Today's hand was named the Best Junior Deal of the Year by the Brazilian Bridge League. It was reported in the December issue of the Bulletin of the International Bridge Press Association by Brian Senior of Nottingham, England. It took place during the 10th World Youth Team Championship at Sydney Olympic Park, Australia this past August.
In the match against Canada, Joe Grue of New York City picked up the South hand. His partner was John Kranyak of Bay Village. North's three club bid showed a spade fit and shortness in the club suit.
At the companion table, South reached the same contract and lost a trick in each suit to go one down. There was no double so it would appear that Grue should also be down one for a two IMP (International Match Point) loss on the deal.
In fact, Grue made the contract for a twelve IMP gain for Team USA, which went on to win the event. Take a moment and see if you can determine what the winning play could possibly have been.
West led the seven of hearts. The three was played from the dummy and East played the six. Grue won the nine and without pause led the jack of spades. West, never imagining that his partner did not have a high spade honor, followed with a low spade. East played his singleton nine. Grue now cashed the ace and king of spades, conceded a trick in each of the other suits, and scored up his game.
Was West correct to duck? Probably not, given the result. But don't be too hard on him. At trick two it was very possible that South had started with J 10 9 5 of spades and that East held the A and K of spades for his double. Give full credit to Grue however. Creating an illusion at trick two was pure magic.
Master Point Press of Toronto, Canada has recently published two new bridge books that I found very readable and useful.
365 Winning Bridge Tips by Danny Kleinman of Los Angeles presents short bridge problems that are common at the table and provides the thought process that should help the reader recognize and solve the problem when encountered in real competition.
Standard Bidding with SAYC by Ned Downey and Ellen Pomer of Hawaii does an excellent job of documenting the current "standard" bidding system. The popularity of on-line bridge and the potential for playing with a partner who is a complete stranger makes the need for a standard definition that much more relevant.
Both books are softcover. Winning Bridge Tips has 288 pages
and sells for $21.95 while SAYC has 175 pages and sells for
$17.95. You can order from Master Point Press by calling (416)
781-0351 or on-line at: www.masterpointpress.com
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Bernstein is
a free-lance writer in Solon.
To reach Harvey Bernstein:
hjb0416@yahoo.com