PLAYING SLEUTH

By Michelle Brunner

As a child, did you ever want to be a detective when you grew up? Well, if your dream didn't materialise join the club - the bridge club! I wouldn't normally relish the idea of pitting my wits against the likes of Hercule Poirot or Perry Mason but at the bridge table I'm sure I would be able to solve some mysteries a lot quicker than they could!

The opportunity to play sleuth is an amazingly frequent occurrence. Take this little gem:

A J 10 9 8 2   K Q   K J 10   3 2

Your right-hand opponent opens 1NT (12-14) and you compete with 2. When partner makes a game-invitational raise to 3 you accept unhesitatingly, holding a top-of-the-range overcall bolstered by strong intermediates.

West	North	East	South
		1NT	2
Pass	3	Pass	4
End

West leads the 10. East wins with the ace and fires back the 6. Now, who is he trying to kid? You are totally familiar with the odds of bringing in this trump suit for no losers. Everyone knows the finesse is superior to playing for the king to be singleton. What's more, East has opened the bidding. So, what's the problem?

Q 5 4 3   J 7   Q 9 8   K Q J 10   A J 10 9 8 2   K Q   K J 10   3 2

East is a cute cookie! Switching to a trump at trick two is good defence. Superficially, it appears to present declarer with a losing option before South has had time to collect any clues.

A careful survey of the scene at trick one, however, will ensure declarer is one step ahead. Have your investigative skills traced the location of the K yet?

As you rise with the A, your left-hand opponent is stunned to see that you have spurned the 50% finesse and successfully dropped the missing spade honour. The king is dead! Are you guilty of murder? No, but your opponent suspects you of 'peeping'. How does the accused plea? Present your case to the court. Here is the full deal:

Q 5 4 3   J 7   Q 9 8   K Q J 10     K   10 9 8 3 2   5 4 3   7 6 5 4   7 6   A 6 5 4   A 7 6 2   A 9 8     A J 10 9 8 2   K Q   K J 10   3 2

'It's like this, your honour, there were only 15 high-card points out against me which marked East, who opened a 12-14 1NT, with the three missing aces. It was elementary to fell the king'.

'Indeed, it was,' agrees the judge. 'Case dismissed!'