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“HIGH FIVE”

The ace is the highest card of a bridge pack where we do not allow any jokers or give special privileges to bowers. However, we all know how important those little cards at the bottom end of a pack can be. I was rather amused by the ending which occurred on the following board in a recent Pairs event on BBO.  

     

 

Which 7 tricks did the defence score?

The opening lead? You decide what you would have led.

In what was a part-score deal, South was a tad unlucky to run into a 2-level penalty double. One could be a little critical of North’s 1NT bid and South’s competitive 2 call because of lack of aces and rather soft values and in South’s case, poor shape. However, East-West were about to collect a likely 130 in their club part-score. So, even -100 in 2 would be good for North-South.

However, the double was unwelcome news. West had been waiting for such a development with their pass of 1. They got their wish.

How many down should 2x be? The 10 should hold the first trick, though holding the 9, there might be merit in declarer covering, although South had no deep losers in side suits. After 10, West can switch to a club with South winning the K on the first round.

Knowing there will be a bad break in trumps, South would like a couple of heart tricks and so could lead J which West will win to lead a second club. East takes A and K, with West discarding a heart. Four tricks so far for the defence with the rest having to come from trumps.

East can play A forcing a ruff. We will assume South ruffs with 7. West does best not to overruff but to discard their remaining heart. Next comes K which should also be ducked to be followed by 2 towards dummy’s 8. West takes 10 and plays a third club ruffed by 9.

West has  A54 left, declarer on lead with QJ and a high heart. The defence must make two more tricks to add to the 5 already taken. That is down 2, a nice + 500 for East-West.

In reality

However, at the table, the play did not quite go that way. Well, the first six tricks did, 10, club ducked, Q taken by ace and then a second round of clubs to the ace. Next came the KA with declarer ruffing with 7 but West overruffing with 10. West exited their remaining heart to the jack.

Next came K taken by the A with West giving declarer a ruff and discard by playing a club. A little unwisely, declarer ruffed with 8 in dummy, discarding their remaining heart from hand.

South held  QJ92 and West  543 and a club. Declarer had to play a red card from dummy and rather cursed the fact that they still held that little 2!

So, out came a heart and a ruff with 9. There followed a rather hopeful claim from the declarer for the last three tricks. “Claim rejected” came the unwelcome news for South. At trick 13, the 2 lost rather ingloriously to the 5 or if West had a real sense of the macabre and discarded their high spades (like the 4 and 5!), the loss would be to the 3! Down 2…-500 but not quite the way it was supposed to be!

So, did you pick that the 7 defensive tricks were 10 and K, A, A A10 and  5 (or 3) but the last not by ruffing and indeed by following suit? If so, I suspect you were at the table when it happened! 

 

South’s jump to game is a little surprising from a hand that had passed your Weak 2 opening.

Your partner leads J which holds the first trick. Partner continues with 5 which you win with A. Unfortunately, you do not see the K appear! Which card do you play to trick 3?

Sunday will reveal all…

Richard Solomon

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