BRIDGE

Interlocking

Andrew Robson

WHILE only about one per cent of the 3 million bridge players in this country are members of the English Bridge Union, the `EBU' are making positive steps to intro- duce bridge in schools and advance teach- ing methods. Their chairman is the eccen- tric Yorkshireman, Peter Stocken, whose other passion is making jigsaws. His jigsaws are said to be even better than his bridge — which is saying something if this hand is representative.

Dealer North Neither side vulnerable 43 V A 9

• K QJ 6

+A K 107 6 3

+ A 8 7 2

4J

9 6 5 4

N

r7 6

K Q8 2 • 9 5 4

W E • A 8 7 2

40984

S

+ —

4

K Q 10

J 105 4 3

• 10 3

+ J 5 2

The Bidding

South West North 1+

East double 1V

14 2♦ 24 2NT pass pass 3NT pass pass West led 42 to 4J and 4K. Peter played a 4 to dummy's 4K at trick two, on which East discarded ♦2. If Peter had continued +s, conceding a trick to West's 40, West would simply have continued 4s, giving South the third round. Declarer would still need a ♦ trick for his contract, but East would win •A and cash two 4s to defeat him.< None > Instead Peter played ♦K. If East had won • A, then Peter's ♦10 would be an extra entry to hand. East therefore ducked, and Peter led dummy's low ♦. East won ♦A and played a 4 to the ten and West's ace, dummy discarding a 4. Reading declarer for 40, a stranded winner, West correctly switched to V7. Peter won VA and cashed his two ♦ winners on which both oppo- nents discarded 4s and declarer discarded a and +J.

Then he led V9. East won 111() and cashed VK, but was then forced to lead a major suit, choosing a 4. Peter won the last three tricks with 410, V10 and dummy's +A.