Thinking the Unthinkable Defence

Pages: Page 3 of 3

Dealer: South
Vuln: N-S
Scoring: IMPs
  1. spadeQ 10 7 3
  2. heartA J 6
  3. diamondQ 4
  4. clubK 10 6 4
  1. spade9 2
  2. heart9 8 5 3
  3. diamond10 8 6 2
  4. club9 7 2
Green square in centre
  1. spadeJ 6 5
  2. heartQ 10
  3. diamondK 9 7 5 3
  4. clubA Q J

Contract: 4spade
Declarer: South
Lead: club2
  1. spadeA K 8 4
  2. heartK 7 4 2
  3. diamondA J
  4. club8 5 3
Double dummy analyser: makeable contracts
West North East South
1NT*
Pass 2club** Pass 2heart
Pass 3NT Pass 4spade
Pass Pass Pass

#Lead shows xxx or Hxxx

*15-17
**Stayman

When faced with an seemingly impossible situation, we have to think the unthinkable. Fortunately for appreciative bridge writers everywhere, East was the defensive genius, Gabriel Chagas, and his thoughts were certainly 'unthought' by an unsuspecting declarer. Chagas created the illusion that, not only was he in a position to obtain a club ruff, but also that his partner had the potential entry to give him that ruff! So what did he do? He cashed the clubA at trick two, and switched to the diamond9!!!! Poor South, a good player himself, rose with Ace and drew trumps. He then took the 'marked' finesse of the club10, intending to discard his losing diamond on the clubK. Chagas won the clubQ and cashed the diamondK for one down.

This is a famous deal and Chagas' heroics have been published several times elsewhere. I make no apology for repeating it.
Previous page

This section is a placeholder for the forum. For the time being it will be a noshow class.