“Poetry’s unnatural; no man ever talked poetry except a beadle on Boxing Day.” – Charles Dickens

When this deal originally appeared, shortly after the Holyfield-Tyson debacle, the writer mentioned an aphorism by P.G. Wodehouse, namely that in boxing, the right-cross counter is something more blessed to give than to receive.

The participants in this deal were Van Richard (South) and Ed Chapin (West), playing with their wives, Jane and Hilda. How should the play go in three no-trump after West leads the queen of hearts? Declarer needed to develop two extra club tricks. There would be no problem if clubs split 3-2, while the contract would be unmakable if East had four clubs to the queen. But what if West had the queen of clubs in a four-card suit?

Declarer won the opening heart lead and cashed the club king first, planning to duck the second club when West followed low. However, when he led the second club, Chapin played his queen!

But Richard wasn’t fooled. He called for a low club from the dummy and gave his opponent a knowing smile as the bad split came to light. He now could bring in the club suit for four tricks and make his contract.

The reporter compared this hand to shadow boxing, in which the sides feint and swerve but no actual blood is shed, and he remarked that he wished fighting was always that bloodless. But this deal just goes to show that at bridge it is a lot more acceptable to use your head than at boxing.

Bid with the aces

South holds:

Answer: You have a complex hand, one that you cannot hope to get across to partner except by forcing to game, which you clearly are not worth. The best answer – or least lie – is to jump to three spades to invite game in the suit you know partner should be long in. It may not be perfect, but your side-suit length should also help in the play as a secret weapon.