BRIDGE
No finesse
Susanna Gross
MYRTLE BENNETT of Kansas City, whom I wrote about last week, was not the only person charged with committing mur- der at the bridge table. There's also the case of Mrs Henderson of Detroit, Michigan, who shot her partner between the eyes for pulling the wrong card twice in succession.
I felt a mild homicidal urge myself this week (though I quickly supressed it), after my partner misplayed a contract of 3NT. I had been losing all afternoon when (sitting North) I picked up the usual rubbish.
Dealer South Vul: N/S + 4 3 2
✓ J 6 4 2 ♦ K10 +8732
• 0106 119 KQ1098
♦ J5
• • ♦ J875 7 5 9 863 W N E
+ 1095
IC +DJ South West 2NT Pass • A K9 ✓ A3 ♦ A Q742 + A 64 The Bidding North 3NT East All pass The VK was led. To make nine tricks, South needed to win all five diamonds. Hoping for the best, he cashed •AKQ, but when the suit failed to break 3-3, went one down.
But in fact South should have finessed dummy's ♦10 on the first round. A 3-3 break has a probability of only 36%. Finessing in diamonds works when West has Jx (8 per cent) or Jxx (18 per cent) or hoe( (16 per cent) – a total of 42 per cent.
Incidentally, I've come across only one reference to the Henderson murder. If any reader has additional information, I'd be very grateful if they could get in touch.
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