September 2021 - 64

Special Contributor
Bridge with the Abbot
The Abbot's unlucky lead
" H
ave you seen all the bulbs
pushing through, Abbot? "
asked Brother Lucius,
taking his seat. " Spring is very uplifting,
I always find. "
" I've been far too busy, " grunted
the Abbot. " Do you think I can spare
the time to stroll around the grounds,
noting every crocus or daffodil that
has deigned to put in an appearance? "
" It's a shame if the Lord's wonderful
handiwork passes unappreciated, "
Brother Lucius replied. " The same
goes for Brother Arbuthnot's handiwork,
of course. It took him a whole
day to plant that new narcissus bed. "
" We all play our part, " the Abbot replied.
" It's you to speak first, Xavier. "
Dlr: East  A Q 5 2
Vul: Both k 3 2
l A K 4 2
' 5 4 2
 9 3
k 6 4
l J 10 9 6 5
' J 9 8 6
 8
k K Q J 10 9 8 7
l 8 7
' Q 10 7
 K J 10 7 6 4
k A 5
l Q 3
' A K 3
West North East
The
Bro.
Pass
Pass
Pass
Bro.
South
Bro.
Abbot Lucius Xavier Paulo
3k 3
4l Pass 4NT
5 Pass
6l Pass
5NT
7
All Pass
The Abbot, who had shown no great
enthusiasm while sorting his hand,
sat back wearily in his chair when the
opponents reached a grand slam. No
64 | Bridge Bulletin | September 2021
doubt there would be 14 tricks on top
and they would score 95% for their totally
obvious bidding sequence. " Key
card Blackwood, was it? " he queried.
" Lucius showed me two key cards,
the trump queen and then the lK, "
Brother Paulo replied. " Then, as
usual, my jump to the grand slam was
a completely unjustified gamble. "
The Abbot was unamused. Paulo's
gambles had a nasty habit of paying
off. Now, what should he lead?
ThelJ was one obvious possibility.
Still, partner had opened with a vulnerable
three-bid. If a heart lead was
the killer, there would be little excuse
if he tried his luck elsewhere. The
Abbot placed the k6 on the table, and
down went the dummy.
" The four cards I told you about, "
said Brother Lucius, " and no other
card higher than a five! "
Brother Paulo nodded his thanks.
Although the dummy had nothing to
spare, it did contain four cards in the
diamond suit. If the Abbot's k6 was
his top card in the suit and he also
held the diamond guard, it seemed
that a double squeeze would be possible.
Brother
Paulo won the heart lead
with the ace and played five rounds
of trumps. The Abbot, sitting West,
threw one diamond, his remaining
heart and then a club. These cards
were still to be played:
 -
k -
l J 10 9 6
' J 9 8
 7
k 5
l Q 3
' A K 3
When the last trump was led, the
Abbot retained his diamond guard,
releasing another club. A club was
thrown from dummy and East discarded
the kQ. Paulo continued with
three rounds of diamonds and the
last of these squeezed East in hearts
and clubs. Brother Xavier decided to
discard the kK and Paulo eventually
scored his 13th trick with the established
k5.
" Excellent evaluation during the
bidding, partner, " observed Brother
Lucius. " Not many players would
count the k5 as a full trick. "
Brother Paulo smiled. " We were a
bit lucky there, " he replied. " If the Abbot
happens to lead the k4 instead of
the 6, he beats the slam. He can keep
hold of the 6 and discard his clubs. "
BY DAVID BIRD
 -
k 3
l A K 4 2
' 5 4
 -
k K Q
l 8 7
' Q 10 7
September 2021

Table of Contents for the Digital Edition of September 2021
