Timeo Gallos et Dona Ferentes

I fear the French, even when bearing gifts.

Mark Horton

One of the joys of the services provided by www.bridgebase.com or www.e-bridgemaster.com is that even while confined to the Bulletin Room one can dip in to one of live broadcasts. I happened to choose the perfect moment when France met Greece in Round 9 of the Open Series. The French gave their opponents two tremendous opportunities, but the Greeks did not take advantage.

Board 11. Dealer South. None Vul.
	ª K J 10 3 © A 9 5 2 ¨ - § A K J 6 3
ª 9 6 2 © - ¨ K Q 10 9 8 5 3 2 § 10 2		ª A 8 7 4 © K 8 3 ¨ 6 4 § 9 8 7 4
	ª Q 5 © Q J 10 7 6 4 ¨ A J 7 § Q 5

Open Room
West	North	East	South
Palau	Papakyriacopoulos	Rombaut	Filios
			1©
4¨	5¨	Pass	6©
All Pass

This auction was reproduced at many tables. Here West led the king of diamonds. Declarer won with the ace and advanced the queen of hearts. When West failed to follow he mysteriously failed to go up with the ace and play on clubs – and that would have been the indicated line even if West had followed with a small heart. Assuming the contract was the same at the other table it rated to be an expensive mistake.

Before we move on to see what happened at the other table it is of more than passing interest to see if West can find the lead that will defeat the slam.

The late Terence Reese maintained that on every hand there was always a clue or indication, however slight. When North bids Five Diamonds he must have a diamond control, almost certainly a void, so there can be little point in leading that suit. Unless declarer is 4-5-0-4 he will have at least a five card black suit, and therefore a potential source of discards.

Given that you have three spades and two clubs there is a very small indication that the long suit will be clubs, and therefore you should lead a spade.

You may not be convinced, but I can tell you that in the match between Luxembourg and the USA Michael Rosenberg led a spade to defeat Six Hearts.

Closed Room
West	North	East	South
Kannavos	Multon	Triandaphy	Quantin
			1©
4¨	5¨	Pass	5©
Pass	6§	All Pass

North thought he was investigating the possibility of a Grand Slam with his Six Club bid, while South took a different view. Jean Paul Meyer and I spent some time discussing the theoretical aspects of the situation, and this might make a nice question for one of the ‘You be the Jury’ type problems that used to appear in The Bridge World.

Six Clubs had two unavoidable losers, so there was no swing.

Board 13. Dealer North. All Vul.
	ª - © Q J 2 ¨ A Q 10 9 8 6 3 2 § 9 2
ª 10 9 5 3 © 7 6 5 ¨ 5 § A K 5 4 3		ª A K J 8 7 6 4 © 8 4 3 ¨ K § Q 6
	ª Q 2 © A K 10 9 ¨ J 7 4 § J 10 8 7

Open Room
West	North	East	South
Palau	Papakyriacopoulos	Rombaut	Filios
	4¨	4ª	5¨
5ª	6¨	Pass	Pass
Dble	All Pass

Why North bid Six Diamonds is of passing interest, but when East led the ace of spades, unlikely as it was that West was doubling on the strength of any potential spade tricks, declarer was in with a chance. He ruffed, crossed to dummy with a heart and advanced the jack of diamonds. When West played low he ran it, and East was not slow to switch to a club to collect +500.

For the second time a finesse had proved to be declarer’s downfall.

Closed Room
West	North	East	South
Kannavos	Multon	Triandaphy	Quantin
	4¨	4ª	5¨
5ª	All Pass

The defenders were not slow to cash their four red suit winners, two down, -200 and 12 IMPs.