Z's Hand.
Score: AB, love; YZ, four.
Two of diamonds turned up.
Trick 1.
Tricks AB, 1
YZ, 0
1. A↷ Y B Z
Qn♦ 6♦ 3♦ 2♦
Trick 2.
Tricks AB, 2
YZ, 0
2. A↷ Y B Z
A♦ 8♦ 7♦ 4♦
Trick 3.
Tricks AB, 3
YZ, 0
3. A↷ Y B Z
Kg♦ 9♦ 7♣ 10♦
Remark (Trick 3).—The knave of diamonds, and therefore the command of trumps, is marked in Y's hand.
Trick 4.
Tricks AB, 4
YZ, 0
4. A↷ Y B Z
Kg♠ 4♠ 3♠ 7♠
Trick 5.
Tricks AB, 5
YZ, 0
5. A↷ Y B Z
A♠ 6♠ 5♠ 9♠
Trick 6.
Tricks AB, 5
YZ, 1
6. A↷ Y B Z
2♠ 2♥ Knv♠ Qn♠
Trick 7.
Tricks AB, 5
YZ, 2
7. A Y B Z↷
Kg♣ A♣ 8♣ Qn♣
Trick 8.
Tricks AB, 5
YZ, 3
8. A Y↷ B Z
5♦ Knv♦ 3♥ 5♣
Remark (Trick 7).—Z properly concludes, as his partner has command of trumps (see Remark, Trick 3), that his discard (Trick 6) was from his weakest suit, notwithstanding the adverse trump lead, and therefore Z leads clubs. If Z mistakes the character of his partner's discard, and leads a heart, he loses the game (see pp. 105-6, and apply the rules of play there stated to the present situation).
Tricks 9 to 13.—Y brings in the clubs (see his hand below), and
YZ win the odd trick.
(Z's hand is given above.)
| A's Hand. | Y's Hand. | B's Hand. | |||
| Ace, Kg, 10, 2 | ♠ | 6, 4 | ♠ | Knv, 8, 5, 3 | ♠ |
| Ace, 9, 7 | ♥ | 4, 2 | ♥ | Qn, Knv, 8, 3 | ♥ |
| King, 3 | ♣ | Ace, Knv, 10, 4, 2 | ♣ | 9, 8, 7 | ♣ |
| Ace, Kg, Qn, 5 | ♦ | Knv, 9, 8, 6 | ♦ | 7, 3 | ♦ |
At Trick 7, A is right to cover the queen of clubs (see p. 88).
Getting rid of the command of partner's suit (see p. 97).
Z's Hand.
Score: Love-all.
Five of hearts turned up.
Trick 1.
Tricks AB, 1
YZ, 0
1. A↷ Y B Z
Qn♣ Kg♣ A♣ 3♣
Trick 2.
Tricks AB, 2
YZ, 0
2. A Y B↷ Z
Qn♥ 4♥ 2♥ 5♥
Trick 3.
Tricks AB, 2
YZ, 1
3. A↷ Y B Z
8♥ 9♥ 3♥ 6♥
Trick 4.
Tricks AB, 2
YZ, 2
4. A Y↷ B Z
4♦ A♦ 3♦ 8♦
Remark.—See p. 97.
Trick 5.
Tricks AB, 3
YZ, 2
5. A Y↷ B Z
7♦ Knv♦ Kg♦ 9♦
Trick 6.
Tricks AB, 3
YZ, 3
6. A Y B↷ Z
10♣ 10♥ 7♣ 8♣
Trick 7.
Tricks AB, 4
YZ, 3
7. A Y↷ B Z
2♣ Qn♦ 7♥ 10♦
Trick 8.
Tricks AB, 5
YZ, 3
8. A Y B↷ Z
9♠ 6♠ A♠ 5♠
Trick 9.
Tricks AB, 5
YZ, 4
9. A Y B↷ Z
Knv♠ 7♠ 2♠ Kg♠
Trick 10.
Tricks AB, 5
YZ, 5
10. A Y B Z↷
4♣ Knv♥ Kg♥ A♥
Tricks 11 to 13.—Z (Trick 11) leads deuce of diamonds. Y makes two tricks in diamonds (note the advantage to YZ of Z's having got rid of the command).
YZ win the odd trick.
