There is a general perception that interest in bridge is declining in the country. Particularly, in the big cities which are known for regular bridge activity. But many bridge loving players do not share this view as far as social bridge is concerned. Many social clubs throughout the country have a considerable attendance of high ranking active and retired civil and military officers and people from other professions also, spend their leisure time in playing Rubber Bridge at their clubs.

Notably, people living in Karachi, Lahore, Islamabad and Hyderabad, are fond of playing rubber bridge and hold regular bridge sessions at their clubs and homes. But a large number of players among them do not participate in competitive or duplicate bridge. According to them they find bridge contests an exacting and a time consuming affair. In addition the task of forming bridge team to participate in the tournament is equally an onerous one.

Notwithstanding, the heightened element of pleasure of play and test of skill in competitive bridge, the rubber bridge has its own charm and it is zealously played at the social clubs. The standard and quality of club bridge play may differ from duplicate bridge contest, but in many cases the average players of bridge show a spark of competitive spirit that is associated with tournament bridge. One such deal played recently by senior retired civil and military personnel at Karachi Gymkhana is produced below which reflects comparable competitive sting.

THE WEST LED SPADE TWO

All the four players made tactful bidding. But the final bid by south is a classical example of bidding in which the south suspected that east west could make five spades on the basis that one of them may be void in heart suit and there was no effective defense for their contract. Whereas, by bidding six hearts, he thought it might make for instantaneous support by his partner sitting in north position for a very good score or else he might go down by one or two tricks that again would be a better score for his side as compared to conceding 650 points, if five spades were to be made.

The south ruffed the ace of spade. Looking at the dummy, the south was full of hope if the heart and club finesse worked favourably for a slam contract. He played the ace of heart and a small heart towards the dummy on the third trick and finessed the jack of heart successfully, East discarding spade three. Then, he played another spade from dummy ruffed in hand. Later, he played small heart to the king capturing the queen of heart held by west. Then the south played last spade in the dummy and ruffed in hand. At this stage, the south moved jack of club and allowed it to ride, which was won by east with the king and unfortunately, it was the only and the last trick for the defense. And there was no loser left in the dummy as the south carefully avoided ruffing a diamond in the dummy, which was not needed in order to keep one trump in the dummy.

Thus, the tactful bidding and calculated play brought a slam for North-South for favourable distribution of cards.

THE BIDDING:

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West     North     East     South

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 -        -        1S          2H

4S        5H       5S          6H

Pass     Pass     Pass

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Dealer South:

East-West vulnerable

NORTH

S 654

H KJ93

D K5

C AQ72

WEST

S Q972

H Q65

D J76

C 843

EAST

S AKJ83

H 4

D Q42

C K65

SOUTH

S -------

H A10872

D A10983

C J109

GOLDEN TIP: Taking a calculated risk works to the advantage of bidding side.

Copyright Business Recorder, 2004