Howlers

At a recent teaching session on declarer play I used examples from actual play, many from the recent European Championships. Whilst not setting out to embarrass the internationals, I included a few deals where the play had been less than optimal. This was partly because they were memorable and partly to make the audience feel a little better that even experts nod.

I was somewhat taken aback by the surprise the audience showed. It transpired they did expect 'experts' to play flawlessly and that simple errors were the sole prerogative of the club player. The theme was trump management and, after being lectured about losing control, this deal caused an audible intake of breath; from England v Russia, EW Vul.

  • A6
  • AK1075
  • J104
  • 742
N
W
E
S
  • 93
  • J63
  • AKQ8
  • K965
West
North
East
South
Tatarkin
Bakhshi
Voronov
Gold
Pass
1
2
X
Pass
2NT
Pass
3*
Pass
4
All Pass

North led the spade king taken by West. Declarer now played ace, king of trumps discovering South started with Q942. He then effectively resigned by playing a third round to South's queen who, as expected continued spades to force declarer. When he drew the last trump declarer had no more himself and could only take nine tricks. What happened?

I surmise he placed the club ace in the South hand and thought he could never make the contract and was "playing for one off". He must have been mortified to discover that North had that card and ten tricks were there even after his dangerous play of both top hearts (four hearts, four diamonds, one club, one spade) by playing a club early. In other matches declarers took the heart finesse and had no trouble coming to ten (or eleven) tricks.

This was another that provoked a reaction; from England v Italy, None Vul.

  • AK63
  • AKJ854
  • AQ10
  • ---
N
W
E
S
  • 8
  • Q1073
  • 972
  • Q10976
West
North
East
South
Lauria
Bakhshi
Versace
Gold
1
Pass
31
32
3
Pass
4
Pass
6
All Pass

1. Four-card heart raise, "6-9 HCP"
2. Two suited, spades and another

Lorenzo Lauria arrived in the good slam and received a low spade lead. He took a second top spade pitching a diamond and ruffed a spade, North following. Then, unaccountably because he still had to lose a diamond trick to clear the way for a ruff in that suit, he played a trump…

Realising his mistake he led a diamond to the queen but North won and played a second round of trumps; there was now just one heart left in dummy for two losers in the West hand, despairingly he tried another diamond finesse. West was furious with himself, the online commentator quipped at the beginning of the next board, "[Lauria] slammed down this pass so hard even the neighbours must have heard it".

I would certainly not dare ask him but my guess is that because he only needed three ruffs in East he knew he could afford one round of trumps, that is afford for the defence to play one. But he got internally confused and took one himself.

Experts are not immune to bouts of fatalism or momentary lapses – just a little less prone to them.

Published Saturday 16.Jul.2016