BRIDGE
Hot play
Andrew Robson
GOULASH BRIDGE (where cards are generally dealt to each player in piles of five, five, then three) makes for exciting auctions, but the play is rarely instructive. This week's hand is a striking exception: Dealer South North-South Vulnerable
The Bidding
South West North East 14 2, 34 Pass 411 5+ 54 Pass Pass Pass Pass 64 74 All Pass Pass Pass A fiercely competitive auction where only East took a back seat (for obvious rea- sons!) West would only have gone three down in 7, and must have quite fancied his defensive prospects against 74. He led IPA which declarer, a talented young player from London, Gareth Humphreys, ruffed. He drew trumps finishing in dummy and led 4o() on which East followed low.
Requiring four diamond tricks to get close to his contract, declarer ostensibly needed East to have •K accompanied by no more than two small cards. Alternatively he could play West for a sin- gleton king so play his ace. The latter play is wildly anti-percentage; however West had advertised about 12 cards in hearts and clubs so declarer's only hope was that West had the •K singleton. His *A dropped West's king but he was still a trick short. He cashed his diamonds and played out all his trumps. With three cards remaining, West had In( and +KJ; dummy 1110 and +A4; declarer +07 and a final trump, which he led. West was squeezed whichever suit he threw, dummy could throw the other suit. He eventually discard- ed +J, forlornly hoping East had the +(:). Declarer discarded the precious '10 and led a low club, making the last two tricks with dummy's ace and his queen.
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