BRIDGE

Take two hands

Andrew Robson

Dealer South 4 • 10 9 8 3 2

• J 9 3 2 +K 109 3

4A Q5 K 5 • Q 108 Q 6 5 Both vulnerable

4 2

4 10 8 6 4 3 IP Q J

• 7 6 5 +1 8 7

N w E

• K J 9 7 2

• A 7 6 4

• A K

+A 4

South West North East 14 pass 2+ pass 311 pass 54 pass 74 all pass I have put a plausible, if over aggressive normal bridge auction to 74; but I want to discuss the hand at two-player bridge. It might seem best for the dealer (player A) to open 64. However if A opens 64, B will bid 74 and only need to make it a small percentage of the time to show a profit. To stop B from bidding 74, A must open 74 himself, which is precisely what he did! B should probably have sacrificed in 7NT and conceded one or two down doubled. He preferred to gamble on defending, but had to double (or the contract would be con- ceded).

Now the remaining 26 cards are dealt into two hands — the defenders. A chooses which hand will declare, and therefore which defensive hand makes the opening lead. B can conduct a perfect defence, as he controls both hands, and he must have fancied his chances with trumps 5 – 0.

The West hand led IP10. Declarer played as though he, too, could see both defensive hands: he won IPA, cashed •A, •K and 4A; he crossed to IIK (noting East's 'IQ), cashed +0:2 discarding 44, trumped a + trumped a IF with 4Q and trumped anoth- er 4. He cashed 4K, trumped the last IP with 4A (East underruffing) and led a fourth 4. East held 4108 and declarer 4J9, so East and player B waved the white flag! THERE IS a fascinating variety of bridge for two people that is both stimulating and com- petitive in itself and very good practice for the real game. Deal two hands and lay them both face-up on the table. One player (take it in turns) opens the bidding and the highest bidder plays the two hands in his bid. Any contract that is not doubled is conceded.