THE ACES ON BRIDGE

“Great abilities are not requisite for an Historian ... Imagination is not required in any high degree.” -- Samuel Johnson .....................

Yesterday’s deal from Augie Boehm’s excellent new memoir, “Big Deal,” saw a successful bluff. Today’s deal shows Boehm using poker skills again, but this time drawing the right conclusion from the “tell” that only an expert can detect.

At the table, the auction went as shown, but Boehm sensed that East had flickered before passing, and inferred that he must have been contemplating doubling three no-trump to call for the lead of dummy’s firstbid suit, hearts. This conclusion was one Boehm drew at his own risk -- if he was wrong, he would have no recourse.

West led a low spade, and Boehm captured East’s king with his ace. To make the contract, Boehm apparently required East to have been dealt queen-third in diamonds and West three small diamonds -- no better than one chance in six. The normal line of play would be to lead to the king and finesse the jack on the way back.

But now remember East’s tell. He was surely favorite to hold both top hearts, as he would scarcely consider doubling three no-trump with less. The spade king was already known, and if he had also been dealt the diamond queen, he would have opened the bidding. Thus Boehm posited West with the diamond queen. Reasoning this way, Boehm decided on a backward finesse -- leading the diamond jack and planning to run it, finessing against the diamond 10 in East if necessary. In fact, when West did not cover the jack, Boehm let it ride; result, happiness!