MADEIRA
BRIDGE
Indirect entry
Andrew Robson
FREAK deals are usually more exciting than they are instructive. Here we feature a hand that was both — in large measures.
Dealer East Neither Side Vulnerable The Bidding South. West North East
3♦ 44 5V 54 6V
6+
double pass pass The auction was as spirited as befits such a deal. When the music had stopped, South found himself declaring 64, doubled by West — the strongest hand at the table. West led VA and declarer, Richard Collins, trumped.
He cashed +A, and played +5 to dummy's 4A and trumped a 4 (with 4K). But for the infuriating 4 pips in dummy, declarer would have two trump entries to dummy, sufficient to establish dummy's +s and return to enjoy them.
Undaunted, he continued by leading a low 4 to dummy's 49 and leading a third round of its. Though he had no 4 in his hand lower than dummy's remaining 45, he found an ingenious way to return to dummy's 4s — can you?
Richard simply discarded a ♦ from his hand on the 4. West was forced to win the but he only had Vs left to lead. Was declarer lucky that West had not one ♦ to lead? Remember the bidding — East opened 3*, marking him with all seven missing •s. West's V return was trumped with dummy's 45 (declarer discarding a second ♦ from hand). He was able to dis- card both his remaining ♦ losers on dummy's 4's and score up his slam.
It is always elegant to create an entry to the other hand via a helpless opponent, and Richard's solution must have been most satisfying.
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