The Paradox of Bridge

Pages: Page 4 of 4

Dealer: North
Vuln: Game All
Scoring: IMPs
  1. spadeA 8 5
  2. heartQ J 10 7 3 2
  3. diamondK Q 5 3
  4. club—
  1. spadeK Q J 4 3
  2. heart8
  3. diamond8 2
  4. clubJ 10 9 7 3
club diamond heart spade NT
N - 7 6 - 5
S - 7 6 - 5
E 2 - - 1 -
W 2 - - 1 -
Green square in centre
  1. spade7 6 2
  2. heartK 6 4
  3. diamondJ 9
  4. clubA K 8 5 2

Contract: 7diamond
Declarer: South
Lead: spadeK
  1. spade10 9
  2. heartA 9 5
  3. diamondA 10 7 6 4
  4. clubQ 6 4
Double dummy analyser: makeable contracts
West North East South
1heart Pass 2diamond
Pass 4club* Pass 4heart
Pass 5club Pass 6club
Pass 7diamond Pass Pass
Pass

* void

Over in the Bermuda Bowl final between USA and Pakistan, the American pair of Arnold and Solodar had what must have seemed to be a perfectly reasonable sequence to the excellent game of 4heart. Unfortunately, it was a little too excellent, as was seen in the other room where Munir and Fazli bid the spots off in the sequence shown.

The expression "Might as well be hanged for a sheep as much as a lamb" comes to mind. If the heart finesse works, declarer will make thirteen tricks on the expected spade lead. If not, eleven tricks will be the limit - a classic "five or seven" deal. Pakistan gained 16 IMPs, but lost the match.
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