THE DISAPPEARING TRICK

AFTER a long time, my friend from the 21^st 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 west, though, South was allowed to play in four spades and made the contract by careful play. West stared 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 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 10 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 hid South was bound to wind up with 10 tricks

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TRUMPS IN DEFENCE

NORTH opening 2♠ showed a hand of limited strength, containing spades and an unspecified minor. South’s response of 4♣ indicated that he was willing to play at the four level in partner’s minor suit. East-West could make at least 11 tricks or more in heart, as you see, but West understandably devalued his King of Spades.

There is only one lead that defiantly beats the club game- a trump! West could expect South to be short in spades and should probably have diagnosed that a trump lead was best. He actually led the King of hearts, ruffed in the dummy. Hoping to set up a crossruff, South now called for a low spade. East was in a difficult situation. To beat the contract, he needed to play the six. West could then win the trick and play a (somewhat belated) trump. However, if declarer had the bare spade King and West held the Ace of diamonds, it would be essential to rise with the Ace of spades and switch to diamonds. East rose with the spade Ace (It’s hard to blame him) switched to the Queen of diamonds.

South was hoping to take four spade ruffs in his hand. Since heart ruffs in the dummy would give him only three entries for this, he would need a diamond ruff entry too. He therefore ducked the Queen of diamonds. If East’s diamonds were headed by the Queen-Jack, and West overtook with the King to play a trump, declarer’s ♦A 10 would then be worth two tricks

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LIVE OR DIE

THERE is an exodus to Delhi today by all aspiring bridge champions to take part in Hindustan Computer Limited (HCL) 17^th International Bridge Championship. There is a very handsome prize money too. Where the Sharpest minds partner to conquer.

After West has lead ♥K and East has signaled with ♥2, South must consider the deal as a whole. What will South do if West switches to a spade at trick two? Then he will live or die by the diamond finesse.

South should win the first trick and immediately take the diamond finesse. If it loses, he might get lucky and find that the hearts are breaking 4-4.

Don’t break someone’s heart, they have only one.

Break their bones, they have 206 of them.

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THE HONOR IS MARKED

SOMETIMES the location of a particular honour is marked from the bidding. 

Here South won ♣A and returned a club. West did best to win and returned a spade which South won in his hand; ruffed a club, returned to ♦A, ruffed his last club, back to ♥K and played all of his remaining spades. As he was about to play his last spade, he had last three cards in his hand, a spade, low heart and ♦10. Dummy had ♦Q and ♥AJ. On the play of last spade, West had to reduce to two cards and one must have been ♦K, the other a heart. Declarer discarded ♦Q from dummy and led a heart at trick twelve. West followed with a low heart and South hopped up with ♥A. West’s other card was ♦K. And obviously, ♥Q dropped doubleton from East. 

'In this world, there is a place for every man, but every man must know his place'.

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CRUCIAL ENTRY

AMIDST a Long spell of bad cards, it is easy to fall into the rhythm of mindlessly following suit. However, the brilliance of bridge is that at any time one meticulous play can transform not only the fate of the contract, but your entire score.

West led ♥9 and East took his Ace and returned ♥7. South won, drew trumps and then led ♦7.

West played low: declarer tried ♦10 from dummy and East won with ♦K. East played ♥Q, which declarer trumped. Now, South led his diamond nine and West rose with diamond Ace. However, when West led a club, declarer could rise with Ace and discard his club Queen on the established diamond Queen, securing his contract.

When the diamond is first led, West must rise with diamond Ace and switch to a club. Now, if declarer plays low from dummy, he loses the trick and, if he rises, he has lost his crucial entry back to dummy.

Defination: Texas Transfer – relocation to a branch office in Dallas.

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A SMALL POSSIBLE GAIN

NO matter what the weather is like, when you get the juicy deal from ‘Apro’ Dara straight from Washington DC. It really brightens your Sunday. 

In the above deal, South jumped to show decent values and West prudently opted to defend rather than bidding on. West was vulnerable but sitting over South with a strong hand. The risk was high for only a small possible gain. 

West could count four defensive tricks. Since West hand contained only one trump, he focused on his partner’s trump length, even if low, might be promoted into a trick. 

West continued with ♦K and then ♦J. Declarer trumped with ♣J in dummy. South led ♠2 to his ♠J in hand. West grabbed his ♠A and laid down a fourth diamond. Now, to avoid dummy’s ♣6 being over-ruffed, declarer had to ruff with dummy’s ♣K. When trumps split 4-1 declarer gave up ♥A, finally conceding the fourth round of trumps to East’s beautifully promoted ♣8. 

