BRIDGE

Long shot

Andrew Robson

IRONICALLY one of the most enjoyable times at bridge can be when you are almost (but not quite) certain to lose. This is not masochism; rather, it represents an oppor- tunity to try something flamboyant in a spirit of desperation.

Dealer East North-South vulnerable 4A K V 7 6

• K J 109 8 7 6 *7 4 Q 9 8 6 3

47 4 2

N

V K J 9

8

V 4 2

• A Q 4

W E • 3

*10

S

+KQJ 9 532

4 J 105

VAQ105 3

• 5 2

*A 8 6

The Bidding

South West North East

—

3+

pass pass 3• pass 3NT pass pass pass West led 410, overtaken by East's 4J, and declarer ducked. he won East's 4K contin- uation with 4A and West had to find a dis- card. His legitimate chance of beating the contract was almost nil — dummy's •s were easily establishable. Even if declarer played a • to dummy's •K and gave West both his •A and *(), the contract would still make (assuming declarer held VAQ). it was the perfect time for a spectacular diversion. West discarded •A! This dis- card appeared from declarer's perspective to be a genuine effort from •Ax in an attempt to promote •Qx in partner's hand. And it appeared to be successful. Declarer led a • to dummy's •K at trick three, but, presuming East to have •Q remaining, he then turned his attentions elsewhere. He led a V to V10 and West's NU and West returned a 4 to dummy's 4K. Dummy's second V was led to VC) and West's VK. West returned a second 4 to dummy's 4A and dummy led a • perforce. Much to declarer's embarrassment it was West who won *Q. He cashed his three remaining 4s and led V9. Declarer won VA but con- ceded the last trick to West's V8. The expert dealer had gone down four entirely because of West's imaginative discard. without which he would have made 3NT easily.