BRIDGE

It’s a constant source of amazement (and, just as often, amusement) to see how so many “experts” fly in the face of traditional wisdom that they must think is best reserved for rank and file beginners.

North’s opening bid was his partnership’s strong, artificial and forcing bid (as in “Precision Club”) with South’s initial response an artificial transfer bid showing spades.

But after North’s balanced hand (17-19 high-card points) rebid came back around, South decided to conceal his heart suit in favour of taking a direct route to the spade game.

Note that South’s bidding was a bit of a gamble that paid off as North might have held but two spades and as many as four hearts and the actual bidding left West uninformed about the South hand.

Enter West with his attempt to make a newspaper column with his “daring” underlead of his ace, a lead that beginners are constantly admonished by teachers worldwide to avoid at all costs.

West got his wish in limited fashion as his lead is here in all its inglorious glory but his name will be omitted in line with my policy of avoiding embarrassing players who do the undoable.

Declarer won his Jack of diamonds and set about establishing his heart suit to end with just three losers: the two top hearts and the ace of clubs.

Interesting post-deal chat.

East: “Where did the ace of diamonds go?”.

West: “It must have fallen on the floor, sorry partner”.

NOTE: the computer governing online play doesn’t allow cards to drop but can’t stop players from doing really bad things. thankfully!