A happy partnership is a matter of give and take. You give in and your partner takes the credit.

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DUCK THE FIRST TRICK

Finally, monsoon is here for Mumbaikars. Parched earth welcomes it after a long summer. 

AT the table, when East played low, declarer won with ♠K, crossed to dummy with ♣A and led ♦Q for the finesse.When West won ♦K and led ♠7, South couldn’t avoid losing four further spade tricks, and was therefore defeated. 

The diamond suit is key: if the finesse is right, all is easy but, if West holds ♦K, South would want him to have no further spades to lead. So, South can afford to duck the first trick. Because West cannot hold more than two spades since East had bid 1♠. 

West will lead his second spade and East’s ♠A will take South’s ♠K, but now, if East leads another spade, dummy’s ♠10 becomes a stopper. 

This deal is courtesy, ‘Apro’ Dara. 

What do you get if you mix ducks with fireworks?? 

‘Firequackers’.

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THE SECOND SUIT

IN the above deal West’s bid of two clubs was the ‘Landy’ convention, showing length in both major suits. West might have made two hearts, so North-South tried 3NT.

When West led the ♥K, East played the deuce and South had the ♥A-J left, he shifted to a club, South won, lost a diamond finesse to East, won the heart return, and claimed with four club tricks, four diamonds and a heart.

West forgot he had the second suit his bid had shown. He defeats 3NT if he shifts to a spade at the second trick – and to the Queen. If South takes the ♠K and leads a club to his hand and loses the diamond finesse. East can return a spade through South’s Jack, Letting West cash three spades. If instead South let ♠Q win, West continues with a low spade and the result is the same, down one.

‘Raise your words, not your voice. It is rain that grows flowers, not thunder.’

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HAPPY FACE

THERE is a bit of overbidding here. North liked the length and quality of the clubs suit and went ahead with the slam. Nevertheless, it is a good slam.

There are two certain winners in spades and in diamonds. By forcing out ♥A, there are three guaranteed winners there. That comes to seven.

Thus five club winners are required. If you win only four club tricks, the fall back position is the diamond finesse.

Leading low to  ♣K seems routine, but if East has all five clubs, you can’t win five tricks in that suit. Even if West has one club and East has  ♣Jxxx, you are not likely to pick up the Nevertheless, low to  ♣K and then low to  ♣Q caters to West having four clubs.

The play in clubs is surprising. Win the spade and plunk down  ♣Q. The advantage of playing  ♣Q is if East shows out, it will be simple to win five club tricks. If East follows to the first club but shows out on a second club lead to the  ♣K, the finesse is still available. As it happens, clubs behave favorably, West holding all five.

South can win five clubs and simply force out ♥A – Happy Face.

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GOOD PLAY

WE are in the midst of THE 52nd APBF championship in Singapore. The slogan is ‘Peace and Sport', it says ‘be a part of what matters.’ 

Today’s deal arose in the match between Great Britain and Israel in the 1997 Women’s Teams. Israel reached 5♣ without any hitch and there was no problem in the play.

Liz McGowan for Great Britain was in 4♠. McGowan made a good play. She discarded a club on the second heart, ruffed the third heart in dummy and then led a trump to the King, followed by the spade Queen. When ♠10 dropped on the second round of spades, declarer lost just two hearts and one trump

trick.

Had the declarer ruffed the second heart, East would duck the first round of spades, take the second round and lead a third heart, forcing declarer to ruff. Now declarer would run out of trumps before East.

‘You can discover more about a person in one hour of play than in a year of conversation’.

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SHEER LUCK

IN the above deal at the rubber bridge game, South was the declarer in 3NT. North was a modest under bidder and South was the kind of player whose sheer blind luck cancelled out his inept play.

West led ♠K. South spent two minutes counting his winners and another two minutes recounting them. Amazingly, the total came to nine both times, so he began to plan for a glorious overtrick. 

“He’ll go down for sure," thought West, who was watching. As he realised that the clubs are going to be blocked. 

South took the first trick with ♠A and immediately played ♠J. It never occurred to him that West might have led from a six-card suit. West reeled off four spade winners, and South discarded from his hand two hearts and, after pulling out ♥10 and pushing it back again, a club.

“Did I make an overtrick?” asked South. 

