Bridge
Jacob Bronowski, who wrote and presented the wonderful “Ascent of Man” television series and book, said, “Knowledge is an unending adventure at the edge of uncertainty.”
That applies at the bridge table as well – but not always. Sometimes you can be certain of the outcome.
In this deal, how should South plan the play in four no-trump after West leads the spade 10?
South opened one no-trump, showing 15-17 points in the modern style. North’s raise to four no-trump was quantitative, inviting a slam. (To ask for aces, North would have jumped to four clubs, activating the Gerber convention.)
South, with only 15 points, passed. (With 17, he would have bid on; with 16, he would have flipped a coin!)
South started with nine tricks: three spades, two diamonds and four clubs. The original declarer looked no further than the diamond suit for the extra winner.
And to show his knowledge, he made the best play for three tricks by cashing dummy’s ace, playing over to his king, and leading back toward dummy’s jack-six.
However, East took two tricks in the suit, then returned his second spade. South had to hope East held the heart ace, but West took two winners in that suit to defeat the contract.
Although the declarer was unlucky (he would have taken three diamond tricks 77 percent of the time), he had a 100 percent line by attacking hearts.
After winning the first trick with dummy’s spade queen (or taking it in his hand and crossing to dummy with a club), he can play a heart to his 10. It loses to West’s queen, but South wins the next spade and leads a heart to dummy’s jack to establish a 10th trick.