BRIDGE
Rash youth
Andrew Robson
WHY is bridge attracting so many young players in Europe yet so few in America where the game is in danger of dying a slow death? The average age of the American Contract Bridge League member is 58 and rising fast. Perhaps it is an image thing. In Europe bridge is becoming the trendy thing to do; in America the mention of bridge to a young person will usually elicit no more than that their grandmother plays. Junior tournament players have always played a bold, creative style, always on the look out to be brilliant; playing for normal splits is somewhat frowned upon.
Dealer West Neither side vulnerable
South West North East
44 double pass 5* pass 6• pass pass pass North's double was essentially for take-out, in spite of West having made a game call. However South would be prone to leave the double with a more balanced hand. When he bid 54, North played him for a good suit and raised aggressively to slam. West led 4A and continued correctly with 4K. Plan the play as declarer. If he had trumped with dummy's ♦6, he would have no way to get to hand after playing ♦A. The young declarer avoided this trap and trumped with dummy's ♦A. Playing West for a singleton ♦ in the light of his having a long 4 suit, he led ♦6 and, when East fol- lowed low, he inserted ♦9. West won ♦10, switched to 4K locking declarer in dummy, and waited to make his last trump. Down two. It was certainly courageous of declarer to finesse ♦9 when playing off his three top ♦s guarantees success on any three- two split, provided West has at least one ♦. But sometimes the line between coura- geous and foolhardy is rather thin.
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