In Bridge one remains to be focused all the time. The sustained level of concentration is the key for success at Bridge. Many a top Bridge player has suffered a blind spot due to the drop in the concentration level. Bridge makes one intricately involved in deciphering the quantum of tricks any side can take after concentrating on bidding and the opening lead.
This makes the count of every trick very important to visualise the possible distribution of the declarer's hand for the defence and vice versa. In other words a good Bridge player is the one who needs to stay focused, alert at every move the opponents make, well attuned to the partner's signals in the course of play and of course having the sound comprehension of what the hand requires and the clear presence of mind to find the best alternates for reaching the required goals set, as determined by the bidding.
Bridge is an interesting example of good decision making and sound judgement which, along with your ability to execute your plan with the proper timing determines the level and caliber of your standing in Bridge.
In our illustration for today, the declarer was fully tested on these counts when as south he landed in a contract of 6 NT on the following bidding which followed as per the distribution of this hand dealt to north south as under:
The bidding followed as under:
The opening lead from west was 2S. Here the declarer was playing the Match Point Masters Pairs Championship of Great Britain in London held in 1959 and south was the famous Bridge expert Albert Dormer.
On the face of it this is not really a problem at all as far as the bid contract is concerned for Dormer was certain every pair would be in 6NT making 12 certain tricks for a par contract with no added advantage unless and until south makes the 13th trick. As such the over trick in this deal becomes the crux of the problem. The diamonds can certainly provide the 13th trick but for that you need to nail the QD first. So the vital question for Dormer as it is for the readers is as to who holds the QD?
The hand is an interesting one as one looks at it from this angle. As south how would you plan your play in 6 NT which in fact now boils down to a contract of 7 NT which needs either to make for a top score berth amongst those Pairs who play likewise or it fails for an average minus. This much is obvious that if diamonds are adversely placed at, say, 4-1 break, which of the 2 opponents can be easily caught with the trapping of the QD? Suppose west held Q943? Then it would be mighty difficult to nail the queen after playing one of the top two honours first. But if east held Q943, the queen could be trapped. So most Pairs played east for the QD and failed. Probably you did too.
But Albert Dormer the expert that he was, was in no hurry at all. As with other good declarers he went on the journey of discovering the opponents distribution by first cashing the AQ of heart after having taken the KS on the first trick. On AQ of hearts, west shows out. How do you proceed now? Yes, you must concentrate on the opening lead of 2S showing a 4 carder placing west now more like you with a 4 - 1 - 4 - 4 distribution. So Dormer let JD run at the first instance and despite Q943 hand, Dormer managed to get his 13th trick. How? On a double squeeze with the following 4 card ending.
On dummy's JS, east forced to keep JH throws a club, declarer shedding the now useless heart and west is squeezed miserably in the minors to hand Albert Dormer his 13th trick for the highest top score and the complement from all saying 'well done, Albert'.
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North South
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A Q J 8 K 9
A Q 5 K 7 4 3
A 8 2 K J 10 7 5
A 6 2 K 9
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S W N E
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1D P 1S P
1NT P 6NT All Pass
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N W E S
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J - - -
- - J 3
- 9 - 7
A62 Q105 J87 K9
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