Deceptively Difficult

The festival of lights is here and it gives me a great feeling to recite the words, “Allah tero naam, Ishwar tero naam. Sab ko sanmati de Bhagwan”.

Millions of Indians will be performing Lakshmi puja this evening. Fire crackers will add to the pollution. Pet dogs would be shivering with fear and hiding away, while the strays get subjected to inhuman acts. May God protect them.

This is a deceptively difficult deal. West starts with the three top clubs. East following throughout. After ruffing the third club, it looks obvious to cash the ♥K and play a heart to dummy’s Ace. If East has Jack four times, you can pick up and run the diamonds. Here, though, where West has the four hearts, you are suddenly in big trouble. You may move to diamonds, but West ruffs the third round and returns his last trump. He must eventually score the ♠K to defeat the contract.

The answer is to cash the ♥KQ from hand. If they split 3-2, draw the last trump and run the diamonds. But when they go 4-1, switch immediately to diamonds. An opponent may ruff in, but you win his return and play a heart to dummy’s Ace, which simultaneously draws the last trump and gives you access to the remaining diamond tricks.

I wish my readers A Very Happy and Peaceful Diwali!

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

Twitter ID  : @HemaDeora

A Countermove

West led ♦K, East playing the ♦2 and shifted to the ♣9. South drew trumps in two rounds and then gave West his ♦A. West led a third diamond to dummy's remaining honour and South had to find a discard. He threw his ♠Q, certain that the finesse would lose in any event.

He was right about the losing finesse, but he was wrong about the result. He lost two clubs to go with West's two diamond winners and the game went down one trick.

The game makes if South discards a low club on the third diamond. Dummy's remaining club honour is cashed, bringing bad news in that suit. but now there is a countermove. If South leads a spade to his Ace and surrenders the ♠Q. West is stuck. He must offer a ruff and discard, allowing South to get rid of his last low club.

If clubs split 3-2 (with West holding two), the game is also cold. The ♠Q goes on dummy's good club, and the  defenders are held to only three tricks.

They say "stay calm. It's like chess. Move and countermove.

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

Twitter ID  : @HemaDeora

The Sure-fire Play

West led the ♦Q. South won the trick with the ♦K, East following with the ♦2, and led ♣K. East won and returned the ♥Q, not exactly what South had in mind. South’s ♥K lost to West’s ♥A and back came a third heart forcing dummy to ruff. When South played dummy’s remaining ♣J, East followed, but West threw a heart. South had lost three tricks and now could afford to lose only one more.

The sure-fire play is to cash the ♦A, discarding a spade, ruff a diamond, and exit with the ♠A, ♠K and another spade. It doesn’t matter who wins or who has the ♠Q, South’s last two cards are the ♣Q9 and South must take the last two tricks.

On their wedding night, a couple arrives at their hotel room and the phone rings. The husband answers and talks with his friend about a bridge hand. The conversation continues for hours as the friend tells how he went down  in six spades.

When it finally ends, the distraught wife is in tears and says, “How can he be so inconsiderate? That was terrible!”

“You’re right, honey. All he had to do was take a finesse.”

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

Twitter ID  : @HemaDeora

Eliminate The Spades

Day after tomorrow is Dussehra — a Hindu festival celebrated to remind and rejoice the victory of Lord Rama on evil King Ravana. This day also marks the victory of Goddess Shakthi over demon Mahishashur.

North-South got to a fair game after East opened 1♦ West led the ♣2. South knew that this was a singleton for sure. He won in his hand with the ♣10 and played the ♥A and another heart, trying to get the trumps out. East playing the ♥J first and then the ♥K. A club returnlet West ruff with the last trump. West returned the ♠8 the East’s king and South’s Ace.

At this point, South had lost two tricks and when diamonds proved unmanageable; he lost two more tricks and went down one.

South should make. South had to take a spade finesse and eliminate the spades before playing the ♥A and a heart. After doing this, East will give West a club ruff, but West will have to give a sluff and ruff or must lead a diamond, either of which gives South contract. In order to do this, South must win the first trick with dummy’s ♣K. Take two rounds of spades and now play the ♥A and another heart. As long as hearts are 3-2, the contract is safe. If South errs by letting the club finesse come to his hand, he won’t be able to get to dummy for the spade finesse except by using the ♥A. After finessing in spades, declarer won’t be able to lead to his ♥Q.

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

Twitter ID  : @HemaDeora

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”!”

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

Twitter ID  : @HemaDeora

 

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

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

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!

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

Twitter ID  : @HemaDeora