Dubious Logic

Reading the Auction - Suffolk v Cambs and Hunts (2)

The tournament game is dotted with light and aggressive actions in the auction. Players of past eras claim that these gain little: they seldom change the outcome and so only help the side that declares by revealing distribution. Paradoxically however, as tactics have required less and less in the way of high card strength, placing the cards has become more difficult. The side that is out-gunned still runs the risk that declarer will capitalise on their intervention if the initial disruption doesn't bite, but he may have to work at it. This was a deal from the last county match, game all:

North-South retired after managing to disturb their opponents from the comfort of the two level. South led the club queen, how do you see the play going?

I expect you spotted the easy theme; South for her take-out double is likely to be short in spades – so a finesse is marked. After cashing another top club I did try that only to lose to the queen doubleton. Diamonds were next, king and another, North winning the defence's third and fourth trick before playing his last diamond leaving me with a losing heart. The key to this hand was North's two no-trumps. Asking initially to pick from the minors, it was only when he had exactly a 3=4=2=4 hand (planning to convert 3♦ to 3♥) that playing on diamonds for more information would have courted danger. Here it would have shown South to be short and tip back the odds in favour of playing for spades 2-2.

In the second hand from the same match you have done well in the auction to overcome intervention; this time, no-one is vulnerable:

North leads the five of diamonds, what does the auction tell you?

South's inaction over diamonds and keenness to sacrifice over spades hints at her being short in spades and holding strength in diamonds – the lead indicates that North might be short there too. One club loser goes on the diamond ace and you must ruff the other but after that you must play with circumspection. If trumps are 3-2 there is no difficulty – you can surrender a heart to the queen – but be wary of four with North.

The prudent line is to overcome your natural inclinations and play a spade to the ace and back to the queen. If trumps divide, then fine, if North shows up with four spades in addition to his long clubs, you can give yourself the best chance of picking up the hearts by playing the ten from dummy on the first round, retaining the ace for a later finesse of the nine if necessary. As you can expect, there would be no story had the trouble not been worthwhile; South held ♠9 ♥Q932 ♦KQ832 ♣874.

Published Saturday 28.Jan.2006