Contract in Jeopardy

Grief upon this Christmas Wreath,

Poked by the pain of the pine,

Once the lights held glow,

Cracked bulbs now never shine.

The spade lead puts South in danger of losing a spade, a diamond and two trump tricks. A club or a diamond lead would have been much more helpful.

South won with the ªA, led the §4 to the §A at trick two and finessed the §J next. When this scored South discarded dummy’s spade on the §K. The fall of the §Q did declarer no harm. He ruffed his spade loser and played the ©A and another heart to land his game.

This play is superior to the ruffing finesse in clubs. With diamond to loose and two likely trump losers, declarer cannot afford to lose a black trick. The ruffing finesse loses when East has the §Q and also puts the contract in jeopardy when West has the §Q, for then South has to ruff twice in dummy. Which risks an overuff and may lead to an extra trump loser.

 What do you call a kid who doesn't believe in Santa? A rebel without a Claus. 

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Focus On Best Line

I wish you all A Merry Christmas.  Christmas is not season, it’s a feeling to care and share.

In the above deal when West lead the ©K, a cursory glance suggests that ruffing spades in dummy, cross ruffing, or suit establishment all seem potential lines.

However, the solidity of dummy’s diamond suit suggests that this is where Suth will find extra tricks, but he has only one entry to dummy - §Q.

To preserve this entry, it is essential that the declarer does not indulge in ruffing any spades on the table, since this will shorten his holding and make it impossible to land the lead there when he needs it.

South should not finesse West for the ¨K, even though his overcall might suggest that he is more likely to hold ¨K than his partner since, if this is wrong, the contract is defeated.

Instead, south should win trick one with ©A and lead ¨2 to dummy’s Ace.  ¨Q is led next and, when East plays small, declarer pitches his ©4 – a classic ruffing finesse.  West wins but, whatever her leads, South can take control, cash §AK and cross to dummy’s §Q to play out all his winning diamonds, throwing his spade losers from hand.  One must focus on the best possible line of play.  Even one rash flourish can cost you your contract….

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Combination of chances

It’s the wedding season again! An Indian wedding is a grand occasion, lavish with a lot of noise and show. The music and dance all are a part of this extravaganza. It’s almost like a festival.    

South’s 3♠ call was a slam try with a long suit. North showed himself amenable to the  idea of a slam an advance cue bid of 4♣* West led ♥K, not obliging with a minor-suit lead. At first glance, it looked as if south will have to guess the ♣Q for the contract. He could discard one of his small clubs on the ♥A but that will not be enough to avoid the club finesse. Is there another way? How will you play?          

The play offers the best combination of chances but the actual declarer made the slam by ruffing the opening heart lead and guessing that West held the ♦A. He played the ♦4 a trick two and West had no reply as cards lay. In fact, he ducked and declarer discarded the ♦K on the ♥A. Had West taken the ace declarer would have ditched two clubs on the ♦Q and ♥A. You should always combine your chances.

Marriage is a workshop…

Where husband works      

And wife shops…   

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Extra Candle

It’s December, the last month of the year. It’s a month of winter, the holy month and the time for many celebrations.

In what order South played this hand to  make this remarkable contract?

He won the ♥A, cashed the ♣AK and the ♦A.  Crossed to dummy in trumps and played ♦K discarding the ♥8, diamond ruff. When the ♦Q did not appear he ran the trumps. When he led his last trump, he was down to ♠ 65, ♥J, ♣2. Dummy held, AK9, ♦J.

Since West was dealt the ♦Q, he was actually squeezed in three suits earlier. But let's assume that the ♦Q was safely tucked away in the East hand. What could West keep when South led the last trump? Not three spades and the ♥Q. South knew which cards were good. If South hadn't seen the ♥Q, he discarded dummy’s ♦J and cashed the three spades. West was squeezed in the majors; the ♦Q was the extra candle on the birthday cake! You know you’re getting old when you get  that one candle on the cake. It’s like, ‘See if you can blow this out.’

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WHICH RED SUIT?

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Ruff-and-Discard

Today is the last day of three days -- a special bridge tournament at the PYC Gymkhana, Pune, in memory of Ashok Kapur, ever smiling and in ardent bridge player. “ We'll miss you Ashok”.       

