Bridge has different levels in the understanding of the game comprehensively. For the beginner the basics are enough to trudge him on, for the average and average plus, some logical inferences need to be picked and polished to make his path a progressive one in bridge. But the pro - the so called expert has a level that is well beyond the comprehension of the average players.
This just does not come naturally. It is achieved by sheer hard work, devotion for the game and almost a fanatical reading of the best books on the subject coupled with the mental approach to the errors committed with full recognition of them. For the professional approach in a thoroughly organised one the hands of bridge are categorised, classified with group headings as to whether it is in the high distributional freaks or more than double fit suits with high card value or even a supplementing hand where each compliments the other either through massive fits or cross ruff manoeuvres.
The infinite variety of bridge hands in the probability ratio makes the game so fascinating. But the intriguing part is to be aware of where one stands in the grouping of the hand so that he can apply the required gimmicks that are the need of the hand. Let me supplement the above by coming to our problem hand for today, which is being given as under along with the bidding:
The bidding was as follows:
The opening lead is the 10S from the west. This hand is taken from the actual play where the south was a Chinese expert at bridge. We shall first examine our assessment of the hand and the prospects of its making in the context of the bidding. It is only after we analyse the two hands of north and south and chalk out a play strategy best suited for the making of the contract, that the curtain will be lifted on how the Chinese expert approached the problem and how quickly he resolved it without straining too much.
On paper the contract looks simple enough doesn't it? Let us begun our analysis with count of possible losers. There is none in trumps, none in hearts. But in both the minor suits, 3-3 there are seemingly inevitable 2 losers in each minor suit which could well jeopardise our contract of 4S. Well as south how do you plan the play? It looks as if the contract rests on how the honours in the minor suits lie with the east west hands. Our option clearly tempting is the double finesse in diamonds playing east west for split honours, after eliminating trumps and hearts. For if you can get 2 diamond tricks, that would be enough to allow you to make 4S. For with 5 trumps in hand, 2 hearts, one club ace and 2 diamond tricks, you are home. But the vital question that springs to mind is what if both the diamond honours are in one hand - east would spell immediate defeat.
While we are deliberating on the different options because we are not on the pro level let me reveal what the Chinese expert did at trick 2. He simply claimed the hand by tabling his cards with a great flourish addressing west with his line of play and approach as under:
"Your lead of the 10S betrays the simple fact that you could not have the KQJ of clubs. I will come back to my hand via the heart ace after winning the first trump trick with ace of spades and second trump in dummy with queen of spades. If trumps are 2-2, otherwise trump will be played for the third time. Now with the heart ace, I will play a low club towards dummy. If you (west) play low. I put in the 10. East will get in, but he can only lead a heart or a club profitably. I will have ample time then to strip my hearts, play ace of clubs and exit with a low club. My diamond ace can be led through only once and the contract is secure. Should you (west) play high club on my first club lead, I will top it with the ace, strip hearts and lead low club towards dummy's 10 to bring about the same eventual result.
The lie of the cards did not rob the expert of the just reward for the east west hands were as under:
This was bridge at the top level acknowledging that a Pro is a Pro.
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North South
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QJ53 AK972
K64 AJ
A106 J94
A105 632
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South West North East
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1S P 3S P
4S ALL PASS
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West East
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108 64
Q1083 9752
532 KQ87
KJ94 Q87
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