Sunday, May 5, 2002		Bridge

When North-South is vulnerable
Omar Sharif

FALSE-CARDING is a practice which many players seem to over-do.

Nevertheless, there are occasions when a judicious false card will not confuse your partner and may throw declarer out of his stride.

This week’s hand, from rubber bridge, gave me a great deal of pleasure.

With North-South vulnerable, North dealt and opened One Club. East, my partner, overcalled with One Spade and South bid Two Hearts. This suited me very well and I passed, hoping for better things.

They were not long in coming: for North bid Two No-trumps, South tried Three Diamonds and North gave preference to Three Hearts.

South unwisely pressed on to Four Hearts and, as West, I felt that I was prepared to take my chances with a double.

Against Four Hearts doubled, I led S6 and East won with the Queen and shrewdly returned a trump.

South played low — and as there was clearly no rush to win a trick with my ten of trumps, I won with the Queen. This could hardly confuse partner, but you may guess what effect it had on declarer.

He ruffed the next Spade lead and, expecting the trumps to be divided 3-2, tried to escape for one off by leading a second round of trumps.

Now the roof fell in — I was able to draw the remaining trumps and still had a Spade left to give my partner the next four tricks.

For the final insult I was able to claim 100 for honours and we collected 1,800 points.

South would have been better advised to take out insurance.

He should abandon any hope of one off and cut his losses by playing on Diamonds.

That way he could not make less than eight tricks and would lose only 500 points (plus 100 for honours.)