He Fell on his Sword

by Mark Horton

In Roman times a soldier committed suicide by falling on his sword (see Anthony & Cleopatra.) That is not an everyday occurance at the bridge table, but on this deal from the semifinal between the teams from Stockholm and Plovdiv the Bulgarian declarer was involved in a form of suicide that is well known.

Board 23 - S/All
	ª - © 10 9 6 ¨ A K J 10 9 8 4 § A 6 4
ª J 10 6 5 © A Q J 4 ¨ 7 6 3 2 § J		ª K Q 8 7 © 3 ¨ Q 5 § K Q 9 8 5 3
	ª A 9 4 3 2 © K 8 7 5 2 ¨ - § 10 7 2

West	North	East	South
Karavainov	Bertheau	Trendafilov	Nystrom
			Pass
Pass	2¨	3§	Pass
Pass	3¨	All Pass

If East leads his singleton heart Three Diamonds can be defeated - but only at double dummy! The defenders play three rounds of hearts, East ruffs and must exit with a low club!! I think not. So, the contract was made and the real interest lies in the events at the other table:

West	North	East	South
Sylvan	Iporski	Sundelin	Kovatchev
			Pass
Pass	1¨	2§	2ª
Pass	3¨	Pass	3©
Pass	3NT	All Pass

South's optimistic bidding placed his partner in a perilous position, but the gods were smiling. However, it was still up to declarer to take advantage of his good fortune.

East led the king of clubs and declarer won in hand and, after crossing his fingers, embarked on the diamonds. East's queen was a happy sight and declarer carried on with the suit to reach this position:

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

The run of the diamonds had started to put dummy under pressure.

With seven tricks in the bag the simple play is a club towards the ten. East can win, but declarer must make two more tricks whatever happens.

However, declarer cashed the last diamond and discarded a heart from dummy. He was not quite past the Rubicon, and would still have been okay if he had now played a heart , as West will have to give dummy the ace of spades at the end, but he played a club and East could win and play a heart, giving West the last four tricks.