In any sport, a sense of elation is a dangerous thing. When a player does something good, he can’t afford to enjoy the moment: however dazzling the goal he’s scored or the ace he’s served, he can’t relax until the match is over. And so it is in bridge. It’s hard advice to follow: I’ve often lapsed into a smug reverie mid-hand upon doing something clever — and the next thing I know, everything’s fallen apart.
Last week, Artur Malinowski, manager of TGRs, showed this hand he’d played to a couple of experts at the club, concealing the East-West cards:
South’s double promised four spades. West led the ♥J. East won and played back the ♥7, ruffed. West switched to a trump. What now? Artur reasoned that since EW were playing weak-jump overcalls, and West had overcalled hearts at the 1-level, he must be fairly strong. If he held the ♣A he would surely have played his lowest heart for West to ruff, asking for a club return. Therefore, West held the ♣A, and East must surely hold the ♠K. Artur rose with the ♠A – bingo.
The two experts to whom Artur showed the hand did the same thing, and assumed that was the point. They had relaxed too soon! There still aren’t ten tricks. In fact, that was the easy bit. Artur had thought long and hard before coming up with the solution: he came to hand and cashed ◆AK, then ruffed a diamond, played a low trump to hand and ruffed a fourth diamond with dummy’s last trump. And now? He exited with the ♣K! West was forced to win. He exited with a club, but Artur ruffed, drew the last trump and claimed.
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