ETCETERA: BRIDGE
THIS week's deal was a neat example of an elimination play of a sort that is often illustrated in textbooks. The trouble was that nobody rang a bell to warn declarer that it was one of those hands and, playing mechanically, he went down.
South opened One Spade and North, playing a modern idea, responded Two No-trumps. This showed a raise to game in spades with a reasonably balanced hand. South's next bid of Three Spades, according to the method, displayed int-erest in progress beyond game but denied any outside shortage. Losing enthusiasm, North settled for Four Spades.
West led the two of hearts and decla-rer finessed dummy's queen unsuccessfully. A heart came back and, after drawing trumps, South faced the problem of avoiding three diamond losers. As West was unlikely to hold ace and king, declarer tried a low diamond from dummy. At this point, it did not matter what he had tried and he duly lost three tricks in the suit.
How should declarer have approa-ched the hand? Whether the heart fin- esse is right or wrong, he can guarantee his contract by winning the first trick with the ace. Then, after drawing trumps, he discards a heart from dummy on a club and exits with a heart. Whoever wins has the choice of opening up the diamond suit to South's advantage or conceding a ruff and discard.
Love all; dealer South
North
] J 10 7 3
_ A Q 5
+ Q 7 6 3
[ A 5
West East
] 6 5 ] 4 2
_ 10 8 4 2 _ K J 7 6
+ A 4 2 + K 10 9
[ J 8 4 2 [ 10 9 6 3
South
] A K Q 9 8
_ 9 3
+ J 8 5
[ K Q 7
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