| 9 Never? Ask the Blue Team! |
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Well you wouldn't expect the Italian Blue Team which dominated world-class Bridge for over two decades to bid timidly would you? Sitting South is The Blue Team's Camillo Pabis-Ticci. North's Pass over 7♣ is forcing so he has a choice between Double and 7♥ . Which would you choose and why?
He chose to bid 7♥ and the deciding factor was that although he could not be certain that 7♥ would make a Vulnerable Grand Slam Bonus was too much to give up compared to a non-vulnerable penalty in 7♣ X.
West led the ♦ 2. It looks like your contract depends on not losing a Spade trick. Do you play for the drop (2-2) or play for a singleton honour in one hand and drop that before finessing on the second round?
Or is there a better way?
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| Show Answer |
The trick is to delay the decision whilst you find out what you can about the hand ( a so-called 'discovery' play).
Winning the ♦ A Camillo ruffed a second round of Diamonds with E/W both following. He could get back to Dummy by ruffing the ♣ 6 or playing a Heart. Since ruffing the ♣ 6 would tell him nothing about E/W's distribution he played ♥ 5 to the ♥ A and West showed out of Hearts. Now he ruffed a third round of Diamonds (East following). Then returned to Dummy via the ♥ 10 before ruffing a fourth round of Diamonds (East following again) then drawing the last Trump.
Camillo now knew how many Spades East had. Do you?
East's 2♣ overcall showed at least five Clubs and he has since turned up with four Diamonds and three Hearts. So he has at most one Spade.
Camillo has no choice but to hope it is an honour (it turns out to be the ♠ J!) and play the ♠ A before finessing in Spades on the next round to bring home the Grand Slam. |
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