Deceptive Play

Ottawa Citizen – 16 Oct 1970

The deceptive play contained in today’s deal is of a recurring type. Its beauty is that it can never be a losing play, but can be (and frequently is) a winning play. The hand arose in a recent rubber bridge game in Washington. D.C.

Both sides vulnerable. South deals aa

Lead: club suit6

Had this deal arisen in an average bridge game, the play probably would have developed in the following fashion. Declarer would have put up dummy’s club suit10 on the opening lead, and it would have captured the trick.

Next would come the spade suitJ, and a finesse would be taken, losing to West’s king. West would now perceive the futility of continuing his club suit, since South would be known to possess both the ace and king. By a process of elimination, West would now shift to a low heart. The defenders would promptly cash four heart tricks, and declarer would incur a one trick set. The next deal would then be started, with not a word said about what might have been if South had played differently to the first trick.

When the deal occurred, our South declarer did put up the club suit10 on the open lead. But he did not allow the 10 to win. Instead, he captured the club suit10 with his own King!

He next entered dummy via the diamond king, and took the spade finesse, which lost to West’s king, West now took a long time before making his next lead.

Surely, thought West, declarer had started with exactly club suitAK doubleton, for had he possessed a low club, he would have won the opening lead with the board’s club suit10, instead of with his own king. And so, there being no attractive shift for West to make, he returned a club to drive out South’s presumed now singleton ace. To his surprise, the trick was captured by the board’s jack.

South’s “unnecessary” overtaking of the club suit10 with his king was a well designed stratagem: If the spade finesse lost, it would lose only to West. And West, reasoning that South had started with the doubleton club suitAK, might well continue with clubs. And so he did. Of course, if East had the spade king, then South would always fulfill his contract: three spades, four diamonds, and two clubs.

 

MAS DEL MISMO AUTOR

A King, a Shock, a World Title by Phillip Alder

What really happened at the table? Sitting West was Eddie Kantar....

National Bridge Team Championship China Taipei, 2012

More than 1000 bridge players participated of the event.

Taking Out Insurance By J. Becker

Only rarely does declarer choose a game or slam contract based on a 4-3 trump fit. This is ...

Two suited hand poor for defense By Alfred Sheinwold

If you want to know how old a woman is, ask her sister-in-law. If you want to know how good a bridge player is, ask his partner. I asked about George Rapee and got todays hand ...

Counting To Avoid a Guess

Today’s deal from a local club game provides a good lesson in declarer-play technique.

Franck Riehm elected as WBF President

The World Bridge Federation is pleased to announce the...

1st South American Online Mixed Teams Championship

All players belonging to any NBO affiliated to the WBF are welcome!

I Brazilian Online Bridge Festival 2020

Some of the best players in the world are Brazilians, and some of the most enthusiastic players too! Our Brazilian Online Festival has appeal to players of all levels. Your team will play in a friendly but competitive atmosphere, with very well-organized scoring and experienced Directors to ensure a pleasant experience for all.

WBF Robot Tournaments

Come and join the competition through our Providers, BBO, Funbridge and Ourgame, all offering you this great opportunity – we look forward to some challenging tournaments!”

The Endplay

An endplay (also throw-in), in bridge, is a tactical play where a defender is put on lead at a strategic moment, and then has to make a play that loses one or more tricks.

The Scissors Coup by John Brown

Scissors coup (or, Scissor coup, ) is a type of coup in bridge, so named because it cuts communications between defenders.

World Bridge Federation – Youth

The Championship is open to all players born on or after 1st January 1992 (Juniors & Girls) or born on or after 1st January 1997 (Youngsters) or born on or after 1st January 2002 (Kids) in good standing with their own NBOs.

Prevent a Ruff by Jon Brown

West led his singleton club, which dummy's king won. South read the lead as a singleton.

RELACIONADOS

CATEGORIAS POPULARES