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This article is adapted, with permission, from Joe Andrews' excellent book Win At Hearts, published 1998, and available through most bookstores.
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By Joe Andrews
We return to the illustrative hands with a cute deal, which was played in a "live" Tournament.
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North
A 7
Q 9 6 4
A K J 9 6 3
10
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West
K Q 8 4 3
J 10 7 5
VOID
K 8 5 4
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East
J 5
8 3
Q 10 8 5 4 2
J 7 2
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South
10 9 6 2
A K 2
7
A Q 9 6 3
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It was the first hand of the game. South, who was a Bridge Life Master, often bragged about his "impeccable technique." He just loved to give lessons to the opponents, as well as the kibitzers. In this particular deal, his girlfriend was sitting at his side, and it was time for another Hearts lesson!
The opening lead was pounced on by our hero, as he played the Ace, and North and West both dropped their high Clubs. He said to his lady friend that the play of his singleton Diamond was very "scientific," and would allow for the discarding of the high Hearts in his hand on any successive Diamond leads. Thus, the
7 was played, and West immediately deposited the
Q on this trick! Two low Diamonds from North and East secured the trick for South. It was a bad day for science! South was shocked about the Diamond distribution, and alertly watched West's discards for the rest of the hand. Twenty-one points later, the white flag went up. That was the end of the Hearts lesson for the day!
We could argue a case for South's "technique" if he held North's hand and wanted to get rid of a dangerous high Spade. Here, the best play after winning the Club Ace on trick one, was the play of the Ten of Spades -- in order to attack the Spade Queen. North is virtually forced to play the Ace (a finesse of sorts), unless he knows that East holds the Queen. He is lucky, and continues with the Spade Seven. West wins the King (holding it up does no good, as South persists with the suit). South wins another high Club, and continues the attack on Spades. He knows that West is probably void in Diamonds. West will eventually be thrown in and will take the Spade Queen. This is a much better play.
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