Dubious Logic

Secrets and Apologies

It always produces something akin a to satisfied feeling when team-mates return to score up, apologetic for their action, but find that you've managed to flatten or (very occasionally) improve on their poor result. In a recent Gold Cup match, this deal caused a certain amount pained apology, yet there was little impact on the match.

South arrived in four spades and West led the heart queen. On hearing that this contract made I naturally asked "Did you get the ace of clubs?". Yes, of course they replied, attempting to regain some higher ground – that wasn't the problem. Declarer did play a club early but East won and played another heart. South took that, drew trumps and, searching for just one extra trick, had achieved a sort of elimination. The defence could not play another club as the game going trick was stranded in dummy. South played a few trumps reaching:

Needing three tricks, South led a diamond, West had to win. He could cash the heart knave but then he was at a loss. West apologised: he should have unblocked the heart winner – or discarded it. East apologised: he should not have thrown the diamond ten. Also, he said, he could have beaten the contract by playing a diamond when in with the club ace.

Well addressing those admirable conciliatory gestures in turn; had West had a small card in place of the heart queen, it's true, if the play had been same, that would have been sufficient. But South would surely have exhausted the hearts by playing one in the diagram – again the defence would have been without resource.

What about the discard of the diamond ten – an attempt to show a useful ten of hearts? Again, rather than play a diamond, South should try a heart first, that way he would be able to take advantage of West holding either K10x or Q10x, the nine forcing an honour and succeeding whenever West held three hearts. So, whilst not fatal as such, the discard took away a losing option. And lastly, winning a club and playing a diamond would have ensured a defeat – at least, as long as West unblocked the heart queen.

So how did I fare on this hand? Well, as per the preamble we didn't lose – much. Our auction was (South opening) 2♣ – 2♦; 2♠ – 3♣; 3NT. And that contract proved idiot proof. Well almost. I too received a heart lead and played a club to dummy, ducked by East. I now took advantaged of my extra trick and essayed the safety play of running the spade eight – that protected against six spades in one hand. But here it just lost an IMP. Fortunately nobody scrutinised the play at my table.

Published Saturday 18.Jun.2005