feb.indd

English 47 There is a saying, "to stare like a halfwit." The opponents reached the heart game here in no time at all. Both Vulnerable, Teams West North East South 1 ♣ Pass 1 ♥ Pass 2 ♥ Pass 4 ♥ Pass Pass Pass ♠ ♥ ♦ ♣ 875 AT82 A9 AJ98 ♠ ♥ ♦ ♣ QJT 43 Q7642 K75 Partner led the ♦ 5. Declarer won with the ace, following with the ten from his hand, and played a diamond from the dummy. On the first diamond trick I carefully played the ♦ 7, indicating an odd number of cards. On the second diamond I followed with a sophisticated ♦ 4, showing values in both black suits ( ♦ 6 – values in spades only, ♦ 2 – in clubs). The full hand was: ♠ ♥ ♦ ♣ A63 6 KJ853 6432 ♠ ♥ ♦ ♣ K942 KQJ975 T QT ♠ ♥ ♦ ♣ 875 AT82 A9 AJ98 ♠ ♥ ♦ ♣ QJT 43 Q7642 K75 "Wake up and rise with the queen", I rebuke myself rather too late. Why? Declarer discarded a club on the ♦ 9 and secured the contract regardless of the location of the club king and spade ace. Now the safe ruffing finesse in clubs brings the contract home. Calf - Not a Fly Take an active part in the game. I know how often we think that there is nothing we can do. Still, on many boards this is not true. I opened a weak two in the first seat, and the bidding took off immediately: E/W Vulnerable, Teams West North East South 2 ♥ Dbl 3 ♣ Pass 5 ♣ 5 ♠ 6 ♣ 6 ♠ Pass Pass Pass Krzysztof Martens Halfwit Calf