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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