The YAR-BRO club held novice Swiss teams once a month. The Swiss teams boosted their novice program just as it had boosted attendance at Bridge events all over the country. Sydney, although he had some sensational, unexplained triumphs, still had few enough master points to play. Sydney really enjoyed the novice Swiss. He was something of a star here. No one criticized his play; instead they came to him for counsel.
Tonight’s event should be a triumph for Sydney. His boss, who had just taken up duplicate, would be playing with his wife. Sydney would have a chance to show him what a really fine player he was. As luck would have it, Sydney’s team played against Mr. & Mrs. Boss the first round. When Sydney took his hand out of the first board, it looked strangely familiar to him.
The hand was very similar to one he had played the week before against one of East Kumquat’s leading women players, Nora Nevarong. Nora was in 3NT and won the opening Heart lead with the King. She needed five Diamond tricks to make her contract and led a Spade to the Ace, intending to take the Diamond finesse.
| ª AQ1086 © 98 ¨ QJ8 § Q42 |
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| ª 73 © AJ6532 ¨ 63 § 1073 |
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ª KJ5 © Q4 ¨ K42 § J9865 |
| ª 942 © K107 ¨ A10975 § AK |
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| Contract: 3 No Trump by South Opening lead - 5© |
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Sydney, expecting a Spade finesse, had the King ready, and that is what he played. Nora assumed the King was stiff and returned to her hand to pick up the Jack of Spades. Two down was a splendid result.
This hand looked familiar to Sydney because it was the same hand. The board had not been shuffled from the week before. At this point Sydney should have informed everyone that he had played the hand and have it shuffled. Sydney thought this might be unnecessary. He would not take advantage of his prior knowledge; he would simply defend the same as before. Besides, he would have a chance to demonstrate his Bridge expertise to his boss.
Mr. And Mrs. Boss arrived quickly in 3NT and Mrs. Boss won the same Heart lead. She played a Spade to the Ace, and as she called for the Diamond Queen, she saw Sydney’s King of Spades out of the corner of her eye. "May I see the last trick, please?" "No " said Mr. Boss "You have followed to the next trick."
Sydney looked very sad as Mrs. Boss cashed ten tricks. He looked even sadder when Mr. Boss said, "Sydney, you are about as awake at the Bridge table as you are at work."