A little larceny can be profitable

Press, 18 April 1979, Page 17

A little larceny can be profitable

Most of us have a sneaking admiration for the confidence trickster, sometimes even when he has the better of us. The bridge table gives him plenty of opportunities. This deal caused a considerable amount of discussion during a keenly fought match between Britain and France some years ago: A AJB6 V 2 ♦ J7§2 A KQS4 ' W. E. A Q2 A 93 . V 054 V K 983. ♦ A 8643 ♦Q 10 A J 32 A 10 9876 S. A K 10 7 54 V AJ 1076 ♦ K 9 A A

Both sides reached six spades played by South. The British West wisely cashed his ace of diamonds and continued the ' suit after seeing his partner’s 10. The queen lost to the declarer’s king and all now depended on picking up the missing queen of spades. Since East was marked with a shortage in diamonds, he was more likely to be longer in spades so South crossed to the ace apd led the six to the 10 in his hand — one down. When the board was replayed at the other table, the first two leads were the same, but then the British declarer made the ace of hearts and ruffed a heart on the table. Now he led the jack of diamonds from dummy, giving the appearance of a man who

needed a quick discard from his hand. East fell into the trap. He ruffed with the three of spades, and it was safe for the declarer t,o overruff, and cash the ace and

king of trumps dropping the queen. The rest was easy. One of South’s losing hearts could again be ruffed in dummy and the king and queen of clubs allowed him to discard the other two. No doubt the French East was told at some length by his team-mates that if the declarer really did need a discard on the jack of diamonds he would

have drawn the outstanding trumps first. Sometimes, however, the situation does not lend itself to very clear analysis. Both partners overbid to a shaky game on this hand from rubber bridge: A 83 V 654 ♦ KQ J 10 4 A KB3 W E. A KJ7 4 2 A 9 6 5 V K J 8 7 V A 9 2 ♦A ♦ 9876 AQIO AJ964 S. A AQ 10 V Q 103 ♦ 532 AA7 5 2 With West the dealer, the auction was; W N. E. S. IA No No INI No 3NT All Pass Probably South thought he was showing a weakish balanced hand, while his partner thought it was a strong no-trump. West made his natural lead of the four of spades, and the declarer cunningly captured East’s nine with the queen, reasoning that if he took the trick cheaply with the 10 West would certainly not continue with the suit when he had the opportunity.

A low diamond was led, putting West on lead again. Convinced his partner had the 10 of spades, he continued with the two of spades and it was all over. Three tricks in spades, four in diamonds and the another three no-trump contract had been made up to nine in all, and yet