One of my favourite old chestnuts ...
TODAY sees the start of the Bermuda Sectional which features two single-session events on Friday and Monday afternoons and three two-session championship events on Saturday, Sunday and Friday evening / Monday evening.Chairwoman Donna Leitch has everything under control and it should once again be a really enjoyable event.
Every once in a while whilst I am travelling and in a real hurry, I have to pull out an old chestnut if nothing else comes to mind.
This is one of my favourite hands if only because it is
straightforward but perhaps one of the best examples of the need to think clearly at the table. Think about it and try it for yourself.
North
[spade]8 6 4 3
[heart]K J 6 5
[diamond]A Q 3
[club]6 2
South
[spade]A K J 10 7
[heart]A Q 3
[diamond]K 8
[club]A 5 4
South chose to open the hand one spade (instead of two clubs) and the bidding was simple after that.
South North
1[spade] 3[spade] (1)
4NT(2) 5[diamond](3)
5NT(4) 6[diamond]5
6[spade] (6)
1. I like this with four trumps and good shape
2. Ordinarly Blackwood
3. One ace
4. Asking for kings
5. One king
6. Thought long about the grand slam!!
West leads the king of clubs and South was wishing he had bid seven until he won, cashed the ace of spades and king of spades and East showed out. Now he had to make six! Not so easy. Try it first.
Declarer cashed the king of spades, king of diamonds and another diamond intending to discard one club on the diamond and another on the long heart if hearts broke 3-3 when he played the third diamond. However, West ruffed and cashed the club, one down!!
Do you see where declarer went wrong? As counter-intuitive as it looks, declarer must play hearts first.
In order to succeed he needs the third round of hearts to survive anyway and this play actually gives him an extra chance!
The full hand:North
[spade]8 6 4 3
[heart]K J 6 5
[diamond]A Q 3
[club]6 2
West East
[spade]Q 5 2 [spade]9
[heart]10 9 7 2 [heart]8 4
[diamond]7 6 [diamond]J 10 9 5 4 2
[club]K Q J 3 [club]10 9 8 7
South
[spade]A K J 10 7
[heart]A Q 3
[diamond]K 8
[club]A 5 4When the third round of hearts is played East shows out but can’t ruff. Now declarer plays the fourth heart, discarding a club and then plays on diamonds discarding the other — West ruffs but it is too late.
Interesting isn’t it! That’s why it is one of my favourites!
LATEST RESULTS
Bermuda Bridge Club
Monday afternoon, September 18, N/S<$>: 1. Lisa Burland-Greta Marshall, 2. Mary Arton-Gillian Gray, 3 (jt.) Julia Lunn-Bea Williams and Louise Rodger-Peggy Sinclair. E/W: 1. Vera Petty-Roman Smolski, 2. Magda Farag-Julia Beach, 3. Joyce Rego-Ann Proctor.
Monday evening, N/S: 1. Simon Giffen-Kevin Comeau, 2. Joseph Wakefield-Tony Saunders, 3. Michael-Bickley-Janice Trott. E/W: 1. Vera Petty-Roman Smolski, 2. Sheena Rayner-Nea Willits, 3. David Cordon-John Burville.
Wednesday morning, N/S<$>: 1. Jean Wakefield-Mary Jane Coelho, 2. Pat Siddle-Vivian Siddle, 3. Wendy Gray-Richard Gray. E/W: 1. Vera Petty-Roman Smolski, 2. Jean Bath-Marilyn Simmons, 3. Julia Beach-Sheena Rayner.
Wednesday evening, N/S: <$>1. Jane Smith-Gertrude Barker, 2. Jean Bath-John Hoskins, 3 (jt.) John Rayner-Don Airey and Jean Johnson-Margaret Way. E/W: 1. Vera Petty-Roman Smolski, 2. Alan Douglas-David Pereira, 3. Louise Payne-Ernest Paynter.
Friday, N/S: 1. Bill Tucker-Joseph Wakefield, 2. David Sykes-Sally Sykes, 3. Margaret-Way-Jean Johnson. E/W: 1. Alan Douglas-Sven Pride, 2. Vera Petty-Roman Smolski, 3. Clare McCarney-John McCarney.
