At
rubber bridge or teams competitions using
International Match Point (IMP) scoring (a
scale is used to convert total point
differences on each deal) there is a high
premium for making or defeating a contract.
At duplicate bridge using matchpoint or
point-a-board scoring there is a much
greater emphasis on overtricks, undertricks,
and small total-point differences.
Today's deal was played in a head-on teams match. Cover the East-West
hands before continuing.
Neither side vulnerable South deals
West |
North |
East |
South |
|
|
|
1 |
Pass |
2 |
3 |
3 |
Pass |
4 |
Pass |
4 |
Pass |
5 |
End |
|
Opening Lead:
K
After North moved toward slam both Souths played in 5
on the lead of the
K,
followed by a trump switch. At one table,
declarer won the
K,
played the
A,
then cross-ruffed hearts and clubs until the
hearts were established. He would have made
his contract with an overtrick if either of
the major suits had divided evenly.
Unfortunately, he was stranded in dummy with
four trumps left in play - the ace-jack in
his hand and the 86 in West. He ruffed
himself in and cashed the
A,
but with trumps three-one, he could score
only the
A
in addition and so failed in his contract.
Was South simply unlucky?
Take the South seat at the other table and see if you can do better.
The best line is to win the trump switch in dummy and play the
A,
heart ruff. Cross back to hand with a trump.
When East discards on the second trump, you
can still try for twelve tricks by ruffing a
second heart. If hearts are three-three,
ruff yourself in, draw the last trump and
claim. When someone (here East) shows out on
the third round of hearts, the overtrick is
beyond your reach but you will still make
your contract. Return to your hand by
ruffing a club, and draw the last trump. Now
concede a heart to West. You still have a
trump left to reach the two established
hearts.
The key to success on this deal is to realise that you need eleven tricks
and not twelve. By refusing to shorten your
trumps prematurely and by conceding a heart
trick, you keep control and ensure your
contract.