The Aces on Bridge: Friday, February 28th, 2014
I never can feel certain of any truth but from a clear perception of its beauty.
John Keats
| East | North |
|---|---|
| North-South | ♠ 7 4 3 ♥ 9 7 5 ♦ Q J 8 5 4 ♣ J 2 |
| West | East |
|---|---|
| ♠ K Q J 10 8 ♥ Q 8 ♦ K 7 3 ♣ 8 5 4 |
♠ 9 5 2 ♥ K J 10 4 3 ♦ 10 9 ♣ 10 9 3 |
| South |
|---|
| ♠ A 6 ♥ A 6 2 ♦ A 6 2 ♣ A K Q 7 6 |
| South | West | North | East |
|---|---|---|---|
| 2♥ | |||
| Dbl. | Pass | 3♦ | Pass |
| 3 NT | All pass |
♠K
Last year's Gold Coast tournament in Brisbane, Australia, consisted of a huge Swiss Team event, which reduced the field to four semifinalists after three days.
The winner of the Swiss qualifying event was Hugh McGann’s team, which extracted a concession after three of the four sets of their semifinal. The other match was far more exciting. In the second set of the semifinals, the North-South pairs at all four tables had played three no-trump on a top-spade lead. This contract appeared to hinge on the diamond finesse, with the opponents ready to run spades if it lost. A flat board at minus 100? No!
For the losing semifinalists, Barbara Travis won the spade lead as East, Ashley Bach, who had opened with a pre-empt (which could be a five-card suit) followed with an upside-down spade nine under the king, showing three cards. This was all the help Travis needed, as East had signaled with his only entry (a mistake that many of us might have made).
Declarer rattled off five clubs and watched the discards of West, Michael Cornell, very carefully. He could afford one diamond, but then, if he pitched a spade, declarer would simply set up diamonds, while if he pitched a second diamond, she would play ace and another diamond. And if Cornell pitched a heart, the play made at the table, she would cash the heart ace, then endplay him in spades, forcing him to lead into her diamond tenace. Very well done, indeed.
Facing a passing partner, almost all low-level doubles should be for takeout. This one is no exception. You may hate your hand, but you have to bid three clubs as confidently as you can and hope nothing too bad happens to your partner. At least you won't have to play the hand!
BID WITH THE ACES
| ♠ 7 4 3 ♥ 9 7 5 ♦ Q J 8 5 4 ♣ J 2 |
| South | West | North | East |
|---|---|---|---|
| 1♦ | 2♣ | Dbl. | |
| Pass | 2♥ | Dbl. | Pass |
| ? |
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Hi Bobby,wonder how many of us dare adopt this line at the table?Of interest,did any other pairs make 3NT?No clue in bidding to play this way apart from spade count by East,who could also have 6H(?) and KD..nevertheless it is endplay on show,based on counting out West’s hand,criteria being at least two hearts held by West..regards~Patrick.
HI Patrick,
Actually, although West knew (or should have), declarer’s likely distribution, he should have discarded down to both hearts (and thrown the queen on the ace) but instead have bared his diamond king, which, unless declarer guessed what he was doing, was likely to fail.
At the high-levels, there are many great analysts, and from all over the world, but when the hand involved becomes entwined with let’s call it the “poker” element of creating a web of misinformation for the excellent playing declarer, he then has to guess the final defensive original distribution of the opponents and, against the very best the odds switch to in favor of the defense, because their order of discards usually will get the job done. In this case West needs to, when finding out about declarer’s 5 club tricks, discard down to the singleton king of diamonds early, therefore (and with East’s help with herky jerky, but not unethical tempo) cause the declarer to go for the end play, only to find out that the defense prevailed.
At least to me, this quality separates the very best players I have ever played against, and, is indeed, a challenge which raises bridge to the best game ever invented, but sadly goes unnoticed by all less than top level players who have been in these “mind” battles and sometimes win but just as often, lose.
There is no set pattern, only deft counting of tricks, leading to the ability of the defense (both partners) of discarding in such a way to even fool a brilliant declarer, into doing the wrong thing. Believe me, this hand might have been a thing of beauty, but wasn’t probably because of the naivety of the defense, who relaxed, instead of declaring war by closely following the declarer’s play (combined with his bidding and likely true count signals in clubs).
To you, Patrick, a likely best and brightest who I often allude to, it is all within your capabilities, but your partner also needs to be up to snuff and together you can pull off the “great table robbery” which in bridge leads to winning, fame, and, above all, supreme self confidence, instead of jail.