Following the Law

Writing bridge books is no way to make a living, but every once in a while a book catches the imagination of the public and gives both author and publisher a pleasant surprise. The top two books in the all time list are Why You Lose at Bridge and Reese on Play, the latter on sale in a new edition at the bookstall here in Ostend, while in recent years Larry Cohen's The Law of Total Tricks recorded unprecendented sales.
The basic idea is simple, you bid to the level of your trump fit. Look at this deal from yesterday's final qualifying session.

Board 5. Dealer North. N/S Vul.
	ª A 8 7 2 © 2 ¨ Q J § K J 10 8 5 4
ª Q 6 3 © 9 8 5 3 ¨ K 9 7 § A 7 6		ª 9 4 © A K 10 7 4 ¨ A 10 8 4 3 § Q
	ª K J 10 5 © Q J 6 ¨ 6 5 2 § 9 3 2

West	North	East	South
Damiani	Auken	Lise	Auken
	1§	1©	Dbl
3©	3ª	4©	Dbl
All Pass

Despite having a flat hand, four card support for hearts means a jump to Three Hearts is in order. No problem for the bronze medal winner of 1998 one José Damiani, although one doubts he has had the time to read any bridge books in the last few years! The subsequent bidding saw East/West emerge with an excellent score, as the position in diamonds meant there was no defence to Four Hearts.
This was the second board of the round:

Board 6. Dealer East. E/W Vul.
	ª Q 4 © K 7 3 ¨ A K Q 6 5 3 § 9 5
ª 6 3 © J 8 5 2 ¨ 10 9 7 2 § A J 7		ª J 10 7 5 © Q 10 4 ¨ 8 § K Q 4 3 2
	ª A K 9 8 2 © A 9 6 ¨ J 4 § 10 8 6

West	North	East	South
Damiani	Auken	Lise	Auken
		Pass	1ª
Pass	2¨	Pass	2ª
Pass	3©	Pass	4¨
Pass	4ª	All Pass

The bidding strongly suggested that West lead a club and Damiani selected the ace. His partner encouraged with the four, so he continued with the jack. That held, so he played a third round, forcing dummy to ruff, which might have been awkward for declarer on a different layout. Here she could cash the queen of spades, come to hand with a diamond to the jack and play on spades, claiming ten tricks when West discarded on the third round.

PHILIPPE TOFFIER 'S CAUTIOUSNESS

French Philippe Toffier playing with Nicole Van Poperinghe had two opportunities to shine in the last qualifying session.

Board 3. Dealer South. E/W Vul.
	ª K 5 3 © K J 7 6 4 2 ¨ 6 § A 10 8
ª A 6 2 © A ¨ K 10 9 5 3 § K Q 6 5		ª Q 9 8 7 © 10 9 8 3 ¨ Q 7 § J 4 3
	ª J 10 4 © Q 5 ¨ A J 8 4 2 § 9 7 2

Playing in Two Hearts from the North seat, he showed his suit management capability by attacking trumps from the South hand. Playing the five of hearts found West with the singleton ace and a score of +110 gave him 75% on the board.

Still better was to come:

Board 11. Dealer South. None Vul.
	ª A Q 2 © A K 8 ¨ K Q 4 3 § 6 5 4
ª J 10 9 © 9 7 5 ¨ J 10 9 6 § K 10 3		ª K 7 4 3 © Q 6 2 ¨ 5 2 § 9 8 7 2
	ª 8 6 5 © J 10 4 3 ¨ A 8 7 § A Q J

He was playing Three No Trumps from the North hand. On the lead of the §8 declarer made the essential play of putting up the ace. He then finessed the ©Q. In with the §K West made the natural play of the jack of spades for the queen and king. But, now West 's fate was sealed: three rounds of hearts and the §J squeezed him in diamonds and spades. +430 was worth 91% for NS.

That's Unusual

Continuing with our theme of reporting the abnormal, take a look at this deal from the last qualifying session.

Board 24. Dealer West. None Vul.
	ª K 8 4 3 © 4 3 ¨ K Q 10 7 4 § 7 6
ª 10 7 © A Q 6 2 ¨ A 6 2 § A K Q 3		ª J 9 5 © K J 10 9 8 7 ¨ 8 § 9 8 2
	ª A Q 6 2 © 5 ¨ J 9 5 3 § J 10 5 4

West	North	East	South
1§*	1NT*	Dbl*	Pass
Pass	2¨	2©	5¨
Pass*	Pass	5©	Pass
6©	Pass	Pass	Dbl
All Pass

West's One Club was strong and North's 1NT promised either spades and diamonds or hearts and clubs. However, South missed the alert and assumed One Club was natural as would then be the case with 1NT. South's suspicions might have been aroused when North retreated to diamonds, but she took the bid at face value when she raised to game at her next turn. Despite the fact that North declined to double Six Hearts, South used a red card - and the contract had to go one down.