December 2010 - 60

Bridge with the Abbot

David Bird
Brother Cameron's return
Halfway through the monastery du‑
plicate session, the Abbot faced the
disrespectful novice, Brother Cam‑
eron. His continued success at the
Internet poker tables had been swell‑
ing the monastery coffers by around
500 pounds a week. As a reward,
he had been allowed to resume his
old bridge partnership with Brother
Damien.
On the first board of the round,
Brother Xavier scored well, making a
borderline 3NT. This was the compan‑
ion board:
Dlr: South  Q J 9 8 7 2
Vul: E-W  K Q
 10 4
 A 10 3
 A 10 5 4 3
-
N
 10 9 3
J865
W E
AK82
753
S
J
Q98742
K6
A742
QJ96
K65
West
The
Abbot
Pass
Pass
Dbl

North East
South
Brother Brother Brother
Damien Xavier Cameron
1NT
2
Pass
2
4
Pass
Pass
All Pass

60 Bridge Bulletin December 2010

Brother Cameron opened a 12-14
1NT and was soon in 4. It seemed
to the Abbot that he had nothing
to lose by doubling this contract. If
dummy appeared with a singleton
diamond and 10 tricks were there, so
be it. He led the A and was pleased
to see a doubleton diamond appear in
the dummy. He cashed a second dia‑
mond trick, before the rats could get
at it, and switched to the 10.
Brother Cameron, who was looking
somewhat weary after several months
of playing poker throughout the night,
won the heart switch with dummy's
king. "Seven of trumps," he said.
The Abbot raised an eyebrow at this
play. What purpose could there be in
leading the 7 of trumps rather than
the 2?
East discarded a club on this trick
and the Abbot won declarer's king
with the ace. When he played a sec‑
ond round of hearts, Brother Cameron
overtook dummy's queen with his
ace. Happy with the way the play was
going, the novice then placed the 6
on the table. The Abbot could not af‑
ford to cover with the 10 and, thanks
to the earlier unblock of the trump 7,
Brother Cameron was able to follow
with dummy's 2 of trumps. The lead
remained in the South hand, exactly
where declarer wanted it.
When Brother Cameron continued
with the Q, the Abbot followed suit
and a club was thrown from dummy.
The Abbot followed to the J too.
Brother Cameron brushed back a
lock of wayward hair. "Throw the ace
of clubs," he instructed.

These cards remained in play:

 10 5 4
9
-
J

QJ98
-
-
 10
-
N
J8
W E
-
S
Q98
-
74
-
K65

Brother Cameron ruffed a heart
with the 8 of trumps and returned to
his hand with the K. He then led
another club, ruffing with dummy's 9,
and the doubled game was his.
"Nothing we could do," exclaimed
the Abbot. "I had to double, of course.
Minus 420 would be a bottom any‑
way."
"He did well to make it," observed
Brother Xavier. "I suppose he might
have played less carefully without a
double."
For a moment the Abbot closed his
eyes. One day, far in the future, a deal
would arise that would not be capped
by some fatuous critical remark from
Brother Xavier. Where on earth had
he acquired such an unfortunate
habit? Not from himself, it went with‑
out saying. The Abbot's own guideline
had always been: If you can't think of
anything nice to say, say nothing at
all. Was it beyond Brother Xavier to
follow his partner's helpful example?
Life would be much more pleasant if
he could.
r
Table of Contents for the Digital Edition of December 2010
