Saturday, June 5, 2010

Just play out the cards

The World Wide Bridge Contest was held Friday night and Saturday afternoon around our planet. The boards are pre-dealt and participants get a booklet with all the hand records and an analysis by Canadian Eric Kokish.

I played at the Lightman Bridge Club in Memphis Friday evening. A Platinum Life Master was North and declarer in 4♠ on Board No. 6:

♠ A K Q 8 5 3
♥ ---
♦ A 8 5
♣ A 10 7 3
♠ 9 7 ♠ 10 6 4
♥ J 6 4 2 ♥ A K 8 5 3
♦ Q 10 ♦ J 9 7 6 2
♣ J 8 6 5 2 ♣ ---
♠ J 2
♥ Q 10 9 7
♦ K 4 3
♣ K Q 9 4

East led the ♥K. North ruffed and drew trumps. Then she played a high club from South, noting that East showed out.

"I can pick up clubs now," she said. "I have to give you a diamond."

What's wrong with this picture?

If you merely play out your cards, East is squeezed in the red suits. He has to save his ♥A, so with three cards left, he can only keep two diamonds. If she is careful, declarer can win trick 13 with her ♦5 (instead of the ♦8) for maximum style points.

You can see all the results for this board here.

3 comments:

  1. Huh? I think I'll stick with golf.

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  2. How so many pairs failed to bid what is a straightforward slam beggars belief. But to make 13 is a bonus, given the automatic squeeze on East. Yours HBG. PS. Many tx for your supportive comments.

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  3. Forget slam, enough missed *game*, or misplayed the club suit, or got to NT making only 5, that +480 was above average.

    Some Easts probably bid Michaels which makes the auction harder.

    ReplyDelete