THE MATRON'S NEW TACTICS

By David Bird

The Matron had noticed recently that whenever Bertie Bellis played the hand he always ended with a top. What could be done about it? Perhaps she should open the bidding herself, even when she did not hold a proper opening bid. That was a good idea! For example, she could risk opening a three-bid on seven cards to the king-jack - rather than waiting for seven to the king-queen-jack, which didn't seem to happen very often. What did the bridge magazines call it? Playing an aggressive game, that was it. Years ago it was considered rather daring to open the bidding on 12 points. Nowadays some of the boys opened on 11-point hands and it seemed to work very well. At least, it did when they were playing against her.

The Matron smiled to herself as Bertie Bellis arrived at her table. He wouldn't be looking so pleased with himself if he knew what she had in store for him, given the right cards. She drew her cards and could not believe her luck. Just the sort of 11-count she had been hoping for!

Dealer: West. N/S Vul.     A 9 7   Q 4   8 7 6 5 2   7 5 2     6 3 2   A K 10 9 7   10 4   A 9 4   5   J 8 6 5 2   K J 9   Q J 10 6     K Q J 10 8 4   3   A Q 3   K 8 3

West	North	East	South
The Matron	Percy Cutforth	Madame Baguette	Bertie Bellis
1	Pass	4	4
Dbl	End

With the air of a young girl about to sample her first cigarette or alcoholic drink, the Matron leaned forward. 'One Heart,' she said. Madame Baguette raised to 4 and Bertie Bellis competed with 4.

So much for her great plan, thought the Matron. Despite taking such a risk with her opening bid, Bertie had ended in game anyway. Could he possibly be too high? The Matron cast her mind back, trying to remember the last time that Bertie Bellis had gone down in a contract. Still, she had three certain tricks in her hand and partner wouldn't raise to game unless she had some good cards. 'Double,' said the Matron.

The Matron led the A and continued with the king. Bertie Bellis, the senior maths master, paused to make a plan. How could he set up the diamond suit without allowing East on lead? One possibility was that the Matron held a doubleton king. If he cashed the A there was no chance whatsoever that she would unblock the king. He could then duck a diamond to the safe West hand, eventually discarding two clubs on dummy's long diamonds.

Still, West had already shown up with the A-K. It was probably more likely that East held the K. Playing for this chance, Bertie Bellis discarded a diamond on the second top heart. The Matron switched to a trump and dummy's seven won the trick. A finesse of the Q succeeded and Bertie Bellis cashed the A, all following. A trump to the nine allowed him to ruff a diamond high and the contract was now secure. He crossed to the ace of trumps, drawing West's last trump, and discarded two club losers on the good diamonds.

The Matron looked suspiciously at Bertie Bellis. 'Did you mean to throw a diamond at trick two?' she said. 'You could have ruffed, couldn't you?'

'I didn't want Madame Baguette to gain the lead,' Bertie Bellis replied. 'A club through the king would beat me then.'

Percy Cutforth peered learnedly through his thick lenses. 'I think you go down if Matron switches to a club at trick two,' he observed.

'That's not right,' declared the Matron. 'Bertie would make his king of clubs, then.'

'Yes, but you make two clubs, a heart and a diamond,' Percy Cutforth continued. 'A trump switch would beat it too.'

Looking somewhat disgruntled, the Matron sat back in her chair. That was the very last time she would open on an 11-count! Had she and Madame Baguette passed throughout there would have been no reason to double. Minus 620 would have been a nice average. There was no practical chance of beating the contract, obviously. Who in their right mind would risk a club switch when they could play a top winner instead?