TWO-SPEED CROSSWORD
4 Unconventional (7) 8 Threadbare (6) 9 Exact (7) 10 Journalist (6) 11 Hypothesis (6) 12 Argue (8) 18 Praise (8) 20 Significance
(6) 21 Smell (6) 22 Rear (7) 23 Abduct (6) 24 Pupil (7) 1 Defame (7) 2 Most (7) 3 Take in (6) 5 Predict (8) 6 Pail (6) 7 Ridiculous (6) 13 Brothers (8) 14 Victorious (7) 15 Maybe (7) 16 Sum (6) 17 Jerked (6) 19 Dupe (6)
2 Nil; 3 Obese; 4 Exempt; 5 A la mode; 6 Childlike; 7 Disturbance; 8 Incredulity; 12 Traveller; 15 Entrust; 17 Scraps; 19 Stern; 21 Yes. 1 In Ascot, bad behaviour (7) 8 In cooking utensil, expert
has a cure for all things (7) 9 A game described by the
mesmeric Anastasia (7) 10 Clumsy in record time! (5) 11 Garden flowers, small, put
in various pastes (5,4) 14 Stayed out, fixed (6) 15 Lighting providing fifty
amperes (5) 16 Contrived, as long topical
phrase (6) 20 Core cracked in unattractive china (9) 23 Let everyone have debts
endlessly (5) 24 He falls over one on
excursion (7) 25 Intended to invest
northern funds (7) 26 Royal staff destroyed
respect (7)
1 Boldly approach to find
account price (6) 2 Note from singer heard (6) 3 Attack while filming? (5) 4 Turn taps with energy and
create a flood (5) 5 Engages and listens
anew (7) The bidding:
1 3 NT 6 Opening lead — nine of diamonds. . There is a play that has to be seen to be believed, and after you’ve seen it, you may still not believe it! As anyone can plainly see, West has a sure trump trick. He simply doesn’t cover the Q-J of clubs when they’re led. He just sits there and waits until his well-guarded king wins a trick. Except that he never gets it!
Pass 1 Pass 4 Pass Pass 1 Deeds (7) 8 Cure-all (7) 9 Two-pack card game (7) 10 Awkward (5) 11 Climbing garden
plants (5,4) 14 Constant (6) 15 Lights (5) 16 Catchphrase (6) 20 Fine china (9) 23 Acknowledge (5) 24 Excursionist (7) 25 Back with funds (7) 26 Royal mace (7)
1 Waylay (6) 2 Two fivers (6)
The king is dead, and there’s nothing West can do about. Call it magic or sleight of hand or anything else: West’s trump trick just vanishes into thin air! Declarer plays the hand very simply. He wins the diamond lead in his hand and plays the Q-J of clubs, West following low. When East shows out, the slam appears doomed, since South has a spade loser also. But declarer plays on, hoping for a miracle. He cashes two more diamonds, then plays the A-K of hearts and ruffs a heart. He next plays the A-K and a low spade, won by East. At this point East has only two cards left — a heart and a diamond — while South has the 10-9 of clubs, West the K-4 of clubs and dummy the ace of clubs and nine of spades. Whatever East returns, South trumps with the nine, and West’s “guaranteed” trump trick goes down the drain. We suggest that you don’t bother to learn this play — just file it away as a curiosity. I’ve never come across it at the bridge table, and don’t ever expect to. Every once in a while I run into someone who tells me he’s executed a smother play — that’s what it’s called — but I put that person in the same category as those who claim they once held 13 spades. You can’t believe everything you hear. Neither side vulnerable KQJ86 J 10 8 3 43 J5
752 Q65 9862 Q74
A 10 9 4 3 — 7 A K 10 9 8 3 2
— AK9742 A K Q J 10 5 ♣6 The bidding:
1 Pass (!) 1 3 Pass (!!) 3 4 6 Dble Opening lead — jack of clubs.
Pass Pass