(Z's hand is given above.)
| A's Hand. | Y's Hand. | B's Hand. | |||
| Knv, 9 | ♠ | 8, 7, 6 | ♠ | Ace, Qn, 4, 3, 2 | ♠ |
| Qn, 8 | ♥ | Knv, 10, 9, 4 | ♥ | Kg, 7, 3, 2 | ♥ |
| Qn, Knv, 10, 6, 5, 4, 2 | ♣ | Kg | ♣ | Ace, 7 | ♣ |
| 7, 4 | ♦ | Ace, Qn, Knv, 6, 5 | ♦ | Kg, 3 | ♦ |
At Trick 2, Z plays the turn-up card (see p. 114).
At Trick 3, B passes the nine of trumps. If the tenace is against him covering does no good; and there is a reasonable chance that the ace will fall.
At Trick 6, B, having found A weak in trumps, and the whole diamond suit being declared against him, alters his tactics, and does not continue trumps.
At Trick 7, Y plays properly in attempting to force the strong trump hand, keeping knave of hearts with which to trump clubs. If B refuses the first force he wins two or three by cards, as the cards happen to lie. But he cannot place the diamonds, and probably his best play is to trump.
Finessing.
A's Hand.
Score: Four-all.
Ten of clubs turned up.
Trick 1.
Tricks AB, 1
YZ, 0
1. Y B Z A↷
5♥ A♥ 2♥ 7♥
Trick 2.
Tricks AB, 1
YZ, 1
2. Y B↷ Z A
2♣ 6♣ Qn♣ Knv♣
Trick 3.
Tricks AB, 2
YZ, 1
3. Y B Z↷ A
Knv♠ A♠ 3♠ 2♠
Trick 4.
Tricks AB, 2
YZ, 2
4. Y B↷ Z A
4♣ 5♣ 10♣ 6♠
Trick 5.
Tricks AB, 2
YZ, 3
5. Y B Z↷ A
Qn♠ 9♠ 5♠ 7♠
Trick 6.
Tricks {AB, 3, YZ, 3
6. Y↷ B Z A
Kg♠ 9♣ 8♠ 6♦
Trick 7.
Tricks AB, 3
YZ, 4
7. Y B↷ Z A
A♣ 3♣ Kg♣ 4♥
Trick 8.
Tricks AB, 4
YZ, 4
8. Y↷ B Z A
4♠ 7♣ 10♠ 6♥
Trick 9.
Tricks AB, 4
YZ, 5
9. Y B↷ Z A
Qn♥ 10♥ 3♥ Knv♥
Remark (Trick 9).—A's finesse is unlucky. He has no indication as to the position of the queen. The finesse must not be judged by the result. It is generally right against one card if the success of the finesse wins the game.
Tricks 10 to 13.—YZ make two tricks in diamonds (see their hands below); and
YZ win the odd trick.
(A's hand is given above.)
| Y's Hand. | B's Hand. | Z's Hand. | |||
| Kg, Qn, Knv, 4 | ♠ | Ace, 9 | ♠ | 10, 8, 5, 3 | ♠ |
| Qn, 5 | ♥ | Ace, 10 | ♥ | 8, 3, 2 | ♥ |
| Ace, 4, 2 | ♣ | 9, 8, 7, 6, 5, 3 | ♣ | Kg, Qn, 10 | ♣ |
| Kg, Knv, 8, 5 | ♦ | Qn, 9, 3 | ♦ | Ace, 4, 2 | ♦ |
At Trick 6, Y's lead is not well judged. He knows his partner to hold king of clubs single, and his object should be to prevent the two trumps from being drawn together. Y's best lead appears to be queen of hearts; and if it wins, a diamond.
Counting the hands, and refusing a finesse.
Z's Hand.
Score: Love-all.
King of hearts turned up.
Trick 1.
Tricks AB, 1
YZ, 0
1. A↷ Y B Z
5♦ 6♦ A♦ 2♦
Remark (Trick 1).—A has not both king and queen of diamonds, or he would have led one. B has not either king or queen of diamonds, or he would have played one of them instead of the ace. Therefore, Y must have one of those cards. Z draws this inference at the time. It will not be of any use to him until near the end of the hand.
Trick 2.
Tricks AB, 2
YZ, 0
2. A Y B↷ Z
5♣ 7♣ A♣ 4♣
Trick 3.
Tricks AB, 2
YZ, 1
3. A Y B↷ Z
8♣ Qn♣ 3♣ 6♣
Remark.—B has led from exactly five clubs (see Appendix A).
Trick 4.
