Deception's Special Delight
Newcastle Herald
Friday September 28, 2001
THE winners of the Country Teams Regional final (Hunter Region) were the Newcastle team of Mike Parfait, Louis Woo, Julie Gorton and Chris Dibley.
Well done to that team. Newcastle will now contest the NSW Country teams championship.
The frequency with which deceptive play opportunities arise for declarer is not great. However, a successful deceptive ruse brings with it special delight.
If you fancy trying out a bit of deception look only at the East/West hands in the deal shown. The deal arose in a normal Pairs night at Newcastle Bridge Club.
Imagine you are West and declarer in 4S. On face value a hopleess contract but you are stuck with it so you may as well try your best.
North gets off to the lead of the club six. How do you propose to plan the play?
With so many plain suit winners it would be normal to draw trumps. The problem with that tactic is that you do not want to open up trumps with the holding you have in the two hands.
If you do you are likely to lose three trump tricks. You also appear to have two certain diamond losers. What can be done? Deception comes to the rescue and in this case it is massive.
Win the first trick in hand and lead a diamond! Yes, a diamond. South should win this trick. Now, how many defenders do you know who would not lead back a trump?
North will win the trump lead with the king and return a trump. South wins this with the ace and returns a third round of trumps.
Problem solved. Not only have you steered your opponents away from a diamond attack you have encouraged them to open up the trump suit for you. Thus you hold your losers to just two trumps and one diamond.
Did you do that? Well now, doesn't it feel good. Remember, you must keep a straight face as you pull off this deception and it is just as well to maintain that pose after the play ? your opponents will not be sharing in your delight.
NORTH ; KT k 754 l AQ985 ' J96 WEST ; Q7654 k AQ2 l 763 ' Q3 EAST ; J82 k KT96 l JT ' AK54 SOUTH ; A93 k J83 l K42 ' T872
© 2001 Newcastle Herald