October 2021 - 58

Intermediate Players
Boehm on Bridge
Deception - part 7
D
eception's goal is to create a
false impression, hoping to
make life more difficult for
the opposition. As we've seen in this
series, opportunities for deception
occur both in the auction and the
play. The safest time to throw up a
smokescreen is as declarer, because
partner is uninvolved. Deceptive
moves in the bidding or on defense
risk misleading partner, perhaps with
disastrous consequences, so the utmost
discretion is needed. As defender,
the best time for deception is when
partner holds a very weak hand and is
unlikely to play a role in the defense.
In the auction, don't try to be tricky
unless you are confident that partner
has no further bidding decisions. A
traditional preempt, where captaincy
is transferred to responder, is an ideal
moment. Consider this problem from
The Bridge World's Master Solvers'
Club, June 2003. IMP scoring, not
vulnerable versus vulnerable, partner
opens 4k, RHO passes, and you are
dealt:
K kQ 7 5 lJ 6 5 4 2 '9 7 6 5;
what's your call?
A panel of 34 experts voted as
follows: 18 = Pass, 3 = 5k, 4 = 6k, 5
= 4NT and 4 = 4. Pass may seem
the panel's overwhelming favorite,
but note that 16 voted for some sort
of action to further the preempt, a
near-even split versus pass. It's not
that the passers were oblivious of
the opponents' potential. Almost
all realized that a spade game was
certain and a successful spade slam
a distinct possibility, considering the
lack of defense. The K might not be
worth anything if LHO holds the A,
a percentage proposition because
RHO has already passed. Still, they
58 | Bridge Bulletin | October 2021
felt that partner's 4k might have
already done sufficient damage to the
opponents' communications. For instance,
if LHO balances with 4, or
instead doubles for takeout and RHO
responds 4, all these actions have
an extremely wide range. LHO might
balance with 4 holding anything
from one of these extremes to the
other:
Q J 10 4 3 2 k4 lA K 8 7 '8 3
A Q 10 4 3 2 k- lA K 8 'A 8 3 2.
Both opponents will be aware of the
range of possibilities and allow each
other great leeway, often missing a
good slam.
Those who voted to advance the
preempt were at the other end of the
spectrum.
Seven panelists raised hearts and
nine picked a deceptive move, either
4NT or 4! The raisers recognized
the deceptive options, but they believed
that consuming bidding space
was the priority, and some had reservations
that a psyche might backfire.
Perhaps the preemptor might think
he was invited back into the auction
after an apparent slam try such as
4NT. No one worried much about
being doubled in a high heart bid. If
your side can take about eight tricks
against a vulnerable game or slam,
the price rates to be worthwhile.
The Blackwood bidders were
trying to sow confusion by sounding
strong. They hoped either to scare
the opponents out of the auction or
prevent a 5k sacrifice from being
doubled. Partner's response to 4NT
won't bypass 5k because he can't bid
5 advertising two keycards plus the
trump queen.
The 4 bidders were boldest of all.
BY AUGUST BOEHM
They were counting on the ambiguity
of LHO's double; is it takeout of
spades or penalty? What would 5
mean, natural or some sort of cuebid?
How many pairs have discussed such
auctions? No one was concerned
about being left in 4 undoubled.
Even down 10, minus 500, is a bargain.
Of course, if doubled for penalty,
they plan to escape to hearts. Partner
must recognize that such a highly
irregular course of action does not
invite correction to spades. Deceptive
moves must often be tailored to
the level of the opponents and partner.
Remember that these tactical
psyches are in no way illegal or even
faintly unethical, no more than falsecards
are. It's all part of bridge.
My sympathies lie with the bidders.
6k seems ill-advised because
it implies fear of a slam. LHO, gazing
at a wealth of high-card points, is not
going to believe you are bidding 6k
to make. He is apt to draw the correct
inference that you are trying to
stampede him out of slam and may
take the dare. If he does, will you continue
to 7k? What if it pushes them
into a making 7? I'd rather not get
involved with such scenarios.
5k is less revealing but it may also
goad the opponents into a slam they
would otherwise not reach. Personally,
I like the deception of 4, but
the majority of the panel felt that
passing 4k was the call most likely
to make life difficult for the opposition.
Knowing the deceptive options
does not mandate using them. In the
end, it may come down to personality.
Highly imaginative experts like Zia
(he was a 4 bidder) tend to remain
true to character, solid citizens true
to theirs.
October 2021

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