Bridge is a game that has many levels. From the beginners level to that of an expert, the dimension of Bridge keeps growing. While the various bidding gadgets of advanced systems give the bidding a sophisticated edge over the outdated ones, the advanced defense mechanisms developed put the defenders in an advantageous position. Even in dummy play, the experts conjure a line of play that turns out to be 100% safe free of error and fully defendable. Of course if in that course of play the defenders falter, the play becomes more easily impregnable.
Let us illustrate the dummy play made by two French Champions Max Coppolani and Christian Mari who were in a contract of 6D bid as under on the following NS hand:
The bidding went as under:
West led the trump 3 of diamonds. Place yourself in Coppolani's seat as south and see if you can match his level of dummy play taking a winning line that is absolutely safe barring a very freak distribution that goes against all odds.
A look at the dummy tells you that the little slam has been bid on a combined tally of 30 total points - way short of the required 33 HCP for a minor little slam. Yet the lie of the cards along with the solid trump suit held tilts the balance towards going for the slam rather than staying out of it. The question that comes to mind now is : where does south find the elusive 12th trick, for he has 5 in trump, 2 in hearts, 2 in spades, 1 in clubs and one ruff of spade in dummy to come up to 11 tricks. How would you go about finding your 12 tricks. Ah yes, you got it, did you? By ruffing the second round of clubs to find the KC dropping from east with the west east hands held as under:
Trying to established the 10 9 of clubs is a line that does cross the mind. But there are other things to think of too. How many trump extractions do you need to make? After all you need the spade ruff too and for that you need a trump to remain in dummy. This would not be safe for the club development then, for east loaded with 3 trumps can always spoil your party. Suppose you try to run the 9 of clubs to give it to west's jack, discarding one of your heart losers. But what if east ruffs the 9 of clubs, then that line would dissipate in failure.
Anyway as I said there are many dimensions in Bridge and the expert always thinks of a line of play that looks so easy afterwards when he plays it as a simple and safe winning line making the defenders helpless. Did it strike you now? No! well even after the trump lead, there is a very easy line of cross ruff available that can safely take you to the 12 tricks you need for your little slam success. All you need to do is to follow the principle of cross ruff play, not forgetting to cash you side winners first. The line that the French Experts took was to win the first trump trick with the JD when east played the 8D: Cash AC and ruff a club felling the KC from east. 3 tricks in the bag, 9 more to go. Now cash your spade top honours and ruff another club with QD. 6 tricks with 6 more to go. Ruff the 3rd spade in dummy and the 4th club in hand giving you 8 tricks with following position emerging.
Now cash your king and ace of hearts to bring your tally to 10 tricks. There you are- the 2 top diamonds in dummy and hand give you to more tricks on a cross ruff, see, the play was quite simple - once you think of it.
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North South
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A K 8 6 4
A 7 6 K 9 5 2
10 4 2 A K Q J 7
A 10 9 6 2 Q
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S W N E
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1D P 2C P
2D P 2S P
3NT P 4D P
5D P 6D ALL PASS
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North West East South
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- J - -
A 7 6 84 QJ103 K 9 5 2
10 - 8 A
10 J8 - -
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West East
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J 9 7 2 Q 10 5 3
8 4 Q J 10 3
9 3 8 6 5
J 8 7 4 3 K 5
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