Before we move on to another topic, there were a couple of comments and questions arising. One reader commented “I prefer Norma’s solution to Johnny’s, because Johnny’s is putting all the eggs in the one basket.” That is not so, because playing two top spades will almost certainly make no difference to the play IF the queen does not drop. But if it does, then playing on clubs ensures nine tricks. Not only that, it will give declarer a good idea which minor suit he should continue with after the spades, because the discards on the last two spades will tell declarer a lot. I then added that unless defenders lie in their discards, declarer will know which minor suit ace East holds. For instance, if East has the ace of diamonds, East will signal in that suit, or, as happens in the deal that we have here, East will discard a diamond on the third spade. But another diamond discard, if declarer is counting, will now make playing on diamonds not only safe but guaranteed to produce an overtrick. Let’s look again:
Dealer E NS Vul
When the spade suit is run, not only will East signal discouragement in diamonds, East will no doubt discard a second diamond, greedily hanging on to his hearts, now making it perfectly safe to play on diamonds and no doubt make an overtrick. Ideally, a good defender as East will lie with the first discard, suggesting that he has the diamond ace, but in our deal that will mean discarding a diamond (whether you play standard attitude or reverse). Then, if declarer is confident that the discard has been an honest one, playing on diamonds, as it turns out, would yield an overtrick. Yes, sometimes if it is safe enough, overtricks do matter, many a match has been one by 1 IMP. As for lying, that doesn’t always pay off.
Now, when I mentioned ‘lying’, my correspondent asked if bridge players are allowed to lie! Of course they are, that is part of the game. Telling a lie during the play of a hand is an art that everyone should cultivate and make use of. Lies by declarer as well as defenders can play a big part in the game. This is totally different to telling blatant lies in the bidding, which are politely known as ‘psyches’ and should be, as far as I am concerned, completely banned and eradicated from the game. We may learn a bit more about ‘lying’ in later issues of What and Why.
Now for our new problem.
You are South and declarer after the following bidding sequence:
Match Points; Dealer West, All Vul
| South | West | North | East |
|---|
2 | Pass | 3 | 3 |
|
| Pass | 4 | Pass | Pass |
|
| Pass | | | |
2D was a standard ‘weak two’.
When West leads the ace of diamonds, this is what you see:
On the DA, East signals encouragement and West continues, East producing the jack (if East’s first card was the two, or the queen if East’s first card was the jack). Plan your play. What are your chances and how do you hope to improve on them?
AJ87
KJ65