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'Barry, I just can't believe how lucky you were in that 4♥ contract.' 'What do you mean, lucky? Class and cunning, you mean. Furthermore I've shown a deep understanding of the psyche of my opponent. I knew he wouldn't hold off when I played that ♦K', Barry concludes somewhat solemnly. Harry roars with laughter. 'The psyche of your opponent? Cut it out, Bar, though we may have been told he's got agoraphobia and is afraid of the dark, the rest of his psyche is as unknown to us as the Sahara is to a polar bear.' Somewhat offended Barry keeps silent.
'Shall we show the deal to Granddad?' suggests Harry, 'probably he will be impressed by your deep psychological understanding as well.' 'Errr, no, forget it', Barry swiftly reacts. This was the deal the twins were discussing.
| W/All | ♠ | 7 3 2 | | | | ♥ | 5 4 2 | | ♦ | Q 7 6 | | ♣ | A 6 5 2 | | ♠ | J 9 8 5 |  | ♠ | K 10 6 | | ♥ | 10 | ♥ | K 8 7 | | ♦ | 10 9 4 2 | ♦ | A 8 3 | | ♣ | Q 10 9 8 | ♣ | K 7 4 3 | | | ♠ | A Q 4 | | | ♥ | A Q J 9 6 3 | | ♦ | K J 5 | | ♣ | J | | West | North | East | South |
|---|
| Harry |
| Barry | pass
| pass
| 1♣ | double | | pass | 1NT | pass | 4♥ | | pass | pass | pass | | Barry rightfully thought his hand too strong for an overcall in hearts, so he began with a take-out double. Over Harry's 1NT bid (6-9 HCP and a club guard), 4♥ was the sensible bid to make. West led the ♣10, Barry winning with dummy's ♣A. At the second trick he successfully finessed for the ♥K. He realised that it was far from certain that the ♥K would come down if he played the ♥A next. So he banged down the ♦K. East, giving himself little time to think since he liked to be known as a smooth player, won with the ♦A and continued with the ♣K. All according to Barry's plan of course, since he now had an entry in dummy. This enabled him to finesse once more for the ♥K: ten tricks. 'Do you really think that I don't know that East blundered when he took the ♦K with the ♦A?' Barry resumes. 'The point is that I knew that guy was going to do so. Everything about him showed all too clearly he wanted to be seen as the nonchalant expert. Perhaps he even took that ♦K because he thought it was a singleton. I had him completely figured out, that guy.' 'I think you shouldn't have taken the heart finesse at all...', Harry begins. 'Not take the heart finesse? Not take the heart finesse?! Are you out of your mind??' Barry interrupts his brother furiously. 'I'm trying to make my contract here, see. Sure, I can just write 'down one' from the start, saving everyone a lot of time. Like 'here you go, guys, one hundred points for you. Nine tricks made, one trick short. Sorry Harry, nicely bid, but ten tricks just weren't there.' I don't think that would have made you very happy, would it?' Harry lets his brother blow off steam. 'No, I mean that instead of the heart finesse you should have taken the spade finesse', he interjects at a moment his brother is gasping for air, 'that finesse is much more helpful. If it succeeds, you're home and dry, whereas if the heart finesse succeeds, you may very well find yourself still having a heart loser. By finessing in spades you use your only entry in dummy to full advantage, get it?' Very uncharacteristically Barry is silent for some time. 'Technically spoken you're right', he finally admits, 'but psychologically my line of play was superior. Three deals later that guy was still sick and tired of it. It has brought in loads of points to us.' Barry wouldn't be Barry without this final conclusion and Harry wouldn't be Harry if he wouldn't accept this suggestion for a compromise. 'You're right, Bar.'
'OK, Har.' |