Brilliancy Uncovered
The International Bridge Press Association has many awards for excellence but perhaps the one for defence is too all encompassing and should be subdivided with a separate one for opening leads – certainly one of the hardest skills to master.
The following deal would be a worthy contender but it almost passed into oblivion when it was reported in an earlier edition of the Bulletin.
|
Dealer West, E/W Vul.
|
| |
♠ 10 7
♥ -
♦ K 9 8 6
♣ A Q 9 8 7 4 3 |
♠ 9 8 4 2
♥ 10 8 4
♦ J 10 7 2
♣ K 6 |
 |
♠ Q J 3
♥ Q 7 5 2
♦ Q 5 4 3
♣ 10 5 |
| |
♠ A K 6 5
♥ A K J 9 6 3
♦ A
♣ J 2 |
| West |
North |
East |
South |
| assarinho |
L. Goldberg |
Panadero |
U-B. Goldberg |
| Pass |
2♣ |
Pass |
3♥ |
| Pass |
3NT |
Pass |
4♦ |
| Pass |
4♥ |
Pass |
4NT |
| Pass |
5♦ |
Pass |
5♠ |
| Pass |
6♥ |
All Pass |
|
North/South reached a poor contract, but one that had some chances should declarer take a winning view in the trump suit. However, West, Joao Passarinho found the only lead to ensure that the contract was bound to fail when he placed the six of clubs on the table.
Declarer ran the opening lead to the jack and cashed the top trumps.
Our reporter suggested that the winning line now is to play the jack of hearts, under which West’s ten will drop. However, East wins and plays a second club, killing dummy and ensuring the defeat of the contract.
If West leads any other suit declarer has only to guess the trumps suit to make the contract.
Under Starter’s Orders
The first board of any major championship is always an exciting moment and I’m sure most players are hoping not to be put on the spot. This was fate had in store for the players in the Open series when play got under way on Friday evening:
| Board 1. Dealer North. None Vul. |
| |
♠ K 9 6 4
♥ 4
♦ A Q 5 2
♣ 8 6 5 2 |
♠ A J 10 3 2
♥ J 9 5 3
♦ 8 4
♣ J 9 |
|
♠ 5
♥ A K 8
♦ J 9 7 6
♣ A Q 10 7 4 |
| |
♠ Q 8 7
♥ Q 10 7 6 2
♦ K 10 3
♣ K 3 |
Well, it does not look too testing, does it?
When Wolfarth – recent winners of the English Spring Foursomes – met the number one team from the Netherlands, Team Orange, the Anglo/Bulgarian side scored an effortless +120 in one room, making 1NT with an overtrick when South led a heart.
Let’s move to the other room:
| West |
North |
East |
South |
| Bakkeren |
Isporski |
Bertens |
Al-Shati |
| |
Pass |
1♣* |
1♥ |
| Dble* |
Pass* |
1NT |
All Pass |
If you are familiar with the Rosenkrantz double you will know that North denied a heart honour or length in the suit with his second pass. That was enough for South to reject a heart lead in favour of the eight of spades. Declarer, taking a simple view, put up the ace of spades and tried the club finesse. When that lost the defence was deadly, North/South rapidly collecting one club, two spades and four diamonds for +50 and 5 IMPs.
South had passed his first test, but one could not say the same for declarer. Suppose he tries the jack of spades at trick one? North wins and switches to a diamond (nothing else is better.) The defenders can cash four tricks but what does North do next? A spade is out of the question, and if he plays a heart declarer wins, and simply plays a low club. If he plays a club instead declarer simply plays low. After South’s overcall are we being unkind to suggest that this should not have been impossible for declarer to find – especially such a redoubtable one! |
