MADEIRA
BRIDGE
Wishful thinking
Andrew Robson
Dealer East Both Vulnerable CARD PLACING by assumption, or wish- ful thinking, is an important logical concept in bridge. Here is an example of such rea- soning: 'I won't make this contract unless West has 4K. I must therefore assume he holds it. But if West holds 4K, East has to hold VA because West would have responded to partner's opening bid with both 4K and VA.' You must play East for VA. If West proves to have it, then East must have 4K and your contract is unmak- able anyway. This logic can lead to an extra undertrick, but, if your contract is makable, you will make it.
South reached 44 after East had opened a 12-14 point 1NT, and West led ♦7 — sec- ond top of 'rubbish'. East won ♦Q and led the ace and king, South trumping the third ♦ . Superficially it would appear normal to finesse East for 4Q — he opened 1NT. But South looked more deeply and realised that he had no chance of making 44 unless East had +A — if West had +A he would lose two + tricks. Placing +A in East's hand, he could count 13 of East's points (•AKQ and +A). There would be no room for 4Q in additon, or he would have too many points to open 1NT. At trick four, there- fore, South led a low 4 and played dummy's 9. When 49 won, he could draw the remaining trumps and lead +s twice from dummy towards his king-queen to make his contract. Had 49 lost to the queen, South would know that West had +A and that his contract was doomed whichever opponent he played for 4Q. He would be two down instead of one down a small price to pay. South 24 44 The Bidding West North East
1NT (12-14) Pass 34 Pass All pass
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