Dubious Logic

More Tales of the ♦7

I've written about simultaneous pairs competitions before; how they evolved from a 'selected hands' basis to straightforward competitions over large fields with random deals, almost always raising funds for bridge organisations or good causes. The most recent event, that for Bridge Great Britain, claims it was hand dealt. My experience cast doubt on that; there were an eerie number of themes present. A light-hearted, rather than instructive example:

As Terence Reese once observed, the game does have its compensations for the poor card-holder; I became declarer in four hearts. South's one club was two-way; either a weak no-trump type or any 17HCP or more, the latter type exposed when he acted again. East aware that South and West shared the strength between them, selected the ♦Q as opening lead on the grounds that this might be her last chance to play through South. Sadly for her, it cost a tempo and I was able to establish a long diamond as my tenth trick.

Not any long diamond, but the ♦7 – the 'beer card'. The play timed itself and I scored it at trick thirteen to earn a drink from my partner. One might have some sympathy; after all was it not his brave handling of the auction that had got us to that good spot? Well…

Why East bid one then four is beyond me but people do – an approach that gives away much of the chance that the opponents misjudge and go to the five-level. South led a heart and I won and played another. Declarer forgot that trumps might be 3-0 and played the spade queen, South ducking – it was now too late to try to ruff a diamond. So he played another round of spades and South a third, North discarding hearts each time. A diamond was led from East to the eight, ten and queen and I played one back to the king. South couldn't stop and led the six to the third round, nine and ace. Declarer cashed spades slowly but eventually faced the ♦7 at trick thirteen, a winner. I wonder whose round it is?

Published Saturday 21.Oct.2006