It is noted in many writings on the subject of bridge that our game often brings out the worst in people.
There are few situations in life where one can be deceitful, setting out with impunity on a strategy designed to deceive, and then being openly congratulated on the success of the deception! But it happens in our game and you must admit, don’t you feel a warm glow inside when it is you that has successfully perpetrated such a scam?
I am indebted to Barbara Boaler for providing me with the details of a hand she and Chris Quigley played in the YCBA Peter Littlewood Seniors Pairs in March 2007. They won this event and the hand in question helped towards securing that victory.
They were the only pair in 3NT on a combined 22 count hand and it is likely that a little deceptive manoeuvre employed by Barbara brought home the contract.....
West East The Bidding
S AKxx S x W N E S
H T9 H KJxxx 1D P 1H P
D KQJxxx D Axx 1S P 2D P
C x C JT9x 3D P 3NT
Chris Quigley sitting West opened 1D and rebid 1S over Barbara’s 1H response. At this point Barbara can only give a simple preference to Diamonds by bidding 2Ds. However, as Barbara explained, Chris’s 3D bid was a clever move, confirming the extra length in Diamonds and inviting 3NT from Barbara. Barbara was reasonably confident that her Club holding was sufficient to stop the suit and dutifully bid 3NT to close proceedings.
South started off with the Club K and followed with the Queen with Barbara playing the x then the 9 of Clubs. A third club was led and North took it with the Ace upon which, Barbara smoothly dropped the Jack.
Barbara’s faultless reasoning went something like this. Well I now have 9 tricks on top since my Club trick is established. But what if North switches to a Heart after this Ace of Clubs? I don’t want to be put to a guess in Hearts. If North has a fourth Club I want it led now! Hence the play of the Jack of Clubs. North now expects to find partner with Tx left in Clubs believing that East has ‘punted’ 3NT without a Club stop and holding only J9x.
North led a fourth Club and 9 tricks were quickly wrapped up.
Note that if East plays the normal Ten of Clubs on the Ace then North can fully expect East to be able to stop the suit with the Jack. North can also count 9 tricks for declarer as long as declarer holds the Ace of Diamonds - not unlikely on the bidding. North may well reason therefore that the only hope for the defence lay in the Heart suit and return the Heart which Barbara feared.
It has to be realised that the deceptive play has to be made without the slightest hesitation - otherwise there is no deception. It is all the more difficult to perpetrate such a play when the deception in one suit is related to issues in another - as is the case here. This further brings home the importance of planning the play (and strategies to be used) before playing to the first trick since after the first trick the tempo is established.
