Dealer: S Vul: E/W
NORTH
♠ K4
♥ AK108
♦ 10
♣ KJ7654
WEST EAST
♠ 9632 ♠ J7
♥ 94 ♥ Q652
♦ A7532 ♦ KQJ64
♣ Q9 ♣ 108
SOUTH
♠ AQ1085
♥ J73
♦ 98
♣ A32
At the advanced level, contract bridge can be filled with special bids, end-plays, safety plays, plays known as coups and so on. It is possible, however, to think too much about the possibilities.
On the hand above, (Board 3 from Warwick Bridge Club last Friday) South generally played in spades, with two declarers reaching 4S. After the common lead of the Ace of diamonds, the declarers would have taken stock. East/West had six trumps between them, so where was the Jack? Also missing were the Queens of hearts and clubs. Then when a diamond is led to the second trick. Do you trump it with the King or four of spades? Declarer may also have in mind eventually playing the Jack of hearts and letting it run if West does not produce the Queen. So what is the right way to play this hand? Keep it simple…. Play it like someone who knows nothing about finesses or any other tricky plays and who doesn’t understand that sometimes it is necessary to trump with a high card. Trump the Ace of diamonds with the four of spades, cash the King of spades and cross to the Ace of clubs. The remaining three trumps can then be drawn and attention switched to the clubs. The Ace is played first and after the King beats the Queen on the second round, North’s remaining clubs are winners. The only pair to play in 5C was also the only pair to win twelve tricks, having been careful to take South’s remaining spade winners before crossing back to North through a high heart. Their score of 420 was, however, beaten by John Nankervis and L. Munson with 450 for eleven tricks in spades
Results Monday, 13/11/23 (6-table Mitchell): N/S N. Bonnell T. Hinde (60.3) 1; J. Nankervis P. Kelly (57.3) 2; Jenny Smith L. Munson (54.3) 3. E/W C. Harris M. Simpson (60.0) 2; N. Collins D. Moran (55.3) 2: M. Warren B. Warren (49.3) 3. Friday, 5 & ½-table Howell): P. Kelly D. Moran (65.3) 1 eq. T. Hinde J. Mobbs (65.3) 1 eq. N. Bonnell B. Bonnell (63.4) 3.
