Sunday, April 21, 2002		Bridge

Four inescapable trump losers
Omar Sharif

THERE were all sorts of arguments raging after this recent hand from rubber bridge. I was only watching and fortunately was not required to give an opinion on either the bidding (which I agree was difficult) or the play (which should not have been).

North dealt at game all and opened Two Clubs. It was true that his hand could not be classed as "game-going" but with four first-round and four second-round controls, it is difficult to criticise.

South responded Two Diamonds (negative), North bid Two Spades and South showed his hearts.

North, reluctant to go to the four level, tried Three Notrumps and now it was South’s decision.

His bits and pieces in Spades and Diamonds might have persuaded him to pass (3NT would have been easy), but he got carried away by his long suit and preserved with Four Hearts. North passed, with extreme reluctance.

Declarer won the Queen of Clubs lead in dummy and came to hand with a Spade.

Hoping to lose only three trump tricks he led HJ but now found, because of the 4-1 break, there were now four inescapable trump losers.

Then the post mortem started. "With nine Hearts I had no choice," observed South, who could not count.

"Only eight, but why did you play it like that?" countered North, who could.

Can you see what he meant? If Hearts are 3-2, there is no real problem. But if they are 4-1, the lead of the Jack gains only if the singleton is the eight.

A lead of a low Heart at trick 2 does no harm if the suit divides 3-2, and gains handsomely when there is a singleton honour — three times as likely as a singleton eight.