Bridge: The 'automatic play' that may be fatal

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May 24, 2012

Bridge: The 'automatic play' that may be fatal

Bridge Phillip Adler The Gloucester Daily Times Thu May 24, 2012, 01:39 AM EDT

Doug Coupland, a Canadian novelist who was described by Edward King in The Daily Telegraph newspaper in England as one of the greatest satirists of consumerism, said, "Forget about being world famous; it's hard enough just getting the automatic doors at the supermarket to acknowledge your existence."

There are plays that look automatic at the bridge table. And more often than not, they will be correct. What looks automatic in this three-no-trump contract after West leads his fourth-highest diamond? How is it fatal?

It is normally best not to use Stayman with 4-3-3-3 distribution. If a major-suit fit isn't found, the defenders have been given free information. And if opener is also 4-3-3-3, three no-trump is probably better than game in the major.

South starts with seven top tricks: three spades, two hearts, one diamond and one club. At least two more tricks are available in clubs. If that finesse is winning, the contract is in no danger. But what if the finesse is losing?

The "automatic" play is low from the dummy at trick one. But here East wins with the queen and returns his second diamond. Then, when West gets in with the club king, he runs the diamonds.

If diamonds are 4-3, there is no problem. But if West has five diamonds, what is East's holding?

He will probably have king- or queen-doubleton. (It is possible that he has 10-doubleton, but not as likely.) Given that, declarer's correct play is immediately to call for dummy's diamond ace. Then he takes the club finesse. With the diamond suit blocked, the door opens to the contract.

******

North05-24-12

SPADES Q 6 3

HEARTS A 5 4 2

DIAMONDS A 7 2

CLUBS Q 8 5

WestEast

SPADES 10 8 5SPADES J 9 4 2

HEARTS Q 10 9HEARTS J 8 6

DIAMONDS K 10 8 4 3DIAMONDS Q 9

CLUBS K 4CLUBS 7 6 3 2

South