It is sensible to play the double of a Preemptive bid for takeout.  The partner can pass with strength in their suit or at a  high level with any balanced hand.

West leads the §A, East playing the §6. West continues with the §K, which is ruffed by the South. South ruffs a spade in dummy and draw trumps, which are 1-1. South then ruffs two more club in hand (East discards a spade on the fourth club) and two more spades in dummy (West turns up with ªK8 and discards a dfmond on the third spade).  How should South continue?

           

As West showed out on the third spade, East began with eight spades. East has also turned up with one heart and three clubs. That accounts for 12 cards and so East will have only one diamond.  South should continue with a low diamond from both hands and hope that East started with an honor. Any honor will do, even the ¨10. If East wins, the forced spade return gives south a ruff-and-discard, discarding a damond from hand.  West cannot gain by overtaking East’s diamond since West either gives you to diamond tricks or a ruff-and-discard.  By counting out East’s hand, south was able to discover that any play other than ducking the first round diamond was doomed to fail.

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Act of Patience

In today’s deal, East won the first heart and shifted to the ♦J. That defense wasn’t good enough. South took the Ace, cashed the A-K of trumps and ♣K-A and ruffed a club. He  led a heart to dummy, ruffed a club, ruffed his last heart in dummy and led the good club to pitch a diamond loser. He lost one diamond, a heart and a trump.  An act of patience will beat the contract. East should see no pressing need to win the first heart, if he ducks, South is in dilemma, if South leads a second heart, East can win and lead a third heart, forcing dummy to ruff, or lead a diamond, killing an entry South needs to set up and cash the clubs. If South attacks the clubs immediately, West  can over-ruff him on the third round and South will go down. Nor can South succeed  by taking the top trumps before starting the  clubs. The key to everything is patience. You get the chicken by hatching the egg, not by smashing it.    

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Clear and obvious

It is that time of the year; to celebrate Diwali, the festival of lights, happiness and prosperity, but it’s not the same for animals.  If you have a pet, especially dogs, they suffer anxiety during Diwali. They tremble, whine and their bark becomes worse than their bite. I have three and know exactly what they are going through.

Yielding to temptation is the only way to lose the game. 

South ducked the opening lead in dummy and got a free finesse winning with his ♥10.A low spade was led towards dummy, but West alertly hopped up with his Ace and played the ♥A and another heart to establish his suit. South now could take 3spades and 3 clubs on the run for a total of eight tricks. If he tries to steal a diamond West is ready to pounce and collect the rest of his five winners for one down. 

The game is unbeatable if South credits West for all three aces for the opening bid. He wins dummy’s ♥K at trick one and knocks out ♦A. If West plays the ♥A and another heart South will collect three winners. And If west leads anything else, it's even easier. Regardless of what West leads South has time to knock out the ♦A to score a comfortable over trick.

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Clear and obvious

It was amazing to hear Australian soprano, operatic singer, Greta Bradman, the granddaughter of the greatest cricketer, Sir Donald Bradman at the performance with Maestro Zubin Mehta. Her voice was totally controlled like a willow trees beautiful branches bending and flexing yet remaining in tact even in the strongest breeze.      

This interesting deal came up in the 12th World Team Olympiad in Istanbul, Turkey; When Italy VS Mauritius was in action, in their 14th round.      

Italian, Duboin was West and Bocchi East. While from Mauritius Hurpaul-South and Tang-North. A 12-point hand is often described as an optional opening bid.

Sitting North, Tang opened 1♦.As the auction progressed, South showing, South bid 3 NT.

Duboin led the ♣9. This is a cruel dose of reality. East, Bocchi could have tried to establish his club suit by ducking and hoping West has another club to return, should West gain the lead. But ultimately, how can East then regain the lead to enjoy the established winners?

Bocchi realised that South must have the ♠A for the notrump rebid so there no quick entry in spades. And it was obvious that there was no hope in clubs, diamonds or spades. Given that scenario, Bocchi grabbed the ♣A at trick one and returned a heart. It didn’t take long for the defenders to establish two hearts, two diamonds and one club. Down one.

