BRIDGE
Cashing in
Andrew Robson
IN MANY bridge tournaments, particular- ly in America, there is no money at stake. The prize for winning is honour, and possi- bly a berth on the national team. Not so the annual Cavendish Calcutta, the biggest money tournament in the world held appropriately in Las Vegas, in which over a million dollars change hands between the participants.
The tournament attracts many bridge players who enjoy a financial incentive. One such player is Wayne Chu, a success- ful South African businessman, who showed flawless technique on this week's deal from the Cavendish teams.
Dealer North Both Vulnerable The Bidding South West North East 1NT pass 34 pass 44 pass 4NT pass 5♦ pass 64 pass pass pass
West led 60 against the ambitious 64 contract. Chu, South, won dummy's *X and led and ran 47. He then cashed *A discarding 42, trumped *6, and led 4K. East worn his 4A and returned 4.1. Chu realised that this lead marked West with 4K, so he rose with 4A and ran all his trumps. As he led his last trump, West had to discard from 4K and •QJ10, dummy holding •K97 and 40. Needing to keep 4K to prevent 4() from scoring, West dis- carded V10. Dummy's 4(2 was discarded — it had served its purpose — and declar- er cashed VA, led to VK, and tabled V9, now a master. West had been successfully squeezed in Vs and 4s.
Most declarers had failed in 64, not because they had failed to spot the squeeze, but because ♦Q opening lead from West renders the slam unmakeable. Declarer wins •A and knocks out 4A, but a second V lead from East removes •K from dummy and the V/4 squeeze cannot operate.
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