The Pick Of The Crop

Sydney Morning Herald

Thursday May 15, 2008

Ron Klinger

One of the most amazing facets of Tim Seres' play was how he regularly did the right thing at the right time. Consider this deal from the 1979 Bermuda Bowl where he picked everything perfectly:

South dealer; Both vulnerable

NORTH

(Dick Cummings)

WEST EAST

(Benito Garozzo) (Lorenzo Lauria)

West North East South

--- --- --- 1D

1S 2D Pass Pass

2S 3D All pass

Lead: SK

What should you do after taking the SA? Some of us might easily go for a low diamond to the ten or start with the DQ, intending to finesse the D10 later.

Recognizing that East was sure to have at most one spade, Tim realized that it was important to remove as many trumps as possible. As the DA was likely to be with West, Tim played the D3 to the king.

He was rewarded when he returned the D2: jack - queen - ace. West continued with the SQ, followed by the S10, which Tim ruffed with dummy's D6.

Tim now made a key move. He led the jack of hearts! East covered and Tim ducked. It was vital to prevent West gaining the lead, else a fourth spade, ruffed with the D10, would promote West's D9. If Tim had taken the HA and played another heart, East could also beat the contract by continuing with a third heart.

East returned a low heart, taken by the ace. This was now the position, with South on lead:

NORTH

When Tim played the D5 to dummy's ten to draw the last trump, East was in trouble. West was known to have started with six spades, three diamonds and at least two hearts. He therefore could not have more than two clubs. Tim knew that only East could be guarding the clubs.

If East threw a heart, Tim would ruff dummy?s third heart, leaving East heartless, cash the CA and duck the next club to East, who would be forced to lead from CQ-x into dummy's CK-J.

Lauria actually discarded a club. Tim now played a club to the ace and ducked the next club. East could exit with a heart, but Tim ruffed and played a club to the king. The CQ fell and South's spade loser went away on the CJ.

Blessed are the flawless for they have all the answers.

Tomorrow's problem:

South dealer; Nil vulnerable

West North East South

--- --- --- 1C

Pass 1H Pass 1NT

Pass 3NT All pass

West leads the D5: two - ten - ace.

Declarer continues with the C6 to dummy's jack, club back to the ace and a third club to your king. East has played C7-C3-C2, showing an odd number of clubs. How would you continue?