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An unusual play

After many moons, to my surprise I received above interesting deal from our friend Deepak Parekh, HDFC. He was one of the bridge players who would play with my late husband, Murli on Saturdays.

‘Those were the days my friend, I thought they would never end.’  

In the above hand, declarer made a    somewhat unusual play that enabled him to make five clubs. West led ♠3, on which declarer, holding a singleton ♠J opposite the ♠A, played low from dummy, losing to East’s ♠Q.       

Of course, South could have avoided the loss of a spade trick by playing the ♠A. He merely swapped a nonexistent spade loser for a certain diamond loser. As a result of this play, South was able to make the contract. When East returned the spade at trick two, declarer discarded a diamond and ruffed two diamonds establishing dummy's fifth diamond. One heart loser was later discarded on the ♦9 and South finished with eleven tricks.

Man appears for a little while to laugh and weep, to work and play, and then to go to make room for those who shall follow him in the never-ending cycle.         

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An almost sure thing

Once Mahatma Gandhi reportedly said, “In numbers Parsis are beneath contempt, but in contribution, beyond compare.”           

In absences of ‘Apro’ Dara, ‘Apro’ Khershid gave me this interesting deal written by Frank Stewart. I’m sure we shall enjoy and undoubtedly learn the play. Initially,outh misplayed the hand by taking the ♦A, drawing the trumps and then leading the heart to dummy’s ♥J. East won and returned a diamond. South won, took the ♥A and ruffed a heart. When the ♥Q didn’t fall, he tried a club to the ♣Q, and the slam expired.      

To succeed in making this slam South had an almost sure thing. He must take the ♦A-K, ruff a diamond high, cash the ªK-Q and ruff the last diamond high. Now he can draw trumps and lead a heart to the ♥J. East wins but must return a heart or a club and South gets free finesse and his 12th trick. There’s no such thing as “for sure”. That’s the only sure thing I do know.   

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Safety Play

India is celebrating Navarati festival, which is dedicated to Goddess Durga. It is a ‘nine night’ festival ending on Dasshera, which is the tenth day that celebrates the victory of the good over evil.

South wins the ©J wtih the ©Q, cashes one high diamond and leads a club to dummy’s §J.  When the finesse wins, he returns to another high diamond, revealing normal 3-2 break.

With four diamond winners assures, he can afford to make a safety play in clubs.  And, instead of repeating a finesse to dummy’s §Q, he leads a club to dummy’s §9.  Had this lost to East’s §10, only an overtrick would have been lost.  However, when East discards, South reaps a huge bonus. He can now claim not only his slam but an overtrick as well.

A first-round finesse to dummy’s §J and another finesse to dummy’s §Q would limit South to only three club winners instead of four and with no dummy entry outside the club suit, South would score only eleven tricks instead of twelve or thirteen.

Don’t be afraid to fail, be afraid not to try.

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China's challenge

Four No-Trump was too high, but as the play developed it took a combination of brilliant  plays for the defence to prevail.      

North led the ♠6. South took his ♠Q and rather than simply continue spades, he switched to the ♣8, declarer winning in dummy as North followed with ♣6.

Declarer unblocked the ♣A and played a spade to the Jack. South went in with the ♠A and exited with a spade, declarer winning in the dummy and cashing the remaining spade winner, discarding two hearts from his hand.

Now came the Ace and King of diamonds, on which North delivered the ♦Q. That avoided the first possible endplay.

When declarer continued with dummy’s ♦4 the crocodile reared his head and South went up with the ♦J, avoiding the second possible endplay.

He exited with a diamond and the declarer had to surrender a heart trick at the end.     

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The Sensible Answer

The cultural melting pot that is Mumbai is enjoying a brief respite from fortnightly barrage of festivals. But, we better get ready for Diwali crackers!

Sometimes weak two-bid makes it difficult to find another trump fit. Above deal one would prefer to reach 6♣.

East wins trick one with the ♦K, then switches to the ♥Q. West following suit. To solve this problem correctly, not only must you trust your right-hand opponent to defend correctly, but must also notice the strong aroma of rodent wafting across the table. The normal percentage play for no spade losers is to cash dummy’s ♠K, then to finesse your ªJ. But if East had ♠QXX, why didn't he lead the ♦A at trick two, forcing South to ruff in the dummy? He must know you have another diamond.

