Contract Bridge

Less is More

Most of the hands that appear in this column were actually dealt and played in a real game or tournament and come from a variety of sources. A few were played either by me or in my presence.

Occasionally it is necessary to change a card or two in order to emphasize a particular point. If I didn’t do that, the hand would be pointless and not worth writing about.

Take this deal, for example. As it is shown, there’s really nothing to it. West leads a heart, and East wins with the ace and returns a heart. Declarer then reels off five diamond tricks, two spades, two hearts and a club, making four notrump in what seems to be a routine hand.

To report such a dull hand in this column would irk many readers; something must be added to make the deal more interesting and instructive. However, the fact is that if South played the hand as described above, he misplayed it, and in order to get that point across, I make a slight change. I take West’s three of diamonds and give it to East in exchange for the three of spades.

If declarer now plays the hand as described above, he gets punished for his transgression and goes down one. His proper play at trick three is a low diamond to the ace, followed by a low diamond back! In that way he protects against either opponent having four diamonds and so ensures the contract.

I wouldn’t dare publish the deal as it appears in the diagram, because I’d have a very difficult time convincing readers that a declarer who makes three notrump is really a better player than a declarer who makes four notrump!