||||||||||
| ♥ K 9 | ♥ J 10 8 4 | |||||||||||||||||
| ♦ A J 5 | ♦ K 10 9 8 4 | |||||||||||||||||
| ♣ A K 9 4 | ♣ 10 5 2 | |||||||||||||||||
| ♠ K Q 9 6 4 2 | ||||||||||||||||||
| ♥ A Q 2 | ||||||||||||||||||
| ♦ Q 2 | ||||||||||||||||||
| ♣ Q J | ||||||||||||||||||
|
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*Natural
Opening lead — ♣K
I had to agree, but I will say that few players would have brought home today’s contract. After West opened 1NT and East ran to diamonds, South doubled before bidding his long suit. East-West left him to play at 2♠ — timidly since they could have done well at a diamond or notrump contract.
West led the ♣K A and continued with the four, and South ruffed East’s 10. He led a trump to the ace and returned a trump, but East showed out, ending South’s chances for eight tricks. He escaped for down one by playing West for the doubleton ♥K.
Should South make 2♠?
I think — and this is no exaggeration — that one declarer in a thousand would succeed, but the winning play is logical. The early play marks West with A-K-9-4 in clubs. Since West neither led nor shifted to diamonds, East probably has a high diamond, so West holds the ♥K. If East had a six-card diamond suit, he surely would have competed at the three level.
Moreover, to have a chance, South must assume that West’s hearts are K-x, so South must play West for 4=2=3=4 pattern. At trick four, South should lead a trump to dummy’s 10. He cashes the ace, leads a heart to his ace and draws trumps. When he leads a low heart next and West’s king falls, South is home.