Computer Analysis
Newcastle Herald
Friday April 30, 2004
THE deal shown arose in a recent matchpoint pairs session at Newcastle Bridge Club.
The most popular contract was 2H by East or West. Some Easts, playing Acol, would have opened 1NT (12-14) and reached the final contract of 2H via a 2D transfer from West.
Other Easts, playing Standard, would have opened 1D and rebid 1S or 1NT over West's response of 1H. West has to decide whether to rebid 2H or pass. 2H is a reasonable spot but at first sight 1NT appears better, as both contracts would seem to yield the same number of tricks, namely eight.
At one table Helena Dawson was sitting East playing in 1NT. She received the lead of the spade two from South. Dummy won the trick and Dawson then made the good play of a small heart yes, away from the AQ. She won the return and then took the heart finesse.
When that won, she ran the hearts and collected four hearts, two spades, a diamond and a club for eight tricks and a good score of 120. The same tricks are available in a heart contract for a score of 110 much inferior at matchpoints.
Perusal of the hand records after the session brought a surprise. The hand records include a printout of the analysis by ``Deep Finesse". This program calculates the number of tricks that can be scored in various contracts providing at least seven tricks can be scored by the declaring side.
The surprise was that on this deal neither side could score seven tricks in no-trumps, let alone eight. At first it seemed that ``Deep Finesse" was wrong. Could the computer be wrong? But no, there is a defence to beat 1NT by East. Can you see it?
South must lead the three or seven of diamonds. This provides the defence with an all-important tempo to set up diamond and spade tricks before declarer can rein in the hearts and the club trick.
At trick one North covers whatever card is played from dummy and leads spades if allowed to win the trick. As long as the defence comes to two spade tricks they can also collect three diamonds, one heart and one club for a total of seven tricks. ``Deep Finesse" was right again but who would find that opening lead at the table!
© 2004 Newcastle Herald