Bridge Books Can Help!

As one who reads a better bridge game than I play, I am cognizant of some “fancy” plays about which I have read and which I hope I can remember to execute when the time is right (and only when the time is right).

In a recent tournament, I think the reading paid off.

In yesterday’s Can You Get Home before the Once-a-Lifetime October Snow Storm Makes Driving Too Hazardous sectional open pairs (Board 7, morning session) in Auburn, MA, I was third hand with ♠K8  ♥T72 ♦AQ98  ♣AT94.  After two passes, I opened 1♦, LHO doubled, partner passed, and RHO bid 1♠.  I passed and LHO’s 4♠ raise ended the bidding.

Let’s see.  LHO has lots of strength and there is no particular reason to think that either opponent is extremely short in clubs.  Having no particularly attractive lead, this seems like the time to underlead the ♣A.

Here was the whole hand.

Dealer: #7 – S Vul: Both	North ♠ K8 ♥ T72 ♦ AQ98 ♣ AT94
West ♠ A7532 ♥ 9 ♦ K753 ♣ 873		East ♠ QJ64 ♥ AKQJ53 ♦ 4 ♣ KJ
	South ♠ T9 ♥ 864 ♦ JT62 ♣ Q652

Declarer played the jack from dummy and partner won the queen.  Partner returned a club to my ace.  I cashed the ♦A and awaited my ♠K to come home for the setting trick.  24½ on a 25 top!

Interesting byplay from the Flight C opponents followed.  As partner and I were beaming (just inwardly, I think), the dummy asked declarer if 4♥ can make.  “Same lost tricks”, said declarer, apparently still not recognizing what had just happened.