Unheard Melody

Mark Horton with Antonio Riccardi

In order to be a world class director you must, in addition to having total understanding of the complex laws of bridge, be able to play to a high standard. Sitting on the coach last night EBL Chief director Antonio Riccardi mentioned a fascinating possibility on this deal from the third session of the semifinals:

Board 6 - E/EW
	ª - © 9 2 ¨ J 7 6 5 2 § A K J 10 4 2
ª A Q 7 4 3 © 8 7 ¨ K 10 9 § 8 6 3		ª K 6 5 2 © K J 6 4 ¨ A Q 8 3 § 9
	ª J 10 9 8 © A Q 10 5 3 ¨ 4 § Q 7 5

West	North	East	South
Versace	Westra	Lauria	Ramondt
		1¨	1©
Dble*	2§	2ª	3§
4ª	5§	Pass	Pass
Dble	All Pass

The VuGraph audience had already seen the result from the other table, Five Clubs doubled and made, +550. East found the best lead of a trump and declarer won in hand and played the nine of hearts, running it when East played low. (This was already a decisive error, but perhaps hard to see). Now declarer played a diamond and West won and returned a trump. Declarer won, ruffed a diamond, ruffed a spade and played some trumps. Eventually he played a second heart and when East played low again he paid West the compliment of going up with the ace, so he was two down, -300, which more or less represented the end of the fighting challenge of the team from Rotterdam.

Let's return to trick one and see what Antonio spotted. If declarer puts up the queen of clubs and plays a diamond West must go in with the king in order to play a second trump. Declarer wins and makes the key play of advancing the jack of diamonds. East must cover and declarer discards a spade. This prevents the defence from getting in a third round of trumps. Declarer can ruff the spade return, ruff a diamond, ruff a spade and then play trumps to squeeze East in the red suits.

That is by no means the only possibility on this deal.

If declarer wins the first club in hand and plays a diamond at trick two, West will win and play a second trump. Declarer wins in dummy and plays the jack of spades. If West plays the ace declarer ruffs, ruffs a diamond, ruffs a spade and draws the last trump, at the same time squeezing East in three suits, for this will be the position:

	ª - © 9 2 ¨ J 7 6 § A K
ª Q 7 4 3 © 8 7 ¨ K § -		ª K © K J 6 4 ¨ A Q § -
	ª J 10 © A Q 10 5 3 ¨ - § -

A spade sets up a ruffing finesse, a heart gives declarer the suit via the double finesse and a diamond allows declarer to duck a diamond.

Best play is for West to refuse to cover the jack of spades. Now declarer must discard a diamond. East wins the king of spades and has no winning move. Suppose he plays a diamond. Declarer ruffs, plays a spade forcing West to cover, draws the last trump and can now arrive at eleven tricks via the combination of a heart to the ten and the ruffing spade finesse.