The only sensible answer is that he has three low spades. If he taps the dummy. South has no choice but to try to drop the doubleton ♠Q. Now, though, East has left declarer with a losing alternative. Don't fall for it. Cash dummy’s ♠K, and then play a spade to your Ace, expecting West to furnish the ♠Q.

It takes a lot of people to make a winning team. Everybody’s contribution is important.

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The Best Line

Finally, Mumbaikars bid Lord Ganesha a farewell. The 10 day celebrations of Ganesh Chaturthi came to an end with much joy and some sadness. In the above deal South starts with six top tricks: one spade, three hearts and two clubs. So. three diamond tricks are sufficient,  assuming the opponents cannot collect five tricks first.

South won the first trick with dummy's §K, played a diamond to his ¨ K and continued with the ¨Q. However, East won with his ¨A and returned his second club. When the ¨10 didn't drop under South's jack, the contract was unmakable.

The best line would have been to play a diamond to to¨9. West would have won with the ¨10 and shifted to the ªQ, but South could win with dummy's ªA cross to hand with a heart and continue with the ¨K. South would have lost at most four tricks, two spades and two diamonds.

Yesterday is not ours to recover, but tomorrow is ours to win or lose.

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Niggardly Way

One of the important festivals, Ganesh Chathurthi, was celebrated throughout India on Thursday with a great devotion.  This day is celebrated as birthday of Lord Ganesha, the elephant-headed son of Lord Shiva and Goddess Parvati. Lord Ganesha is   the symbol of Wisdom, prosperity and good fortune. South played today’s game in a niggardly way. And with his false economy, he managed to turn a makeable game into a losing effort.West’s ♠K held, and West continued with the ♠4 after East had encouraged with the ♠8. East won the ♠A and returned the ♠3, and defenders had the first four tricks. West exited with a heart. South allowed dummy’s ♥K to hold and thereby fell from grace. When no singleton ♦K appeared, South was forced to concede down one. South had his eyes on the wrong goal. True, he would have had nine tricks had he won the ♥A and ♥K separately. However, since there was no reasonable way to achieve that end without the loss of another trick. South should have ‘wasted’ his ♥A in trade for an entry to his hand. When West shifted to a heart at trick five, South should have overtaken dummy’s ♥K with his ♥A and tried the diamond finesse. When the finesse succeeds South collects two diamond winners, Just enough to score his game.         

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There was another way

West led the ♣Q, overtaken by East’s ♣K and allowed to win. South won the club return and led the ♥J. West covered with the ♥Q. South had to take this lest West would cash a pile of club tricks. When dummy continued with the ♥10, East judged to win. He got out with the ♠J. South hoped that East could be conned into taking the first diamond. He led the

♦K, but East saw through that ruse and allowed it to win.

South decided that East would not let him get to dummy with the diamond suit but there was another way. South now cashed the top spades and put East in with the fourth spade. Having nothing but red cards left, East had to lead something that would allow dummy to gain the lead and South was able to reclaim the heart winners in dummy.

Education is all a matter of building bridges!

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The right judgement

 The 2♥ bid was a transfer to spades.  

North’s 3♠ showed six spades and game invitation. Despite a minimum 1NT, the  three-card spade support, the ruffing potential in club and three aces persuaded South to bid to game. If 4♠ failed, no doubt North and South would blame each other for overbidding.  West leads the ♣K, which is allowed to hold. South wins the ♣Q continuation and leads a spade to the King. When West discards a club on this, you have a sure trump loser. Dummy’s heart is led at trick four and East wins with the ♥A. East’s club return is ruffed by you. How do you play from here? The declarer continued  with the ♥J. West played low and a diamond was discarded from dummy.  Judging that West would have heart length and that the ♥K was unlikely to drop on the next round, declarer continued with the ♥Q, King from West, ruffed in dummy. When the ♥10 dropped, South’s ♥9 was high. After a spade to the Ace, and the ¨A was cashed, followed by the ♥9, on which dummy’s last diamond was discarded.  East could ruff but dummy had the rest of tricks. Good judgment.     

Good judgment comes from experience        

and experience comes from bad judgment!

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