Dubious Logic

Grandstanding?

It affects some players more than others, and some, even, to their complete ruin, but the lure of making a spectacular bid or play is there in all of us. More usually this occurs in the auction where pure wish fulfilment sets in and, mainly in the slam zone, the afflicted get a rush of blood to the head and cannot stop themselves.

There used to be a phrase, 'Master bid', that was slightly derogatory. You don't hear it so much these days but it was usually reserved for partner-punishing actions - maybe we live in kinder times. Perhaps, but over the generations bidding has improved at the grass roots. Moreover the opportunity for at the table invention has been lost to various conventions. In the play however, the headline grabbing play is still possible and writers and journalists only make the situation worse. Lets say you defend this hand:

You lead a club, low, queen from partner, ace from South. At trick two declarer goes after spades, ace and small, what do you play?

Well, if you've still got the spade king in your hand at trick three you cannot beat this contract. Declarer has the ace-king of diamonds, the ace-knave of clubs and the ace of hearts. Four tricks in spades and five outside. You have to get partner in to lead a club and the knave of spades is close to your only hope. Surely declarer hasn't ace-knave-low of spades as he'd have preferred four spades with that holding.

Of course, you will regret playing your king under the ace when declarer has a hand like this one:

But are you going to be afraid of your own shadow?

Forthcoming Events

18 March: SCBA Club Teams of Four, Thornaway Cup.

13-15 April: Norfolk Congress, Kings Lynn. Entries: Mrs S Warner, Tel: 01553 675816

22 April: SCBA Championship Pairs Final

9 May: SCBA Pivot Teams. Entries to Jyl Marsh, Tel: 01206 322546

13 May: Clare Swiss Pairs

20 May: SCBA AGM and Open Pairs

Published Saturday 24.Mar.2007