Bridge

Published on Sunday 8 November 2009 21:40

JOHN Matheson and Willie Coyle, two of Scotland's all-time greats, have re-formed a formidable partnership at Senior level. They finished second in the Butler scores at the European Senior Championships in 2008 in Pau, and at the recent Lederer Invitational teams, playing in Bernard Teltscher's team, they walked off with the prize for the best-defended hand.

East-West played five-card majors, and 2H was a three-card raise. Against 4H Coyle led the three of clubs (playing third and fifth leads) and declarer won the ace. He tried the king of hearts, but Matheson knew better than to take that. If he wins he gives declarer a late entry to dummy with the ten of trump, making it easier for him to take finesses. When the king scored, declarer led a low heart to the queen. Coyle persevered with the queen of clubs to dummy's king. This was declarer's one opportunity to lead from dummy, so he ran the queen of spades. If North wins this, the third defensive trick, declarer can reach dummy with the third round of spades to take the diamond finesse. Coyle ducked without a flicker, and declarer was fooled into repeating the finesse. When this lost to the king the spades were dead, and declarer lost a diamond to Matheson's king.

If declarer even suspects that North has ducked the king of spades, he should switch to the diamond finesse. If that fails, he will still make his game if either North or South has the doubleton king of spades.