7 June 2025

Spectator

3 days ago

'There are only three kinds of Bridge players; those who can count and those who can't.' And there are only two types of reader: those who find this funny and those who, like me, don't.
It's not so much that it's hard to count to 13 – it isn't really – it's just that there are so many things to keep track of; trumps, side suits, points and shapes. And of course, the main one which is easy to forget – counting your tricks and those of your opponents.
West started with Ace and another Diamond. South ruffed and played a top Heart, West winning and persisting with a Diamond. With an unexpected second trump loser, it appeared to Declarer as if she had to get a Club away on the Spades. She took a couple of trumps and Ace, King of Clubs to get some info about the hand, then played a small Spade to the Ace, one back to the Queen and a third Spade – then time stopped. Eventually she finessed the ♠️10 and went two off when East won and cashed a Club.
'I don't know,' said North to her partner, showing that she was no great countess herself. 'With East being void in Hearts, he's more likely to have three Spades, isn't he?'
So what has declarer missed?
She should have looked down and counted her tricks. When West follows to the third Spade, the contract is guaranteed if you put up the King. Either East follows with the Jack and you can throw your Club away, or he shows out, in which case you just ruff a Spade in hand for your tenth trick.
She had counted everything except her own tricks.