If W plays a 3d C, S must, of course, ruff with the 9, or at any rate not with the 3. This is not that easy to see, but a good declarer should find this play. Now, make the tiniest change in the hand: switch the 3 and the 4 of S, and E must carefully hang on to the 3 so that S cannot throw him in at the critical time. Any E who sees that coming and does as indicated has got to win the brilliancy prize that day (week, month, year).

Hi David,

As always, you have analyzed today’s hand with clarity, not only leaving nothing to chance, but also covering the what ifs, even including judgment on how those players should be thinking.

I agree with you about 95% of what you say, with the tiny exception of what the expectations should be for both South, the declarer, and most importantly East, while defending.

First, from declarer, who as usual is blessed with immediately gazing at all 26 of his assets and can immediately see his plight of having so many tricks available (12 in reality, but only 11 after the opponents gather the first two) but a devilish blockage in diamonds which may lead to the ultimate defeat of the contract, assuming nothing can be done, and hearts do not split 3-3. Easy to see, more difficult to find a solution, especially since there may not be one.

Continuing, and after West cashes two club tricks (East, playing old time normal signals, offers high low, usually, as here, showing a doubleton) and soldiers on with the switch to the jack of hearts, East per force playing his queen.

Now, let us switch to the defense and, for the sake of it, invade East’s mind as to what he should be thinking, although at least to him, he may appear to only be a bystander on this hand, merely following suit and possibly only interested in getting on with this one and on to the next one. The only saving grace is that the very strong hand (declarer, in spite of his game forcing opening bid has not yet claimed tricks, which often, at least in high-level circumstances, by rote, seems to offer hope).

Au contraire, believe it or not, with experience (especially while playing often either with or against very good players), East should then have a light bulb illuminate in his brain which should stand up and say to all the world (excuse me William Shakespeare), declarer has the singleton ace of diamonds!!!!

Why? Reconsider the bidding which needs to always be firmly implanted in all defender’s minds until that hand has been laid to rest. South after opening his very strong bid has bid spades and hearts and in spite of the false preference has not considered any other bid other than 4 spades (or another way to explain it — is just to say now bid 4 spades, since with 5-5 would have then tested 4 hearts before committing to spades. Also, since his partner likely had only 2 of them (else an initial raise) if South only had 5 spades he might have. while holding 2-2 in the minors, at least considered the alternate contract of 3NT before just committing to spades.

In any event, if he held the Ax of diamonds the hand would essentially be over anyway, but since it isn’t? ……. The above G2 (intelligence information) should now lead a “with it East”, as the play flies by, to not only hold the 3 of spades (with the deuce in plain sight in dummy) but guarantee a death like grip on it, as the lifeline between setting a contract against just allowing another down contract to unfortunately see the light of day.

And now with the saga complete, if this hand occurred between four world class players, there would not be a word exchanged, merely a feeling of admiration for the great game with which we all are blessed, for the mere chance that it is available, to be played.

And furthermore to think with the current bridge crises of very good players (historically from around the world) choosing to cheat while playing with stealthy illegal codes shown by extraneous means is to show sub-human qualities which should receive not only the most draconian punishments allowed, but a lifetime condemnation to everlasting shame.

Just a small note. Stephen King did give the quote in the heading, but originally it came from another writer, Robert Bloch. King did not in any way steal it as he gave credit to Bloch at the time.

Hi Jeff S,

Thanks for the historical information which only better educates all of us. Obviously since the mention of Stephen King may send chills up and down our spines his name would likely hold more significance, but nothing can trump the truth.

BTW, with the initial S representing your last name, if your first name happened to be Jack instead of Jeff, it would probably be wise to print out your whole last name.

🙂

OK, but if my last named happened to be Schmitt, I might actually lose ground.

Hi Bobby,
This is similar to the question that I asked you yesterday. What would you bid with the West hand over 2C? Some sort of interference has to be mandatory. Thanks in advance for your answer.
Pete

Hi Pete,

Yes, although all do not think as aggressively as you and I, 3 clubs seems to be a good choice and although on a very unlucky day the opponents will double us for more than they can make themselves, my experience tells me that would not happen as much as once in ten times.

Also do not discount the advantage in getting a club lead from partner, in case our LHO becomes declarer. However I would rather pass than overcall in hearts.