Tricks AB, 2
YZ, 2
4. A Y↷ B Z
4♥ 5♥ 3♥ Kg♥
Remark.—The ace would be an echo (see p. 128).
Trick 5.
Tricks AB, 2
YZ, 3
5. A Y B Z↷
7♥ 6♥ 8♥ A♥
Trick 6.
Tricks AB, 2
YZ, 4
6. A Y B Z↷
3♠ 5♠ 4♠ Kg♠
Remark (Trick 6).—The policy of this lead is doubtful. Players are apt to show their suits in this manner. But it is clear, the opponents having led diamonds and clubs, that if Z has strength in any suit it is in spades. The objections to showing a suit in this way are: 1, that it may be trumped the first round; 2, that partner may have only one card of it. In the latter case he cannot return the lead, and must open or continue another suit to a disadvantage.
Trick 7.
Tricks AB, 2
YZ, 5
7. A Y B Z↷
Knv♥ Qn♥ 9♥ 2♥
Remark.—Y has the long trump.
Trick 8.
Tricks AB, 2
YZ, 6
8. A Y↷ B Z
9♣ Kg♣ 2♣ 3♦
Trick 9.
Tricks AB, 2
YZ, 7
9. A Y↷ B Z
8♠ 9♠ 6♠ A♠
Remark (Trick 9).—Z's play in not finessing is very good. He can count Y's hand, thus: Y has no more clubs (see Remark, Trick 3), he has the last trump, and three other cards. These cards must either be queen, ten of spades, and a diamond, in which case Z's play does not matter; or the nine returned by Y must be his best spade, in which case he can only have one more, as he would return the higher of two remaining cards (see p. 79), and his other cards must then be two diamonds. Therefore, assuming the case in which Z's play does matter (i.e., of Y's nine being his best spade), Y's diamond must be guarded.
Trick 10.
Tricks AB, 2
YZ, 8
10. A Y B Z↷
Knv♦ Qn♦ 10♣ 8♦
Consequently, Z, by not finessing, makes sure of the game. He requires one more trick besides the ace of spades and his partner's trump, and this trick Y is certain to make in diamonds if Z leads through A's hand (see Remark, Trick 1).
Tricks 10 to 13.—Z (Trick 10) leads a diamond, and, however A plays,
YZ score three by cards and two by honours.
(Z's hand is given above.)
| A's Hand. | Y's Hand. | B's Hand. | |||
| Qn, 8, 3 | ♠ | 9, 5 | ♠ | 10, 7, 6, 4 | ♠ |
| Knv, 7, 4 | ♥ | Qn, 10, 6, 5 | ♥ | 9, 8, 3 | ♥ |
| 9, 8, 5 | ♣ | Kg, Qn, 7 | ♣ | Ace, Knv, 10, 3, 2 | ♣ |
| Kg, Knv, 7, 5 | ♦ | Qn, 10, 9, 6 | ♦ | Ace | ♦ |
As the cards happen to lie, YZ only score four if Z finesses at Trick 9, and A plays properly. A, on winning this trick with the queen of spades, should see that his only chance of making two more tricks is to be led up to in diamonds. He should therefore (Trick 10) lead the seven of diamonds, which Y is compelled to take, and AB save the game.
Leading losing card to place the lead (see pp. 147-151).
B's Hand.
Score: Love-all.
Ten of hearts turned up.
Trick 1.
Tricks AB, 1
YZ, 0
1. Z A↷ Y B
4♦, Kg♦, 8♦, 5♦
Trick 2.
Tricks AB, 2
YZ, 0
2. Z A↷ Y B
7♦ A♦ Qn♦ Knv♦
Trick 3.
Tricks AB, 3
YZ, 0
3. Z A↷ Y B
2♠ 10♠ 3♠ Knv♠
Remark.—Y has the king of spades.
Trick 4.
Tricks AB, 4
YZ, 0
4. Z A Y B↷
7♥ Knv♥ 5♥ 3♥
Remark.—It is probable that A is weak in trumps, as he refused to force his partner in diamonds. Nevertheless, B leads a trump, as he is well provided in spades, and has some defence in the club suit.
Trick 5.
Tricks AB, 5
YZ, 0
5. Z A↷ Y B
8♥ 4♥ 6♥ Kg♥
Trick 6.
Tricks AB, 6
YZ, 0
6. Z A Y B↷
10♥ 2♥ 4♠ A♥
Remark (Trick 6).—The queen of hearts must be in Z's hand, as A returned the four and now plays the two, and Y renounces.
