BRIDGE
Déjàvu
Andrew Robson
BORIS SCHAPIRO, Great Britain's octo- genarian ex-World Champion who is still playing competitive bridge, once conducted the following post-mortem with his team mates: he had just conceded 44 on a par- ticular hand and his team mates, playing the same hand, had thrown it in. 'Passed out! What was the auction?' he exclaimed.
I could hear Boris's words ringing in my ears when Forrester and I (we were North- South) threw in the following hand. The action occurred at the other table: Dealer South East-West Vulnerable The Bidding South West North East
pass 1* pass 1, 14 2V 34 4V 44 pass pass double
pass pass ' pass
After West decided (as I would) to open the bidding, North-South found their 4 fit and bid 44 over East-West's 4V. East, holding 11 points and facing an opening bid, doubled and West found the only opening lead to give the defence a chance of beating the contract. Deciding not to lead an unsupported ace or a trump, he led 4. East won +A and switched correctly to ♦ 8. West beat declarer's •J with ♦Q and cashed •A, felling declarer's •K. Realising that declarer as well as partner was now void in ♦5, he tried to cash VA. Disaster: Declarer trumped and claimed the remainder after drawing trumps. Can you spot how West can defeat the contract? Having taken his two ♦ tricks, he should realise that his partner is almost certain to have five Vs on the bidding — leaving declarer with a void. His only chance of beating the contract is to lead a third ♦, hoping partner has 4Q. Partner will trump the ♦ with it and set the con- tract.
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