24th September – Board 10. Game All. Dealer
East.
Bridge is often an
infuriating game if only because what is right today might be totally wrong
tomorrow. To illustrate the point just take a look at the following hand.
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North:
S A K 9
H 10 9
D Q 10 9
C J 9 8 5 3
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West:
S Q J 10 8 5 3
H Q 6
D A 5
C K Q 7
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East:
S 7 6 2
H K J 7
D K J 7 3 2
C A 10
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South:
S 4
H A 8 5 4
3 2
D 8 6 4
C 6 4 2
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West
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North
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East
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South
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1NT
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No
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4S
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End
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West
might transfer the hand to let his partner declare but there is a lot to be said
for just bidding game for it is unlikely that the hand will play better with
the lead coming from the South rather than the North. In any event there is
nothing very special about the hand and North might kick off with the ten of
hearts giving South something to ponder. With the lead likely to be a singleton
South might win and return the suit but declarer will win and with South unable
to regain the lead declarer will lose just two trumps and the ace of hearts.
But now suppose South ducks the opening lead but signals his interest with a
high card. Now when North wins a top trump he can now play a heart to his
partner’s ace who will play a third round. If West discards then North will
ruff while if West ruffs high then North will discard but will later come to
two more trump tricks. So how does South know what is right? I’m afraid he
doesn’t!
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