The seasoned and experienced players also fall a prey to the vagaries of the game of bridge which presents almost unlimited combinations of cards in its fold that are difficult to handle even with the best of imaginative approach, intention and bridge education. The contributory factor in the occurrence of any slip is attributed to overbearing human element involved in bidding, play and defence at every step in tackling each deal. That is, perhaps one of the prime considerations needed to be taken care of for positive result.
The limitless variety of the game also demands concentration in applying playing technique to a particular type of cards in order to execute a game plan to succeed in making the contract. In the absence of which even the good analytical mind goes astray when the string of planning misses one step. It generally happens when one plays the hand in haste or becomes over-confident in handling a particular deal.
Such a situation of haste happened to fall to the share of Eric Kokish, one of the well-known bridge players as reported in the British Bridge Magazine in its issue of February last year. The episode quoted relates to 1971 Can-Am Regional, in which Eric Kokish playing in partnership with Joey Silver, mistimed his moves that cost the partnership a coveted position in the tournament. But it was a part of the game.
The bidding part of the deal was superbly handled by the partnership to reach a small slam in No Trump contract, showing complete understanding of the game, but the faulty execution in haste brought down a makeable contract by many tricks. But the analytical mind wakes up after a lapse and tries to make it up faced with limited option in vain.
West led diamond Jack.
The South won the lead with the queen and seeing no other loser except the ace of spade as there was little time left to plan the play, Kokish proceed to play the spade suit. The East cleverly won the third spade with the ace and returned diamond 10 which the South won with ace and discarded three of hearts from the dummy. At this point the South realized that he was getting stuck in the dummy having to lose to the Jack of clubs in the end as he thought that the Jack of club was likely to be held by the East on a freak distribution of cards shown by the West having two singletons. In this scenario the South having no option for the fear of losing to the Jack, finessed the 10 of clubs in the hope of catching the Jack. But to his surprise the East won the trick with Jack and demolished the contract by five tricks.
With this unsavoury result of important deal a prize winning position of the partnership also dashed to the ground. The senior partner Joel Silver was in a terrible mood for this disaster and could not resist chiding Kokish for his failure to play one round of either heart or club suit before tackling spades or ultimately relying on squeezing manoeuvre to make the contract. But it was a lesson for future to deal with such type of hand that may not repeat in Kokish's lifetime.
THE BIDDING:
===================================
West North East South
Silver Kokish
----- ---- 3D Pass
Pass Dble Pass 3NT
Pass 4S Pass 5D
Pass 5H Pass 5NT
Pass 6C Pass 6S
Pass 6NT Pass Pass
Pass
===================================
DEALER EAST:
BOTH SIDES VULNERABLE
NORTH
S QJ1098
H AK3
D 4
C AKQ10
WEST
S 5
H 10864
D J6
C 986542
EAST
S A742
H Q
D K1098732
C J
SOUTH
S K63
H J9752
D AQ5
C 73
GOLDEN TIPS
Taking a pause to plan the play is a right of declarer.
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