BRIDGE
Unhappy start
Andrew Robson
MY PARTNER passed my 2+ opening bid in a recent tournament. She had misheard my bid and thought I had opened 1+. A 2+ opening bid shows any hand wishing to play in game opposite nothing and doesn't say anything about clubs, so this was most unfortunate. The opposition might have been generous and let her take her bid again, but they were ruthless and the open- ing lead was quick arriving. Revenge took the sweetest form: Dealer South Neither Side Vulnerable The Bidding South West North East 2+ Pass Pass(!) Pass West led V8, which I won in hand and led the +J which East won with the king to play 44; I tried the Q, but West won and returned a diamond; I won with the *A and led +10. Weft erred by ducking — if he wins, then I have no way to draw a third round of trumps and the remaining four defensive trumps will all make tricks. I over- took the +10 with the Q to lead a third round. West won the +9, gave partner a diamond ruff and received a spade ruff but I could claim the remainder. I had scrambled home in 2+ losing four trumps and •K. It seemed a pyhrric victory as 44 seemed cer- tain to succeed — indeed our team-mates were defending 44 on the same deal.
West attacked with the *A opening lead — it is not usually a good idea to lead aces, but North-South had sniffed at slam, so West felt aggressive tactics were called for. West played a second club which East won to fire back a third club. Everyone at the table assumed West had no clubs left that he had led 'high-low' in clubs to get a third round ruff. Declarer therefore ruffed the third club with the 4 Q. Now he had to lose a trump trick and •K. Our team had made the unlikely contract of 2* at one table, and defeated 44 at the other.
Previous page
