Miss Ana Lysis & Miss Under Standing

By Ib Lundby

During many years as a bridge journalist I have had the privilege to know and work together with the late Terence Reese. We met around the world at championships like this one, and I have learned a lot from him, because he was always willing to help with the analysis. Whenever I sent him a letter I got an answer in return, in which he had corrected my errors of the English language. First I felt a little offended, but very soon I understood that it was meant in a friendly way.

The last few times we worked together I had to pay him back - and was happy with it. His favourite places were at his typewriter in the pressroom or at a backgammon game in the hotel lobby - not in the playing rooms - so I had to support him with interesting hands for his daily bridge columns.

Besides his bridge books Reese edited lots of bridge columns, and he made many errors in his writing for which he was often criticised, but his answer was always a smile. I remember one of his articles about Miss Ana Lysis where in a very funny way he made a joke of this. "Take the misanalysis as a challenge," he told his readers.

Declarer made a small misanalysis in this hand from round 16 in Denmark's match against Egypt.

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

West	North	East	South
	Askgaard		Bjarnarson
	Pass	1ª	4©
Pass	Pass	Dbl	Pass
4ª	All Pass

Against the same contract in the Closed Room South led the ¨K and East had an easy task (¨A, ªK, ªA, §A and a low club towards dummy - a standard safety play in clubs).

In the Open Room Gregers Bjarnarson selected to lead the ©A and continued with the ©2 to the ©K. Duly North returned a low club, and probably declarer had the safety play in mind, because he played the §A and had to go down when this was trumped. Of course the right plan to duck the club in hand is almost safe. It is very unlikely that North has only one club, which would be the only danger this plan could run into.

Now, say hello to another bridge lady, Miss Under Standing. She appears a couple of times in every match, and fortunately she showed some of her good sides in Denmark¢s important match against Norway in round 17.

In board no. 4 the Danes in the Closed Room were on their way to a club slam, when Marquardsen bidding 5© thought he asked for the ©K in his partner¢s hand. Not so, meant Schaltz. He passed, and though the contract was made, we expected a heavy loss when the result appeared on the screen. 6§ was lay-down.
But in the Open Room the Norwegian pair was a little too ambitious, when they found a way to 7§. The ©K was offside, and instead of a minus score Denmark earned 13 IMPs on Miss Under Standing's presence.

Now, on to board no. 6, where the lovely lady struck back again, this time in the Open Room:

Board 6. Dealer East. E/W Vul.   ª A 9 4 2 © J 8 ¨ K 8 6 5 § J 7 3 ª K Q J 6 © A 9 5 2 ¨ A § A K Q 8 ª 10 7 5 3 © K 10 3 ¨ 9 4 2 § 9 5 2   ª 8 © Q 7 6 4 ¨ Q J 10 7 3 § 10 6 4

West	North	East	South
Bjarnarson		Askgaard
		Pass	2© (1)
Dble	2NT (2)	Pass	3¨
Pass/Dble (3)	Pass	3ª	Pass
4©	All Pass

1) Four hearts + longer minor
2) Asking for the minor
3) The operator typed Pass, and we had to wait at least 30 terrible seconds before it was corrected.

Miss Under Standing once again showed up from her good side - it does not happen every day that you have to play in a cuebid of the enemy's opening suit - and manage to recover in the play.

As you see, 4© is not difficult to make. Bjarnarson won the diamond lead, played the ªK to the ace, ruffed the diamond continuation, played the ªQ ruffed by South, who played a third diamond ruffed by West. Now the ©A and a heart to the king left South with the master trump, but spades and clubs 3-3 was enough to survive. Dummy still had a trump to control the hand. A loss of 1 IMP, but a big kiss to Miss Under Standing.