Keeping focus

By now we know that the events of the 11th of September have consequences in all aspects of our lives. It became quickly apparent that a responsible decision concerning the world championship this month would have to be made. Faced with understandable uncertainty over travel to its original location in Bali, the World Bridge Federation has acted sensibly and positively. The championships will now take place in Paris, only a few days later than planned, at the end of this month. It will a tempting prospect to take a short train journey over to the French capital to watch some top class bridge – I will post dates when they are formalised.

A relief in some senses to get to a hand; I remembered this when delving through some old records on the desk, from Brighton this year;

Game All,
Dealer North
  • J75432
  • K876
  • 6
  • 102
  • ---
  • AQ943
  • K109753
  • 83
N
W
E
S
  • K1098
  • 105
  • AJ4
  • KJ54
  • AQ6
  • J2
  • Q82
  • AQ976

It was certainly not clear in the auction which, if any, game contract for East-West might play well. In the end we settled for five diamonds, our system accidentally placing declarership with East. South, who had overcalled in clubs, doubled and led the knave of hearts. Although the manoeuvre is well known I could see nothing better than rising with the ace and immediately leading a small heart from dummy. North took her time, very conscious of giving me the suit when her partner had led from J102. Eventually she played low. Of course the whole table knew the situation when the ten appeared from the closed hand.

I was now home if trumps were 2-2, accordingly I played ace and another to the king without success. I established the hearts with a ruffing finesse, South declined to ruff or over-ruff so I conceded a trump to him and the situation became:

  • J7
  • ---
  • ---
  • 102
  • ---
  • ---
  • 109
  • 83
N
W
E
S
  • K10
  • ---
  • ---
  • KJ
  • AQ
  • ---
  • ---
  • AQ

South played ace and another club and the doubled game was there. All he had to do was put the ace of spades on the table and East was without recourse. He was blinded by his concern – not bitterness on this occasion – for his partner's earlier miscalculation. As declarer I was not without fault either: after my coup in the heart suit, had a I ruffed a spade, and played a top heart, I would not have needed South's help (but the trump finesse it's true). Emotion, whatever form it takes, is a great distraction at the table.

Published Saturday 6.Oct.2001