Affair of the Hearts

By Djanwar Madjolelo

JAKARTA (JP): In third place at the 9th European Open Pairs semifinals from March 17 to March 22 in The Hague, Netherlands were Pierre Adad and Maurice Aujaleu of France, the 1992 Olympiade bridge world champions.

"Have you a hand?," the Bulletin asked.

"Well," said Aujaleu, "how many Heart tricks do you think I managed as declarer as East on this deal from the third session of the semifinal?"

Board : 21

Dealer: North

Game : North-South

NORTH

(S) 6 2

(H) 5 4

(D) Q 7 6 4 3

(C) Q J 8 3

WEST EAST

(S) K J 10 4 (S) A 3

(H) K 9 (H) 10 8 7 3

(D) A 10 9 8 (D) K 5

(C) A 6 5 (C) K 10 7 4 2

SOUTH

(S) Q 9 8 7 5

(H) A Q J 6 2

(D) J 2

(C) 9

WEST NORTH EAST SOUTH

Adad Aujaleu

-- Pass Pass 2NT

Double Pass 3NT All pass

South's opening 2NT showed 5-5 in the majors with 6-11 points, and North's pass implied no preference between the majors.

East was a bit stuck over the double. A pass would have been best at vulnerability, but Aijaleu decided to go for 3NT.

South led his singleton Club. Declarer won over North's Jack, went back to the Ace of Clubs, and led another towards the ten to set up the suit.

South threw a Spade and a Heart. North, on lead with the Club, switched to Hearts, and South put in the Jack. Aujaleu won with the King. He then led a Spade to the Ace, finessed the Jack, and returned to the Diamond King to cash two Clubs. South threw his Diamond and another middle Heart, leaving this ending with East on the lead.

NORTH

(S) void

(H) 5

(D) Q 7 6

(C) void

WEST EAST

(S) K J (S) void

(H) 9 (H) 10 8 7

(D) A (D) 5

(C) void (C) void

SOUTH

(S) Q 9

(H) A 6

(D) void

(C) void

Declarer now went back to dummy with a Diamond. South had thrown the Queen of Hearts and the Jack because he had foreseen the end-play that would arise if he kept the Ace of Hearts and two Spades.

Now was the moment of decision. After due deliberation, South relied on his partner for the ten of Hearts, and threw his Ace.

Aujaleu showed his hand, overtaking the nine of Hearts to make the rest, "And so I made four Heart tricks," he finished triumphantly.