BRIDGE
Essential logic
Andrew Robson
PEOPLE WHO ask me what is the most essential quality required to become a good bridge player receive an unhesitating reply: a logical mind. The following slam contract will only be made by those whose logical processes are fully intact.
Dealer North East-West Vulnerable
The Bidding North East South West
1♦ Pass 1+ Pass
1NT Pass 3♦ Pass 3+ Pass 5+ Pass 6+ All Pass
The aggressive slam contract was reached when South made the slight over- bid of 54 at his third turn. West irritatingly led the KV; declarer won and played the two top spades. Needing to dispose of both his hearts before the opponents trumped, declarer had to play his minor suit winners. It seems natural to start with clubs holding less of them than diamonds, the opponents would be more likely to follow to all three rounds. But look more deeply: you have no chance of succeeding unless the opponent with the third trump has three diamonds, so it costs nothing to play three rounds of diamonds before playing clubs. When West discards on the third diamond, declarer can play dummy's fourth diamond, throwing his first heart loser. Now he can play the clubs (leading the king first and overtaking the queen with dummy's ace); East can trump the Jul►, but it's too late — declarer's second heart disappears on the same trick and the contract is made. Playing clubs before dia- monds is an easy trap to fall into — it can never gain and results in failure when East trumps the third club.
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