Aesop's Bridge Fables
DON'T COUNT YOUR PIGLETS

By Terry Coulson

Lydia, 7th. century B.C.

King Croesus gathered in his winnings at the end of their three rubbers and smiled amiably at his companions. Aesop, Solon and Thales, three resident sages at the Lydian court, were accustomed to this, for the King was a shrewd player and invariably won at their regular weekly sessions.

'Come now, Aesop, good Phrygian!' quoth the King. 'Entertain us with one of your fables ere we depart to sleep!'

'As you wish, great and wealthy King,' said Aesop and went on as follows.

'Once upon a time, long, long ago, before the age of men, the animals played bridge amongst themselves. When the Tiger and his team played a match against the Owl's team, there was one decisive hand:

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

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

'At both tables, North opened 1 and South responded 1. North now jumped to 2NT, showing a balanced hand too good to open a strong 1NT and, although South had only a modest point count, he fancied his playing strength and did not hesitate to bid the spade game. Both declarers received the lead of the A which they ruffed. Play at the two tables now diverged.

'The Tiger counted five trump tricks, four diamonds and the A, roared exultantly, and with little further thought cashed the ace and king in both spades and diamonds, returning to hand with a second heart ruff. A third round of spades revealed that East now held the thirteenth trump. The Tiger tried to cash two more diamonds, but East ruffed the fourth round and the Tiger was held to five trump tricks, three diamonds and the A. The Tiger mewled in frustrated disappointment.

'The Owl, however, thought the play through in more detail, as was his habit, and realised the danger of the line followed by the Tiger should the trumps break 4-2, as was likely. Ten tricks were surely available, but how best to realise them? The solution soon came to him: his tempting diamond honours were but a snare! He cashed the A-K and the A, then ruffed two master diamonds in dummy returning to hand with heart ruffs so as to make seven tricks from his trumps to bring the tally to ten.'

'That's rich!' Croesus declared, slapping his thigh with a chortle. 'And the moral, wise Phrygian?'
'Don't count your piglets until the sow has farrowed,' said Aesop.