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.IT WAS Terence Treese who proffered the advice that, when defending against Three No-trumps, you should not be in a hurry to cash your side's fourth trick unless you could see where the fifth was coming from. It was Sam Leckie, the celebrated Scottish international, who illustrated the idea (from the wrong seat) on this deal.
The bidding was simple: Sam, as South, opened One No-trump, North raised to game and West led the ten of spades against Three No-trumps.
After winning in dummy, declarer ran the seven of hearts to West's jack. He won the next spade on the table and took another heart finesse to lose to West's queen. A third spade was won in hand and another heart lost to the ace.
You or I might have cashed the 13th spade now (was there really any hope of getting in later?) which would have forced declarer to take a successful diamond finesse for his contract, but West ref-rained and switched to a low club. South won East's jack with his king, cashed his long heart, and tested the clubs. When West proved to have four it became manifest (to Sam, at any rate) that West's original distribution was 3-3-3-4. He exited with the fourth club and waited complacently for a diamond lead from West.
It came, but only after West had taken the setting trick with the seven of spades.
Join our commenting forum
Join thought-provoking conversations, follow other Independent readers and see their replies
Comments