“No,” replied North, “But you made your contract.” “With sheer luck,” he added under his breath.

Accidentally, but actually South made an unblocking play.

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A DISASTER

IN the above deal, a disaster that two experts experienced, and you have to decide whose fault it is, or at least the percentage of blame. Let’s see what you think.

West led ♥2. East took ♥A, and on ♥K West playing ♥9, South ♥3 and ♥10. At trick three, West continued a heart and the declarer eventually pitching his blank  ♣K on a spade. Who do you think blew the defense, or was it inevitable?

West blew it. West knows that South has ♥Q from partner’s play of ♥K.  Therefore, West should play ♥J at trick two, denying ♥Q since West would have led ♥Q when holding ♥QJX. East now has an easy club shift.

They say, ‘Take your life in your own hands, and what happens? A terrible thing:

no one to blame’.

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STILL A CHANCE

SURPRISE! Surprise! ‘Apro’ Dara is here in Mumbai just for a short while with a couple of juicy deals all the way from Washington DC. Very thoughtful and sweet of ‘Apro’ Dara.

South should duck the first spade and win the second. South should then cash ♥A and ♥K. If ♥Q falls, he would have 10 tricks, but when both defenders play low, South still has a chance. South takes three diamonds — East-West follow — and leads the fourth diamond, pitching dummy’s last spade. Whether West ruffs or discards, South ruffs his last spade in dummy. Losing only a spade, a trump and a club.

‘Heard about the new restaurant called ‘Karma? There is no menu, you get what you deserve.’

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THE BEST LINE

May is the month of flowers. The gardens with May flowers hauling like mad against the claim of the other months. It’s like the birthday of the world, when earth is born in bloom!

After winning the ♠Q and extracting the trump; South should play the  ♣10. One of the defenders will win this and play something. If they play spades, South should win immediately and knock out the other high club. They can win a spade trick but in time, South will be able to discard both diamonds from the dummy.

If West wins the club and plays diamond, South should win the ♦A and play club. South will then be able to discard dummy’s spade on his club. Either way!

‘We live in a society where pizza gets to your home before the police’!


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THE BEST LINE

‘The wind is tossing the flowers. The new leaves laugh in the sun. But for me the spring is done.’

DUMMY'S ♦A won and ♥J was passed for a losing finesse. West shifted accurately to clubs, knocking out South’s  ♣A. Trumps were drawn and success rested with the spade finesse. This lost and the defenders took a total five tricks for two down.

South didn’t choose the best line for 10 tricks. South should have refused the trump finesse at trick two and cash his ♥A and ♥K . Next comes the losing spade finesse and East would shift to clubs. South must duck one round, and should win the next and then run spades. West would ruff but has no club to lead, and South would score his 10 tricks.

‘The most important thing a father can do for his children is to love their mother.'

Happy mother's day!

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THE WINNING PLAY

SOUTH wins the first club and knocks out East’s ♦A. East switches to spades and South wins his ♠K. South knows that his only real chance rests with hearts.

If South cashes one high heart and uses dummy’s only entry to try heart finesse, the game collapses. Even if hearts split 3-3, South can never get back to dummy to cash his ninth winner, and defender gets the plus score. 

The simple heart finesse offers a 50-50 chance. South improves his chances if he plays ♥A and ♥K from his own hand. When East’s ♥10 drops he continues with ♥J to establish dummy’s ♥9 for his game going trick.

The winning play of heart is better than the straight finesse. Success comes when either ♥10 or ♥Q drops singleton or doubleton or suit breaks 3-3.

  

‘Why do cheetahs always win?’

‘Because they cheat.’

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KEY TO THE GATE

OVER the weekend, there was Suhas Vaidya memorial and Maharashtra State Bridge championship held in Pune at the PYC Gymkhana. Mumbaikars and Punekars mingled and did a postmortem of the game after every session. The organising chairman, Milind Bhadbhade, toiled hard along with his committee members to make this event a great success. 

In above deal, the easiest approach is to get the defenders to give you the key to the gate. South won the lead of ♥J with  ♥K. 

South drew trumps; he took ♥A and gave up a heart. Suppose West had won (East unblocking ♥Q) and led a club, and dummy’s ♣J was lost to the East’s ♣Q. East then would return a club, ♣K would score for South’s 10th trick. If instead East would return a diamond, he has guessed ♦Q for South. If East would lead a heart, South would throw his last club as dummy would ruff. South then could try to locate ♦Q for an overtrick. 

