Bridge

Piecing together the clues to form a picture of the opposing hands is the name of the game. Concentrate both on shape and high cards. i would say usually shape is the more important. Take this fascinating deal from a duplicate at the Andrew Robson Bridge Club in Parson’s green.

West led the King of Spades, declarer ducking and winning the Queen of Spades continuation with the Ace. At trick three, declarer led a Diamond to the Queen, east winning the Ace and (lacking a Spade because of declarer’s trick-one duck) passively returning a second Diamond.

Declarer won the King of Diamonds and cashed the Knave, disappointed (and a tad surprised) to see east discard (a Heart), so West began with six Spades and four Diamonds. necessarily abandoning Diamonds, at trick six, declarer led and passed the Knave of Hearts. east won the Queen and returned a passive Heart.

Declarer took dummy’s Ace-King-ten of Hearts, West revealing a doubleton, and paused to count West’s (therefore east’s) shape. West began with six Spades, two Hearts and four Diamonds. ergo, West held just one Club.

But how big was West’s Club? if it was the one small card (the three), declarer was sunk, unable to win the necessary three Club tricks. if it was the queen or Knave, declarer could win by cashing either the King or Ace, then ducking a second round. east would win his intermediate, but then have to lead round to the ten in dummy for the third trick. However, if West’s singleton was the eight or nine, declarer had to lead specifically dummy’s ten and, when east played the Knave, duck from hand.

The pure artistry of this move was too tempting (although the odds were the same as playing West for the singleton Knave/queen).

Declarer couldn’t resist—he led dummy’s ten of Clubs. east covered with the Knave (as he had to) and declarer ducked. east now had to lead from Queen-eight-three. Declarer ran his Queen to dummy’s King and held Ace-seven over his eight-three. nine tricks and game made.

it’s never too early to start counting—take our second deal. Admire South’s jump to Six Spades over east’s Four Hearts, despite holding two small Hearts. South was counting. east surely had to have seven Hearts for his vulnerable Four Hearts; partner held four for his One Heart response; he held two; ergo, West held no Hearts to lead. Clever.

West led the Knave of Clubs, declarer winning dummy’s Aceking, shedding his two Hearts. At trick three, he led a Spade, playing the Queen even though east discarded. West won the King and led a second Spade. Winning in hand, declarer cashed the Ace of Diamonds and ruffed a Diamond. He was thrilled to see east’s King appear—had it not, he was planning a ruffing finesse.

it was now a simple matter to draw trumps and cash Diamonds —12 tricks and slam made.