QUICK CROSSWORD

Liszt said, “‘ Brahms’ Variations are better than mine, but mine were written before his.”

Bridge, as we all know, survives because of its numerous variations, both in the bidding and the play. In today’s deal, declarer has the J- 10- 7- 3 of clubs and dummy A- K- 8. How should he play to win four tricks?

In the bidding, North’s raise to four no- trump was quantitative, inviting a slam.

West did not wish to risk a heart lead, so chose the spade seven, second- highest from an honorless holding. South put in dummy’s 10, but East won with the king and returned the suit.

Declarer had only 10 top tricks: two spades, two hearts, four diamonds and two clubs. He had to take four club tricks to get home. But how to play that suit?

First, clearly South needed to find West with the queen. But if he had queen- fourth, the contract was going to fail.

According to the software written by Dutchman Jeroen Warmerdam, declarer should cash the ace, then lead the 10. When it is covered by the queen, South should win with the king and lead the eight back to the jack.

At most tables, declarer started clubs with a sneaky 10. Those Wests who failed to cover presented the contract to South. But most Wests did cover with the queen. Now declarer won with dummy’s king, cashed the ace and continued with the eight. When the nine did not appear, South had to decide whether to run the eight or put up his jack. Some got it right, but most went down.

Copyright United Feature Syndicate

( Asia Features)