Page 5 - ABF Newsletter October 2024

One of the books in the Master Bridge series by Ter- ence Reese and Roger Trezel was entitled When to Duck, When to Win. With that in mind, look at this deal from the knockout stages:
R16: Shree Cement vs Wham.
Board 2. Dealer East. North-South vulnerable.
]92 [QJ843 }K4 {AQ52
]843 ]AQJ6
to those that rely on the application of science (not least because they are more readily understandable to most players).
Here is an example from the Teams final:
Final: Wham vs Shourie.
Board 23. Dealer South. Both sides vulnerable.
]832 [KQ964 }K5 {953
]Q97 ]A
[72
} A Q J 10 9 3 {KJ
[ A K 10 } 7 6
{ 10 9 8 4
[— }AQ863 {107642
[ 10 7 5 3 2 } J 10 4 {AKQ8
WEST Brown
2NT 1 3NT
1. Diamonds. 2. No fit.
NORTH Bapat
pass all pass
EAST SOUTH Whibley Bahuguna
1NT pass 3{ 2 pass
WEST NORTH EAST Kranyak Hung Demuy
pass 3] dbl 4NT pass 5{
SOUTH Hans
2] pass all pass
] K 10 7 5 [965 }852 {763
] K J 10 6 5 4 [AJ8 }972
{J
South led the ]5 and declarer won with the ]Q and played the }6 for the two, queen and king, North returning the [8.
Declarer won with the [A and looking for overtricks tried a club to the king. North won and continued with the [Q and declarer won, cashed dummy’s dia- monds and then played a spade to the ace for +400.
When South chose to disregard Meckstroth’s Law, West was able to jump to 4NT, but East did not look beyond game.
South led the ]J and declarer won, drew trumps and took a diamond finesse, claiming when it lost, +600.
In the other room:
WEST NORTH Goenka Hung
1} 1[ 3NT all pass
EAST SOUTH Bagadia Hans
1{ pass 1NT pass
In the other room:
WEST NORTH EAST Brown Hurd Whibley
pass 2] dbl 4NT pass 6{
SOUTH Bathurst
1]
3]
all pass
Here South led the [5 for the two, jack and king and declarer continued with a diamond to South’s eight and dummy’s ten. Holding }K4, North followed with the four, letting dummy’s ten win. A spade to the jack saw South win with the king and return the [9 for the seven, three and ten. A club to the jack lost to the queen and declarer took the return of the [Q, cashed the ]AQ and played a diamond to the queen. North produced the king, and cashed two hearts and the {A for two down.
When it comes to bidding, I prefer auctions where one or more of the players must exercise some judgement as to the worth of their hand, as opposed
This time when West jumped to 4NT, East, appreci- ating that his partner must have some good cards in diamonds, judged it was right to bid the slam. Aside from the possibility that 6{ would be anywhere from playable to cold, there was always a chance that NS might decide to sacrifice.
South led the ]10 and declarer won perforce with the ]A, cashed the {A and ran the }J. North winning and returning the [Q. Declarer ruffed in dummy, ruffed a spade, ruffed a heart, ruffed a spade, cashed the {K, played a diamond to the queen, cashed the {10 and claimed, +1370 delivering 13 imps.
Declarer would have had a tougher time had North smoothly ducked the }J, but that does not detract from East’s evaluation.
See the December issue of Australian Bridge Magazine for a full report on the event. Subscribe at australianbridge.com.
Australian Bridge Federation Ltd. Newsletter: October 2024
Page: 5