June 2005 - 43

South should not double 1. He
does not have the right shape and
he does not have sufficient values to
double and then to keep bidding if
North bids something that South does
not like.
North's bid of 1 is actually a tiny
underbid. Some players would bid
2 to show a positive response. 2
promises 8 to 11 support points for
spades. It does not promise five of
them. Four is adequate. In light of the
definition for 2, this hand can go
either way.
South's 1NT bid is in the nature
of an apology. South does not want
to put down his dummy with only
two trumps. The way to avoid this
problem is not to double in the first
place. Having doubled 1, South
now has to make a second bad call.
He can pass 1 or bid 1NT. The
1NT bid promises a hand that was
better than a minimum 1NT overcall,
something in the range of 18-19 HCP.
North's 3NT bid is excellent. He
thinks that South has around 18 HCP,
and North has 8 points himself. His
raise to game is without fault. South
will probably make some comment
about just trying to escape from 1,
but that is not a good excuse. South
ought to have been quiet earlier. 3NT
will go down one or two at least,
which is obviously bad since the
correct contract for North-South is
1NT.
How the bidding should go is not
clear. I can think of four or five
sequences that would occur if South
passed 1.

June
June 2005
2005

Had West switched to a club or a
spade at trick two, East would have
gained the lead in time to cash two
of his good clubs.
When on defense, you must watch
and see what cards your partner is
playing on your trick(s). Partner
will tell you what she thinks the
next move should be. West should
have been like a member of the
military, waiting for a "command"
from partner. Once the order
goes out, West must obey (in this
case, cease and desist with the
diamonds).

Leslie Shafer is the editor of
Bridge Students 'R Us, a newsletter
for intermediate and newcomer
players (six issues per year for
$25). Write to Leslie Shafer, 690
Concerto Lane, Silver Spring MD
20901.

Sold Down the River
While traveling out of town, you
visit a local bridge club. It turns out
that there are no duplicate games
scheduled for that day, but there is a
rubber-bridge game being played for
nominal stakes. You join and soon
pick up the following rock crusher:
A K Q A K Q J 10 9  - A K Q J.
What's your plan? It looks like
7 would make most of the time,
but 6 is safer and ought to yield
an easy profit.
So you proudly bid 6, but
to your surprise your left-hand
opponent doubles! Not one to leave
money lying on the floor, you
decide to teach LHO a sharp lesson
by redoubling.
Instead of collecting the expected
windfall, however, you soon find
yourself reaching for your wallet as
6 fails by six tricks! How can this
be?
See next column
If you get the feeling you've
been had, you're right. This is the
infamous Mississippi Heart Hand,
a trick deal dating from the days
of whist. With a diamond lead, the
defense can hold declarer to six
tricks.

Here's the full deal:
 10 5 4 3 2
-
5432
5432
-
J 9 8 7 6
 8 7 6 5 4 3 2 WN E  -
 A K Q J 10 9 S  8 7 6
-
 10 9 8 7 6
A K Q
 A K Q J 10 9
-
A K Q J
According to the Official
Encyclopedia of Bridge, this deal
was probably used by the cardsharps
of the Mississippi River steamboats
during the Civil War period who
hoped to persuade South to make
a heavy bet on the odd (seventh)
trick with hearts as trumps. It grew
in favor among the professional
cheaters in the days of bridgewhist. As doubling and redoubling
could continue indefinitely, the odd
trick in a low stake game could
become as much as the victim was
considered good for. Steel baron
Charles M. Schwab is reported to
have paid off not less than $10,000
on this deal.

43

PLAY BRIDGE

Dlr: East  K Q J 6
Vul: None  Q 4 2
74
 10 9 8 2
 10 5 4 2
A 9 3
N
95
 A 10 8 6
W E
J82
 Q 10 5 3
S
K763
A 5
87
KJ73
A K 9 6
QJ4
West
North
East
South
1
Dbl
Pass
1
Pass
1NT
Pass
3NT
All Pass

 Bridge Player's Survival
West should have switched, but he
continued with the K and then
got out with a trump.
Declarer drew trumps in two
rounds and cashed the Q to pitch
the 7 from dummy. The defenders
got only one club and defeated the
contract by one undoubled trick for
plus 100.
You must learn signals so you can
punish the opponents when they get
too frisky, as North-South did on
the example deal. The opponents
will keep trying to see how much
you will let them get away with,
like children pushing their parents,
needing boundaries.
You can keep them "honest" by
getting your doubling shoes on and
exerting some good old-fashioned
discipline. Start letting them know
that if they step out of line at your
table there will be consequences.
Table of Contents for the Digital Edition of June 2005