‘Before anything else, preparation is the key to success.’ 

Tomorrow is voting day. The sure way of participating in the process of nation-building is to vote.

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NOT THE BEST WAY

IT'S Easter today, the time when Christians remember the death and Resurrection of Jesus Christ. The egg has many interpretations, but it is known as an ancient symbol of new life, and has been associated with festivals celebrating spring. Easter is celebrated all over the world. 

A popular line would be to win ♥A; play a spade to dummy’s ♠K, a heart to ♥K and cash the two top spades. As long as♠J drops, South will end up with 14 tricks. 

However, that’s not the best way to guarantee the 10 tricks. After winning trick one, you should cash ♠A, squashing dummy’s ♠K. Then continue with ♠Q and ♠10, driving out ♠J. Suppose the defenders cash two diamond tricks before switching to a club, trying to cut you off from the dummy. Win the club, play a heart to our ♥K, draw the remaining trumps and run the clubs.

 ‘The best way to cheer yourself up is to try to cheer somebody else up.’

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The comparison

YESTERDAY was a celebration day as it was the occasion of Lord Rama’s birthday. Ram Navami is a Hindu spring festival, observed on the ninth and last day of Chaitra Navratri.

Certainly, this is a good slam, but it isn’t easy to bid. May be a few pairs will reach 6♦. However in match-pointed pairs, in comparison scoring at 3NT, two over-tricks can be very important. If South ducks the heart and East wins the trick. East will shift to spade quickly and the defense will win four tricks. But since there is a 95 per cent chance that diamonds will behave, in this form of scoring one should go for 11 tricks by winning the first heart with Ace.

‘Don’t compare your life to others. There is no comparison between the Sun and the Moon. They shine when it’s their time.’

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The only chance

YESTERDAY all the Maharashtrians must have celebrated Gudi Padwa by raising the decorated Gudi flag. Generally, it is of red or yellow colour and garlanded with flowers, neem and mango leaves. It is topped with upturned silver vessel, signifying the victory of Lord Ram over Ravana. It marks the Maharashtrian New Year, too.

West couldn’t open the bidding, yet has ♠AKQ109. How can he have ♦K as well? He cannot. So,  South’s only chance — however unlikely — is that East has the singleton ♦K.

South should cash ♥A, getting the bad news, then should lead a diamond to dummy’s ♦A. When ♦K drops, should finesse East out of his ♥Q and claim 10 tricks, five hearts and five diamonds. 

If East didn’t understand why South dropped his ♦K, South should keep him as an opponent.

‘Never interrupt your opponent when he or she is making a mistake.’

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Increase the chances

THAT was a lovely feeling to hear the first cuckoo call early morning the other day. They say spring only truly arrives when the first cuckoo call is heard. This call can be so loud and demanding too. 

South’s preempt was effective as the opponents can make 11 tricks in either minorsuit contract. Yet, it was too dangerous for either opponent to bid. Rather than pin all hopes on the position of ♦A with East, South should increase his chances by developing the spade suit. He should start by discarding a spade on West’s second high club. 

West would shift to a heart or a spade and South would win Ace. South now can ruff a spade back. A trump to dummy’s ♥J lets South ruff another spade to establish the suit, and the rest was easy. South would discard two diamonds on dummy’s good spades and the defense is limited to only three tricks. 

‘Sometimes giving someone a second chance is like giving them an extra bullet for their gun because they missed you the first time.

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No more goodies

BOMBAY Gymkhana is holding the 6th Shrikant Ruparel Memorial Pairs Bridge Tournament today. Shrikant was an ardent bridge player and a tall figure in the bridge world. His lovely wife Ira has been holding this tournament every year in her beloved husband’s fond memory. As usual, our dear Dr D Subbarao has risen with his helping hand. 

‘Apro’ Dara has sent this deal for all his bridge friends before he departs to Washington DC to collect some more juicy deals for us. 

West led ♦10. Assume South wins the second diamond as the bidding suggests that East has a six-card diamond suit. Driving out ♠A or taking the heart finesse, both are death wish plays. Why not try cashing five clubs forcing East to reduce to six cards? 

If East saves one spade, three hearts and two diamonds, South can drive out ♠A. East now won’t have enough diamond winners to hurt South. If East reduces to three diamonds, one spade and two hearts, ♥Q will drop. In short, East, with three goodies to hold, will be squeezed out of one of these goodies on the fifth club.

So, no more goodies.

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