The Popular Line

This, rather interesting deal, is sent by our dear friend Deepak Parekh, who has time to go around the world to watch his favourite sport, cricket, but has no time for his second favourite mind-sport, bridge. However, he does make it a point to read these interesting deals, and, sometimes, pass it on to me, so my readers can enjoy them too! 

In the above deal, the popular line was to win in hand, ruff a spade, cash the ♥A, ruff a Heart, ruff a Spade and ruff another Heart. But, West overruffed and shifted to a club: down one! 

True, the bad heart break was tad unlucky, but much better was to play a club to the ♣K at trick two. If West took the ♣A and led another trump, declarer would have needed to ruff only one spade. Here, East would have taken the trick with the ♣A and returned a club. South could have ruffed, trumped the ♠8, ruffed a club, trumped the ♠10, cashed the ♥A, ruffed heart, drawn trumps and claimed. 

They say, “follow your heart”, but, if your heart is in million pieces, which piece do you follow?

Blog : www.hemadeora.blogspot.in

Twitter ID :@HemaDeora 

End of Story

Tomorrow Chhatrapati Shivaji Maharaj Jayanti will be celebrated on a majestic scale in Maharashtra. Shivaji was formally crowned as a Chhatrapati at Raigad fort and henceforth came to be known as Chhatrapati Shivaji. He was a brave warrior, known for his courage and intelligence. 

West led the ♣J, ducked to east’s ♣A and east shifted to the ♦Q. south won the ♦A, played three rounds of hearts, discarding a diamond from dummy and led a low spade. If West had gone up with the ♠A and gave east a club ruff, that would have been the last defensive trick east-West could have garnered. If West had played low, south would have inserted the ♠9. After east had won the ♠10, east would have played a diamond, which was as good as anything. Dummy would have ruffed and the south would have played ♠Q to West’s ♠A. End of story! 

By chance if West had only three hearts, after winning the ♠10, East could play back a heart which West would ruff with the ♠A and give east a club ruff, down one! 

It takes a great deal of bravery to stand up to our enemies, but just as much to stand up to our friends!

Blog : www.hemadeora.blogspot.in

Twitter ID :@HemaDeora 

The Same Effect

It’s the 14th Family Bridge tournament today at the prestigious Bombay gymkhana.  As usual, the very simple, genteel and noble Dina Daver, beloved wife of late Minoo Daver has sponsored this tournament, in his memory, to fulfill his desire. Hosie Hoosien has been an expert in getting the families together and making this event a great success. 

West was playing the intermediate jump overcall showing minimum six-card suit. 

West led ♥8, south has to lose to the ♦A and the contract hinges on the spade layout. Given West will have about 11 + points, the ♠A figures to be with West.  Declarer’s task is to find some way to restrict the spade loser to one. 

The declarer made short work of it. He won with the ♥K, played ♣A, ruffed a club, cashed the ♥A and played his remaining heart. His plan was to ruff this in dummy, ruff a club and then lead a diamond. With clubs and hearts eliminated, West would be end played if holding the ♦A. South’s plan was due to be successful. In practice West ruffed the heart but south simply discarded dummy’s last club for the same effect! 

Coming together is a beginning; keeping together is progress; playing together is success!

Blog : www.hemadeora.blogspot.in
Twitter ID :@HemaDeora 

The Killing Defence

East won the first trick with the ♣A and switched to a diamond. South’s ♦Q won. 

Once the diamond finesse wins, the contract is makable. south should draw the trumps, cash the ♦A and ♣K, ruff the last club in the dummy and call for the ♦J. When east covers with the ♦K, not to ruff, instead discard a heart, leaving east end played. East must either open up the hearts, giving a trick to dummy’s ♥K or lead a minor suit card, which concedes a ruff-and-discard, permitting South to throw another heart and trump in the dummy. Whichever he chooses, south has only one heart loser to go with one diamond and one club. 

For the killing defense, East should duck the first trick, playing the ♣9 so that west can later gain the lead in clubs for the heart switch! 

It’s not violence when it’s in self defense, it’s called intelligence!

Blog : www.hemadeora.blogspot.in

Twitter ID :@HemaDeora