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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