Meet My Partner

Which is my favorite hand?

It would have to be one I played as declarer, of course. Among those I remember fondly is this one which, coincidentally, also involves a hand where West held four deuces.

I won the first trick with the ace of clubs and took inventory. East had opened the bidding, so he must have the ace-king of spades and the king of hearts. The only high card West could hold was the queen of diamonds—but East might have it, as well. Unless I overtook the queen of clubs with dummy's king, thereby unguarding the club suit, I could get to dummy only once, with the ace of diamonds. So I couldn't lead up to my spades twice—and besides, I might need dummy's ace of diamonds in order to take a diamond finesse.

Suddenly a light dawned. Though he held an entry-poor hand, West had refrained from leading his partner's suit. He must have either none or a singleton. Also, he opened the deuce of clubs, showing a four-card suit. Why didn't he open from a five-card suit? Because he didn't have one! Then his 13 cards must be divided 4-4-4-1. In that case, he held four spades. And since East had to have the ace-king of spades for his opening bid, it was as certain as if I had looked into his hand that he held the ace-king alone.

So, I led a low spade from my hand. The king of spades fell, the kibitzers oohed and I wound up making four no trump for a top score on the board!

Do kibitzers make me nervous?
No, indeed. But sometimes they make me cross. How? By putting a foot on my chair. By breathing down my neck. And, sometimes—in the middle of a hand, for example—by asking me questions like these I've just answered.