Don't
relax when dummy is
Anders
Brunzell (
Born
in 1938, ANDERS BRUNZELL is a mathematics and physics teacher. He has
represented Sweden on many occasions, his best year being 1977 when he was part
of the team that won the European Championship and went on to win the bronze
medal in that year's Bermuda Bowl.
Do
you recognize the following situation? The enemy has reached a game after some hesitation.
You attack hopefully and dummy comes
down with quite a lot to spare. It's now apparent that your left-hand opponent
had been considering slam prospects and decided against, so the game seems easy
enough. You doze off and wait for the next board to come.
Mostly
this is OK, but occasionally you let declarer
make a game you could have defeated. As
a matter of fact, it is easy to defend against
these 'over-strong' contracts. You
can't wait for declarer
to go down on his own because you be waiting
forever ! No, most often this is a case of
now or never. Try this deal:
|
|
South
Dealer |
ª |
K
J
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Love
All |
© |
A
Q 10 4 |
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¨ |
Q
8 7 |
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§ |
K
10 9 3 |
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N |
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ª |
A
9 5 3 2
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|
|
ª |
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|
© |
5
2 |
|
W
E |
© |
|
|
¨ |
5
4 3 |
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|
¨ |
|
|
§ |
8
7 6 |
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§ |
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|
S |
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ª |
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© |
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¨ |
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§ |
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W |
N |
E |
S |
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1NT’ |
|
Pass |
2♣ |
Pass |
2♠ |
|
Pass |
3NT |
All |
Pass |
’15-17
|
|
South
Dealer |
ª |
K J
|
|
|
|
|
Love
All |
© |
A
Q 10 4 |
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|
¨ |
Q
8 7 |
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|
|
§ |
K
10 9 3 |
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N |
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|
ª |
A
9 5 3 2
|
|
|
ª |
8
7 |
|
© |
5
2 |
|
W
E |
© |
J
9 8 7 |
|
¨ |
5
4 3 |
|
|
¨ |
K
J 10 9 2 |
|
§ |
8
7 6 |
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§ |
5
2 |
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S |
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ª |
Q
10 6 4 |
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© |
K
6 3 |
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¨ |
A
6 |
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§ |
A
Q
J 4 |
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W |
N |
E |
S |
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1NT’ |
|
Pass |
2♣ |
Pass |
2♠ |
|
Pass |
3NT |
All |
Pass |
’15-17
The
strong dummy put you to sleep instead of alerting
you. Let South have it his way and you
will never defeat the contract, even if all his guesses are wrong. Therefore,
assume, by a stroke of luck, you have found the winning lead. Jump up with the
ace of spades and continue diamonds!
Should
South have tried to take nine tricks at
once? Perhaps, but when the hearts did not
break you might have stopped acting the Sleeping
Beauty, so he obviously played for the
better chance!
|
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SouthDealer |
ª |
A K 7 4
|
|
|
|
|
Game
All |
© |
J
10 3 |
|
|
|
|
|
¨ |
K
9 2 |
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|
|
|
§ |
K
8 3 |
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|
N |
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|
ª |
10
3 2
|
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|
ª |
|
|
© |
A
8 6 |
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W
E |
© |
|
|
¨ |
Q
6 4 |
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¨ |
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|
§ |
7
6 5 4 |
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§ |
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S |
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ª |
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© |
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¨ |
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§ |
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W |
N |
E |
S |
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1NT’ |
|
Pass |
3NT |
All |
Pass |
|
’15-17 |
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South
opens a 15-17 1NT which North raises to game.
You start with a club and the depressing
dummy is presented. North plays low and East's
ten is taken by the queen. South leads
the seven of hearts but now you are
awake and promptly
take the ace and continue clubs. This
time declarer wins ten tricks. The whole layout:
|
|
South
Dealer |
ª |
A K 7 4
|
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|
|
Game
All |
© |
J
10 3 |
|
|
|
|
|
¨ |
K
9 2 |
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|
§ |
K
8 3 |
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N |
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