Bridge - The Scotsman 09/08/2012

Published on 09/08/2012 03:36

Thursday’s puzzle...

One of the basic rules of defence is “Third Hand High, Second Hand Low”. Like all bridge maxims, there are exceptions. This example comes from the Pairs at the European Open Championships in Poznan.

When partner showed hearts and clubs, South might use the fourth suit to investigate a possible no-trump contract, but she decided her spades were good enough not to require support. West had a natural lead in the queen of the unbid suit. East won the ace of diamonds and switched to a trump. Declarer had ten top winners, and at teams the hand has no real interest, but at pairs declarer hoped to make an overtrick. Perhaps the club finesse would work, but there was no hurry to try that. A better plan was to try to establish the heart suit. So after drawing trump, South led a heart. If West routinely plays the eight declarer covers with the jack, forcing East to win the king. He returns a safe diamond, but declarer wins the king and plays ace of hearts, heart ruff to establish a winner on which to discard his potential club loser. 11 tricks mean a top score for declarer.

At one table the French international, Pierre Adad sat West. When the first heart was led, he foiled declarer’s plan with a Second Hand High play of the queen of hearts. If that is ducked he can switch to a club; if declarer wins the ace it is no longer possible to establish a heart for a discard.