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The " Toughest" Part of the Game
“TRUST ME; I KNOW WHAT I AM DOING!”
There are a lot of tough parts of our game. Bidding to the best contract taxes many. Playing hands well is no “walk in the park”. Tough defence can be hard to find, very hard.
There is one more aspect that challenges the best, following suit. Do you sort your hand into suits or are you one of those unusual individuals who scatter their suits throughout their hand? It must be tough because watch one of our top Women’s internationals, Christine Gibbons at work in the recent South Island Teams.
Maybe the bidding was too tough on her to remember. Concentrate now. Christine sat North during the following:
West North East South
1NT Pass
3NT All Pass
Christine’s partner, Jenna, led 
3 with the following appearing in dummy:
AJ8
Q65
Q63
KQ63
The J won trick one after which declarer called for dummy’s K upon which Christine played 4. Before the trick was completed, she gave a rather sheepish grin indicating that she did in fact have a club. So, the director was called with Christine playing the A and the tabled spade being the card she had to play next. (tip: if you are going to revoke, and you correct to win the trick with the ace, revoke in the suit partner led. It means you get to return partner’s suit: keeps them sweet!).
Declarer won the enforced spade with the king and laid down a high diamond from hand. Jenna and dummy played low but Christine played a small heart. (Tip 2: always discard in the same colour. No-one notices.)
Except this time everyone noticed. All eyes on Christine. Come on, Christine. Own up!
I can reveal Christine’s hand or the hand she claimed to hold:
9542
KT983
-
AT95
Concentrating hard is Christine
But no-one believed her! As you can see, following suit is tough.
Richard Solomon
ps a more serious look at the South Island Teams will follow soon.
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