Trick 7.
Tricks AB, 6
YZ, 1
7. Z A Y B↷
3♣ Kg♣ A♣ 2♣
Trick 8.
Tricks AB, 6
YZ, 2
8. Z A Y↷ B
7♣ 5♣ Qn♣ 6♣
Trick 9.
Tricks AB, 7
YZ, 2
9. Z A Y↷ B
10♣ 2♦ 4♣ Knv♣
Trick 10.
Tricks AB, 7
YZ, 3
10. Z A Y B↷
6♠ 3♦ 9♣ 8♣
Remark (Trick 10).—B leads the losing club to throw the lead into Y's hand. Y will then be obliged to lead a spade, as he has no other suit. Z will have to follow suit, or will be forced with the queen of trumps, and B will make the ace of spades and the last trump.
Tricks 11 to 13.—Y (Trick 11) leads a spade, B puts on the queen, and
AB score three by cards and two by honours.
(B's hand is given above.)
| A's Hand. | Y's Hand. | Z's Hand. | |||
| 10, 9, 7 | ♠ | Kg, 8, 5, 4, 3 | ♠ | 6, 2 | ♠ |
| Knv, 4, 2 | ♥ | 6, 5 | ♥ | Qn, 10, 8, 7 | ♥ |
| Kg, 5 | ♣ | Ace, Qn, 9, 4 | ♣ | 10, 7, 3 | ♣ |
| Ace, Kg, 6, 3, 2 | ♦ | Qn, 8 | ♦ | 10, 9, 7, 4 | ♦ |
At Trick 8, Y should underplay in clubs.
Leading losing card to place the lead (see pp. 147-151).
Y's Hand.
Score: AB, love; YZ, one.
Four of clubs turned up.
Trick 1.
Tricks AB, 0
YZ, 1
1. B Z A↷ Y
3♠ 2♠ 7♠ Qn♠
Trick 2.
Tricks AB, 0
YZ, 2
2. B Z A Y↷
3♦ Kg♦ 5♦ 2♦
Trick 3.
Tricks AB, 1
YZ, 2
3. B Z↷ A Y
10♣ 4♣ 7♣ 9♣
Trick 4.
Tricks AB, 1
YZ, 3
4. B↷ Z A Y
6♠ Knv♠ Kg♠ A♠
Trick 5.
Tricks AB, 1
YZ, 4
5. B Z A Y↷
3♣ Kg♣ 8♣ 5♣
Trick 6.
Tricks AB, 1
YZ, 5
6. B Z↷ A Y
6♣ A♣ Knv♣ 2♣
Trick 7.
Tricks AB, 1
YZ, 6
7. B Z↷ A Y
4♦ A♦ 8♦ 6♦
Trick 8.
Tricks AB, 1
YZ, 7
8. B Z↷ A Y
10♦ 7♦ 9♦ Knv♦
Trick 9.
Tricks AB, 2
YZ, 7
9. B Z A Y↷
4♠ 4♥ Qn♣ Qn♦
Trick 10.
Tricks AB, 2
YZ, 8
10. B Z A↷ Y
6♥ 5♥ 8♠ 10♠
Trick 11.
Tricks AB, 3
YZ, 8
11. B Z A Y↷
7♥ 8♥ 9♠ 5♠
Remark (Trick 11).—Y leads the losing spade to put the lead into A's hand (see fall of the spades, Tricks 1, 4, and 10), and so compel A to lead hearts up to Z. At this score (YZ, one) this is the best chance of four by cards. If the score were YZ, love, Y should lead a heart, as leading the spade gives up all chance of five by cards.
Tricks 12 and 13.—Z has ace, queen of hearts; and
YZ win four by cards.
(Y's hand is given above.)
| A's Hand. | B's Hand. | Z's Hand. | |||
| Kg, 9, 8, 7 | ♠ | 6, 4, 3 | ♠ | Knv, 2 | ♠ |
| Kg, 2 | ♥ | Knv, 9, 7, 6 | ♥ | Ace, Qn, 8, 5, 4 | ♥ |
| Qn, Knv, 8, 7 | ♣ | 10, 6, 3 | ♣ | Ace, Kg, 4 | ♣ |
| 9, 8, 5 | ♦ | 10, 4, 3 | ♦ | Ace, Kg, 7 | ♦ |
At Trick 4, B, having a weak hand, plays his partner's game, in preference to planning an attack for himself by opening his own poor suit of four to the knave.
Underplay.