SpadeHeart 
 DiamondClub
Release 2.19q
Recent Updates
Home Page
Mar 29, 2024 09:29 EDT
Mentoring
Mar 29, 2024 09:22 EDT
Minutes
Mar 24, 2024 11:16 EDT
Lessons
Feb 29, 2024 09:29 EST
0 0 0 0 0 0
Pages viewed in 2024

Jacksonville School of Bridge
3353 Washburn Rd.
Jacksonville, FL 32250
Phone: 904-223-3837

Email us using the Contact Us form in the left hand menu.

Bridge Bites

BRIDGE BITES              from The American Contract Bridge League

 

DELIGHTFUL DECEPTION                                     By: Brian Gunnell

 

The game of bridge is enriched by many beautiful plays and stratagems, and we all love to talk about our latest Trump Coup or Double Squeeze.  But even that pales into insignificance when compared to the fun we get from hoodwinking the opponents with a deceptive play.  There’s nothing a bridge player enjoys more than a little bit of larceny!

 

 

♠ 652

♥ 874

♦ A654

♣ A64

 

♠ AKJ

♥ 6532

♦ JT9

♣ 987

         North

 

West            East

 

        South

♠ 43

♥ QT9

♦ Q873

♣ JT53

 

♠ QT987

♥ AKJ

♦ K2

♣ KQ2

 

The N-S auction goes 1♠-2♠-4♠.  West leads ♦J and when Dummy goes down it’s apparent that the success of the contract depends upon not losing three Spades and one Heart.  It’s a simple hand, wouldn’t you say?  Declarer wins the Diamond lead in Dummy, and finesses the ♠T, losing to West’s Jack.  Oh, well, now there are three sure trump losers and Declarer uses Dummy’s sole remaining entry to take the Heart finesse.  That works, and it’s 10 tricks for Declarer, losing just three trumps.

Rewind!  That was easy for Declarer, but only because West made it so.  On the first round of trumps, when Declarer finessed the ♠T, a more wily West would have played the Ace (or King)!  This doesn’t cost anything as West still scores three trump tricks eventually.  Now, a bamboozled Declarer crosses to Dummy for the last time and repeats the Spade finesse (which he “knows” will work), rather than take the Heart finesse (which may not work).  Beating 4♠ by one trick?  A fine result!  The look on Declarer’s face when the second Spade finesse loses?  Priceless!

 

Visit www.acbl.org for more about the fascinating game of bridge or email marketing@acbl.org

 

Previous Bridge Bites

As Brian Gunnell's articles appear, members of the club will be able to link to previous issues.  They are fun to read and very instructive.

Sherlock.pdf

Too Easy.pdf

The Power of Tens.pdf

Wake Up Call.pdf

Counting Points.pdf