Q&A Test Answers 04
Here is another one that has a 100% answer. It should be easy for anyone who can count but despite the
fact that the giveaway clue of “Precision 1C” should have told us everything, there were a number of
players who would still take a finesse that was certain to lose, and not take a finesse that was certain to
succeed!
Let me show you the full deal as it was at the time it was played some years ago
Dealer W NS Vul
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West is dealer, NS vulnerable; the bidding has been:
| South | West | North | East |
|---|---|---|---|
| - | 1 | 1 | Pass |
1 | 2 | 2 | Pass |
| 3 | Pass | 4 | Pass |
| Pass | Pass |
West’s 1C was alerted and explained as a PRECISION 1C 16+ high card points, any shape. East’s
pass, after partner’s 1H overcall, has been explained as 0-5. West leads the ACE OF DIAMONDS, East
follows with the three (‘reverse attitude’) and West continues with the king, then another diamond, East
producing the queen. Declarer ruffs.
Did you take notice of the bidding? West’s opening bid has been announced as “16+ HCP”. Where can
they be? AKJ of diamonds equals 8, plus KH equals 11. Even add two for the missing jacks and that
equals 13, so West must have the king of spades. That is simple maths and a very necessary part of
declarer play. When you know where all the points are, declarer play is much easier. It surprises me that
even when they knew that the trump finesse would lose to the king, many would still finesse! That is
the value of standard one school maths, adding to 16 should not be difficult, and what people are
taught in the very first bridge lesson is to count their points.
Let us now see how the hand should be played
After three rounds of diamonds, East producing the queen, declarer should be able to count to 16 and
know that all the remaining points are with West. Declarer should, after ruffing the third diamond, start
the show by leading the heart eight and letting it run! Why waste a trick by finessing the queen? Next,
lay down your ace of trumps. No, not because you are hoping to drop the singleton king but because
you intend to play another trump and let West win the king, which will put you in total control. It just
so happens that the singleton king does drop and you make an overtrick! Not using the information
available but playing on instinct can lead to disaster. Imagine losing the first two diamonds, the king
of trumps, and then not having the timing or entries to make the contract. Impossible? Count your tricks:
four trumps, two hearts, and three clubs. Highly unlikely as the cards lie, but if you fail to count,
anything is possible! An overtrick in an aggressively bid game, against a ‘big club’ is far more satisfying.
