BRIDGE
Scramble
Andrew Robson
UNSELFISH bidding by Harry Dalmeny propelled partner Emma Lamarque into a dicey game contract. Fine card-reading coupled with soft defence saw her scramble home. Dealer South 4J 9 4 2 1110
♦ J 105 4 +A J 4 3 V 4 The South West 111 pass pass 4, pass North-South 4 A 108 '4 2
♦ 9 7 3 #Q 7 vulnerable 6 5 3 4 K 7 V9 8 6 5
• A K 6 2 #108 2 J 7 3 5 East pass pass pass North pass
N W E S
4Q A K Q ♦ Q 8 K 9 6 Bidding 14 2V Many Norths would have rebid 24 in preference to supporting partner with just the measly four and two. Dalmeny pre- ferred the safety of the five-two heart fit (by bidding two suits, Emma had guaran- teed five cards in her first). This encour- aged South to bid game and West led the ♦ 4. East won the king, cashed •A and switched to a trump. Declarer won and led a low + to dummy's queen, which held. She played a second + to East's eight and her nine, won by West's knave. Unable to lead a second trump, West played •J' trumped by declarer. She then made the key play, leading 4K. West covered will the ace, she trumped with dummy s remaining trump, and East's +10 fell. She cashed 4A, ruffed a 4, drew East's remain- ing trumps and cashed the master +6. How could the defence have done bet- ter? East should have switched to a trump at trick two. Then, when West wins 47 he can lead a second ♦ to East's ace and East can lead a second trump. East should also have false-carded with 410 on the second round of +s. Declarer would play the king' losing to the ace and would then have a losing option of playing East for 44102, involving cuffing a low 6 as opposed to running +8 on the third round.
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