Remember to Unblock

Yesterday, the Corporate Bridge Association of India had organised the annual bridge event at Taj Lands End. Our dear friend Deepak Parekh is the president of this association. And its secretary, Debasish Ray pulled all stops to make it a grand success.

West leads ♣K and switches to ♠Q, which you duck. West continues with a low spade, presumably from four. East plays the ♠K and you win the trick. You now play a heart to the queen, ruff a club and cash the ♥AK. West discards the ♣A on the third heart. You play another heart and West discards a spade. East a club.

You know that West did not open the bidding or make a take double, yet you have seen ♣AK, ♠Q and only a doubleton heart. It is fair to assume that West also holds the ♠J and started with no more than four spades because there was no overcall. Many players would have made a take out double and it is inconceivable that West, despite his probable 4 card diamond length (4spades, 2 hearts and likely 3 clubs) could have ♦Q and remain silent throughout the auction. East must hold that ♦Q. Play to ♦AK and watch the ♦Q coming down.

Did you remember to unblock the ♦8, then the ♦10, so that you could return to hand with a club ruff and finesse the ♦7 for the overtrick?

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Twitter ID  : @HemaDeora

Avoid Those Traps

Last week was full of celebrations, first Independence Day, then Rakshabandhan. And, finally Parsi New Year with the spread of delicious dishes like Patra-ni-Machhi and Salli Murghi. I believe moog dal is mandatory with prawn patio! I'm sure 'Apro' Dara must have devoured the 'Bhonu'!

After West's lead of the ♣2, how should South plan the play?

Temptations abound In the play of today's game. Yield to taking a wrong finesse and the game goes down the drain.

It's too risky to play West for Length in clubs. So South should rise with dummy's Ace to avoid the fatal ruff by West. Next in an effort to draw all the trumps, South should lead a trump to his ♥A and another trump to West's ♥K. East signals with the ♠8 on the second trump and the danger of a club ruff still exists.

West shifts to a spade and South must refuse yet another finesse, otherwise West will get his club ruff. Dummy's ♠A wins. South now draws the last trump, and it's finally time to concede a spade and a club ensuring ten tricks.

Have you heard of Parsi films that never made it to big screens?

1-Where Eagles Darius, 2-Bend it like Baman, 3- When Homi met Salli.

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Twitter ID  : @HemaDeora

End-Play Magic Dealer

 

My special pastime is to dabble with paints with special children, make greeting cards with different themes for occasions and make it a special day for them.

This time it was Independence Day. We all made flags — 60 of them! What fun! Just when we finished with our class, it started to pour, feeling concerned I asked the kids, “What do we do now?” In their special way, all in chorus, they said, “Get us the blue umbrella!”

In above deal South won his ♦A, drew trumps in two rounds and played the ♦K. East discarded to end declarer’s hopes in that suit.

Now South cashed ♠A and ruffed a spade. Reentered his hand in trumps, ruffed his last spade. He wisely cashed his ♣A, closed the eyes and led a club. East happily won the king but soon realized, he was endplayed, and was forced to lead a card from a black suit giving South a ruff and discard and his well-earned slam!

Other might have forgotten, But never can I.

The flag of my country, Furls very high!

Happy Independence Day

Blog          : http://www.hemadeora.blogspot.in

Twitter ID  : @HemaDeora

 

The Disappearing Trick

After a long time, my friend from the 21st floor sent me this interesting hand. Just the right thing on a rainy day.

West’s pass of two spades must be regarded as much too conservative. He should have bid three diamonds instead. This might have elicited a further bid from East and led to a contract of five hearts which goes down only one.

As the bidding went, though, South was allowed to play in four spades and made the contract by careful play. West started with A-K of diamonds, declarer ruffing the King. South’s problem was to avoid losing three club tricks. Had he relied solely on East’s having the ace, he would have finished down one. But instead he placed his hopes on an end play that was practically sure to succeed.

After leading a trump to the ace and ruffing the last diamond, South again crossed to dummy with a trump and played a heart, finessing the ten after East followed low. This unusual play rendered the defense helpless.

West won with the Queen, but could score only one more trick for his side. Whether he returned a heart, a diamond or a club. Whatever he did, South was bound to wind up with ten tricks.

Give light, and the darkness will disappear by itself.

Blog          : http://www.hemadeora.blogspot.in

Twitter ID  : @HemaDeora