The Face of a Misfit

 

This interesting hand is an example of bidding in the face of misfit auction. Someone, somewhere, will say that North and South got what they deserved!

North overcalled 2♦ over West’s 1♣ bid. South had a modest hand and bid 2♥ in the hope of something happening. Something did happen. North hated the bidding so much that he passed it out.

West led the ♣K and switched to a diamond. South could have taken the ♦A, but he finessed and that was expensive. East took his ♦K and cashed the ♣Q. Back came a diamond for West to ruff. West took his two  club winner and then played the ♠A and another spade for East to ruff. East led one more diamond. South tried ruffing with the ♥8 and that was overruffed by West’s ♥9. South had nothing left but ♥AK53 and East had the ♥J1074. West still had the ♥Q. This meant that South could only get his ♥A and ♥K. Down six!!

This hand would have made Victor Mollo’s creatures in the Menagerie very happy!

“It’s better to be a “misfit” than a “one-size-fits-all”!”

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Sheer Luck

 

Good rains have been lashing Mumbai from past few days. The one season that Mumbaikars await – the monsoon! Of course, you have to ignore the traffic disruptions, potholes and sewage problems. But not to miss, the fire hot roasted “butta’, ‘garam chai’ and crispy hot ‘Bhajias!

West leads ♠6, East puts up ♠Q and South plays  ♠A. There are only eight tricks and the extra might come from all suits, but the red suits clearly offer the best chance. 

After winning the first trick South cashed three top hearts.No luck; West discarded a club. Then South played three rounds of diamonds. No luck. East won the trick, cashed the ♥J and pushed a spade through declarer’s ♠J: two down.

South could have made the contract by cashing ♥AKQ. ♦AK and ♣AK before exiting with a club. West is end played to give South his ninth trick. With ♠J.

Clouds come floating into my

life, no longer to carry rain or

usher storm, but to add color

to my sunset sky.

By – Rabindranath Tagore

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Twitter ID  : @HemaDeora

 

Through the Heart and not the soul

 

Finally Mumbaikars had to say bye to lord Ganesha on ‘visarjan’ day. The long processions filled with pomp and splendor when Ganesh idols are taken to the sea and immersed in the waters there. Crowded and noisy, yet full of life – with order in the chaos. Ganesh visarjan is quintessentially what Mumbai is all about!

West leads the ♠K and ♠A against 4♥. East follows with the ten and signals with the ♣9. East seems to have the ♣A. So getting a club trick and a heart later will set 4♥. What should West do at trick three? West should lead a heart.

If West leads a club, South ruffs it and then ruffs his ♠Q with dummy’s ace. South can get back to his hand with club ruff and will go about drawing trump. West gets his ♥K, but that is the end of that.

By leading the heart at trick three. West is now able to get in with the♥ K And can give East a spade ruff. That annoying ♥A isn’t in dummy any more to stop this.

Let my soul smile through my heart and my heart smile through my eyes, that I may scatter rich smiles in sad hearts!

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Twitter ID  : @HemaDeora

 

Good Defense by East

Ganesh Chaturthi is a Hindu festival celebrated across the world in honour of Lord Ganesha (the God with the head of an elephant). On this day, devotees pray to the God for prosperity and an unhindered new beginning. West led ♦4 and all seemed well for South; ten tricks seemed easy. 

The first good play was East’s; he won with ♦A and returned a diamond. With four trumps in defense, you should always seek to make the declarer ruff in hand to shorten his supply. South did trump, cashed two top hearts before discovering the bad break, and took the losing spade finesse. West continued his partner’s forcing defence by laying down ♦Q. South was now in trouble. When ruffed, he was left with only one trump in each hand, while East held two trumps and ♣A. Defeat was now inevitable. 

Declarer can turn the tables on the defence at trick two. Instead of ruffing, he should pitch a spade from hand. West takes his ♦Q but, now, declarer can draw all the trumps, discard two further spades from hand on dummy’s ♦J 10 and then push out ♣A, still in comfort holding the final trump.

‘May the blessings of Lord Ganesha always be upon you’

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Good Dummy Play

 

It deeply saddened my heart and shocked me to the core to learn of the sad demise of Farookh Cobla, one of our ardent bridge players and ‘the gentleman and an officer.’ I fondly remember, he would religiously read my bridge column in Sunday Mid-Day, and always SMS me his feedback on my writing in a very witty way! He was a very keen and regular bridge player, who never lost his temper or his gentlemanly cordial manners on the table. We will miss his lolly-polly personality, boyish looks, sweet smile and not to miss his well-combed puff in his hair!

May the Almighty rest his noble soul in peace.

West led the ♠Q; taken by South’s ♠A. South made good dummy play. Before drawing trumps he played on diamonds. By ruffing a diamond in his hand and then playing the ♥A and another heart. This way South avoided the second diamond loser. Of course, he had to be lucky enough in hearts not to lose more than two trump tricks, but that is a separate issue.

‘Knowledge speaks but wisdom listens’

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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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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.

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

Twitter ID  : @HemaDeora