<Bt-5z48>A prudent man takes his umbrella with him
So, it's finally Christmas! I remember in my 'bridge addict' days how I approached this season with mixed feelings — the holidays were fine but the bridge world slowed right down — and I didn't like that!To all of you, addicts and others, a wonderfully happy holiday season and may all your wishes come true — at and away from the table!
See you in the New Year when I might put on a 'Regional tune-up' session for any interested pairs.
Since it is the Holiday Season, here's one of my favourite hands of all time from the great 'Bridge in the Looking Glass' by Flint and North.
Teams
Game all
Dealer South
North
[heart]KJ6
[diamond]2
[club]KQ742West ...... East
[heart]A43
[diamond]AKQ10875
[club]A6
After a well-judged auction, South arrives in seven diamonds, and West leads the king of spades.
Which card should declarer play from dummy at trick two?
Try it before reading on!!
North
[heart]KJ6
[diamond]2
[club]KQ742West East
KQ109
[heart]Q1087 [heart]952
[diamond]3 [diamond]J964
[club]10985 [club]J3South
[heart]A43
[diamond]AKQ10875
[club]A6
If the diamonds are 3-2 there is no problem. But just as the prudent man takes his umbrella with him even on a cloudless day, the declarer should ruff a spade at trick two. Two rounds of diamonds follow and the bad news breaks. [club]AK are followed by a second spade ruff. Now a heart to dummy's [heart]J, a third spade ruff and heart to dummy's [heart]K leaves this position:
North
[heart]6
[diamond]-
[club]Q7West East
[heart]Q [heart]9
[diamond]- [diamond]J9
[club]109 [club]-South
[heart]A
[diamond]Q10
[club]-
[club]Q is played from dummy and East can resign. When this hand occurred in a duplicate match in Istanbul in 1965 the declarer was Halit Bigat, one of Turkey's leading players. Not unnaturally Bigat's teammates were lavish in their praise, as this hand made the difference between victory and defeat.
Great hand isn't it!? I guess I love it because... I'm not convinced I would have made the play without an alarm bell ringing!!
