Dubious Logic

Touching Honours

There are some plays that seem so 'natural' that they are hard to resist. Some of this reinforcement is useful; it abbreviates our thinking and allows us concentrate further along a line of analysis, relieving us of having to go back to first principles every time. But we should always be wary of changing situations. In defence we should always be aware that both hands are unknown to declarer and the defence can make good use of that. Top of touching honours is not always good bridge:

South reached fours spades and West led their diamond singleton to East's ace. The first obstacle to avoid was leading the diamond knave back leaving a simple diamond finesse – don't be smug, I know it happened at least once. Now, on the continuation of the seven, South should realise that there is no point in going up with an honour. The missing cards are the knave and ten – it is nigh on inconceivable that the lead was from J6, 106 or J106. However South played an honour and West ruffed.

At trick three, West erred with the club honour combination, leading an honour. With partner holding the knave, surely this was no cost? Not so. South recovered well from his earlier error by drawing trumps and playing towards the club ten, ducking to East's knave. A diamond was continued, South won and this was the position when he played his last spade:

West had to keep the club queen and parted with a heart, dummy then threw the ten. East was now protecting diamonds and hearts. So, East had to play low from both diamond honours to keep the defence in the game, South had to play low from his honours in the same suit to ensure the contract and West had to play low from her club honours to defeat the game. South could not duck a club at trick three for fear of another diamond ruff and later, West could play two top clubs to take that suit of the equation defeating the squeeze that arose at the table.

Published Saturday 3.Jun.2006