Fifty Years Ago

Tomorrow begins the new year, and there’s certainly a nip in the air. my friend on the 21st floor has been, in fact, feeling the chill much more! 

The west led the ♦Q. “Preempts at favourable vulnerability are different today than they were 50 years ago,” said my friend. I said, “yes, things do change in 50 years.” He then showed me today’s hand from a 50-year- old rubber bridge game. The paper was crusty brown and the ink was fading. 

“Who opened 3♥?” I asked. “South,” he said, “after all, they didn’t play weak two-bids in those days.” I said, “well, it looks like a modern day three-bid.” The winning play was to allow the ♦Q to win the first trick. Now the spade king was protected, and later south could have ruffed out the ♦A and discard a spade on a diamond honour, then play for clubs to divide 3-2. East couldn’t have overtaken the ♦Q without setting up two diamond tricks, for two club discards. “East was annoyed at his partner for making this lead,” said my friend. “If he led a club, declarer would eventually lose four tricks.  A kibitzer, whose chin pushed itself out another couple of inches, pointed out something interesting. after a club lead, declarer can still make the contract. south could win the ♣a, come to his hand with a trump and lead a diamond. When west would play ♦10, South could duck that!”

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Twitter ID  : @HemaDeora

You Can Find Your Way

In the above deal West has definitely found the best lead, a trump, which can prevent your ruffing a losing heart in dummy. As declarer, you count your losers, two hearts and two clubs. If you could get to dummy, you would be able to make ten tricks by throwing one of your losers on the ♦A. But how can you do that? 

The hand can be made. There is a simple winning line, which nevertheless is difficult to perceive. After winning the opening trump lead in hand, south should lead ♥Q instead of the deuce! 

This simple play ensures the contract. If east takes the ♥K and continues with a trump (best), you can make the contract with two hearts, six spades, a diamond and a club. If east ducks the ♥Q, you will make eleven tricks! You continue with the ♥A, Ruff a heart and discard a loser on the ♦A. Your losers will be only two clubs. 

Wish you a merry Christmas!

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

Twitter ID  : @HemaDeora

No Champagne

Playing the weak no-trump, and being at favourable vulnerability, Zio decided he would try 1NT with six heart tricks, hoping to catch his opponents off guard.  Perhaps he had a beautiful kibitzer he was trying to impress as well.  Okay, it wasn't a good start, but the rest is definitely amazing.

South, the straight man, jumped 3♦ forcing.  If North had now bid 3♥, it would have meant a cue bid in support of diamonds.  So North was forced back into no-trump.  Over the natural 4♣ bid, North again was fixed. Four hearts would definitely sound like a cue bid in support of clubs, so Zia was forced into a 4♦ preference.  The 4 ♥ bid really put Zia in the hot seat. He knew it was a void! So he bid 5♦ hoping partner would give up.

The story has an unhappy ending for our hero, as his partner bid six diamonds, and Zia, after all, did have to lay down the dummy, (he actually ordered champagne on the condition that his partner would make the hand).  West led a spade and declarer ruffed the second Spade, led a club to the Queen, took two discards on the hearts and called for the ten of diamonds.  East carefully covered, and the slam was doomed.  So there was no champagne either.

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

Twitter ID  : @HemaDeora

You are Still Alive

One hates to see a 29 point-hand go down the tubes — especially, when there is a nine card fit. 

South draws trump in two rounds and has to decide how to proceed. It must be right to tackle diamond while you still have a club ruff entry to dummy. So, south plays the diamond Ace and a low diamond to the Jack. The good news was that the diamond Jack wins the trick. The bad news was that east pitches a club on the second diamond. 

South was still alive if east has a marriage in spades. South plays the club AKQ discarding a spade from dummy and then the spade Ace and a spade. If east has to take the trick, he will have to surrender a ruff and sluff allowing south to pitch his diamond Q while ruffing in dummy. 

Do not take life seriously, you will never get out of it alive! 

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

Twitter ID  : @HemaDeora

Safe & Sure

Hi folks! ‘Apro’ Dara is back like a migratory bird, and, he has got another juicy deal for us. 

West’s ♣J lead was covered by dummy’s ♣Q, East’s ♣K and declarer’s ♣A. For safe and sure play, South should cash now ♦A and draw three rounds of trumps, playing ♥AK and then low heart to dummy’s ♥J. From the table, declarer leads ♦Q and, when East plays low, he should discard his losing ♣4. West will win and try to cash ♣10, but declarer can ruff this in hand, cross to dummy by playing ♠A and ruffing a spade, and then use ♦J10 to discard his two spade losers. This method is almost completely safe and ensures that the vulnerable slam is brought home. 

There once was a player 

from Beirut, 

who thought he would 

try to be cute. 

He overcalled a spade, 

And, died as he played. 

The postmortem: 

A four-card suit.

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

Twitter ID  : @HemaDeora