BRIDGE
Your support helps us to tell the story
From reproductive rights to climate change to Big Tech, The Independent is on the ground when the story is developing. Whether it's investigating the financials of Elon Musk's pro-Trump PAC or producing our latest documentary, 'The A Word', which shines a light on the American women fighting for reproductive rights, we know how important it is to parse out the facts from the messaging.
At such a critical moment in US history, we need reporters on the ground. Your donation allows us to keep sending journalists to speak to both sides of the story.
The Independent is trusted by Americans across the entire political spectrum. And unlike many other quality news outlets, we choose not to lock Americans out of our reporting and analysis with paywalls. We believe quality journalism should be available to everyone, paid for by those who can afford it.
Your support makes all the difference.BY ALAN HIRON
MANY players remain faithful to rubber bridge, with an occasional teams game, and regard competing in a pairs event as altogether too fussy. "Who cares whether or not the opponents make an extra overtrick in a solid Three No-trumps?" they cry. They must miss a lot of fun!
All roads led to the normal contract of Three No-trumps by South against which West led the jack of diamonds. Now, looking at all four hands, what could possibly go wrong? Both major suits divide 3-3, the ace of spades is well placed, and even the club finesse (although not needed) is right. A completely flat board, you might think, with declarer collecting 11 easy tricks. This result was almost universal, but at one table South came to one trick less. It was not as though he had played particularly badly but he had fallen into a neat trap set by East.
After winning the diamond lead on the table, he led a low spade and East followed with the jack. Declarer won with his king and if, as seemed the case, East had started with either singleton jack or ace-jack alone, the right play to yield three tricks in the suit would be to finesse dummy's eight.
That is what declarer tried, and that is why he managed to make one trick fewer than anyone else to give East-West a well deserved top score. East's ruse is worth noting - at some time in the future it may make all the difference between winning and losing a rubber!
Join our commenting forum
Join thought-provoking conversations, follow other Independent readers and see their replies
Comments