Article 7A17 by Richard Pavlicek

Root for the Home Team

As Bill’s regular partner in major events for some 20 years, we had our successes, but we also experienced some heart-breaking losses. I think it was the losses that made our friendship grow the most. Bill was helpful to me in my teaching career, and always there when I needed advice. I will miss him dearly, just like I miss my own father. Thank you, Bill — for the good times.

Enough sadness. I’m a bridge writer, not a minister. I looked through my collection of old deals and found these six from the Nationals in Toronto ‘92, Kansas City ‘93 and Cincinnati ‘94. Each deal features Bill Root on defense. The winning defenses might best be described as thoughtful not brilliant, but they do illustrate what a great partner I had. Are you ready? OK, then see if you can keep pace with Mr. Root.

Problem 1

You
West Pass Pass All Pass	North 1 1	East Pass Pass	South 1 1 1 NT

	K 7 5 3 9 2 A Q 10 7 5 9 2
Q J 9 6 A 10 7 4 K 6 2 Q 3

Against 1 NT, with dummy bidding spades, you decide to lead a deceptive  J, and it goes three, two, eight. What next?

Answer

	K 7 5 3 9 2 A Q 10 7 5 9 2
Q J 9 6 A 10 7 4 K 6 2 Q 3		10 4 2 K 8 3 J 8 4 K 10 7 4
	A 8 Q J 6 5 9 3 A J 8 6 5

After the  J held, Bill shifted to the  K. Wow! Obviously, declarer could duck this and enjoy four diamond tricks, but he thought Bill was short in diamonds (wouldn’t you?) and grabbed the ace. (No doubt he was also upset by his error to hold up at trick one.) The contract was now doomed, and declarer continued his poor strokes to finish down two.

Problem 2

You
West Pass Pass Pass All Pass	North 2 4 5	East Pass Pass Pass	South 2 3 4 NT 6

	A K 9 5 3 4 7 6 9 7 5 4 3
Q 10 8 6 2 5 K J 10 4 3 J 6

Against 6 , you lead the  J, and it goes six, two, eight. Partner’s signal is standard count by partnership agreement. What next?

Answer

	A K 9 5 3 4 7 6 9 7 5 4 3
Q 10 8 6 2 5 K J 10 4 3 J 6		J 7 J 9 2 Q 5 2 A Q 10 8 2
	4 A K Q 10 8 7 6 3 A 9 8 K

After the  J held, Bill promptly shifted to clubs; down one. This might look easy, but many defenders would outsmart themselves, reading the diamond layout accurately and shifting to trumps (declarer can then succeed on a double squeeze). Bill, however, remembered the Blackwood bid and no follow-up with 5 NT so an ace in my hand was likely. At the time, I regretted not doubling 4 , but that might have stopped them from bidding six. Note that declarer’s duck at trick one was the only real hope to succeed.

Problem 3

You
West Pass Pass	North 2 4	East Pass All Pass	South 1 NT 2

	Q 9 3 2 Q 10 9 2 A K 4 10 4
A 7 5 4 3 10 7 5 K Q J 9 5

Against 4 , you lead the  K, and it goes four, seven, ace. Declarer cashes the  A-K, and partner discards the  2 (the high-low shows count in clubs). Declarer next leads the  4 to your blank ace, as partner plays the eight. What next?

Answer

	Q 9 3 2 Q 10 9 2 A K 4 10 4
A 7 5 4 3 10 7 5 K Q J 9 5		J 10 8 7 6 Q 9 8 2 8 7 6 2
	K 6 5 4 A K J 8 J 6 3 A 3

After the  K to the ace, two top hearts and a low spade to the ace, Bill did not cash his club but switched accurately to a diamond. With any other defense declarer could succeed, but now Bill was able to lead diamonds twice to foil the endplay. Is that a good partner or what?

Problem 4

		You
West 2 NT	North 1 4	East 1 NT All Pass	South 2

	K Q J 6 5 K 7 2 A J 7 4 3
		A 10 8 A 8 K 9 8 3 K Q 9 2

Against 4 , partner leads the  6 (third best from even, low from odd), and it goes ace, nine, five. At trick two declarer leads the  3; queen, five, four. What next?

Answer

	K Q J 6 5 K 7 2 A J 7 4 3
9 4 4 3 Q 10 6 2 A 10 8 7 4		A 10 8 A 8 K 9 8 3 K Q 9 2
	7 3 2 Q J 10 9 6 5 5 J 6 5

After winning the  Q at trick two, Bill shifted to a low spade. This play was necessary (ace and another is also fine) since the spade ruff was the only way to beat the contract. Note that declarer has the communication and timing to succeed against taps, trump leads or any other defense. It’s a great feeling when partner saves you from not finding the best opening lead.

Problem 5

		You
West 1 2 Pass	North Dbl Dbl Pass	East 1 Pass Dbl	South Pass 2 All Pass

	A 10 8 A 3 A 8 6 4 A 7 6 2
		K Q 9 6 5 3 2 Q 7 3 9 4 3

Against 2  doubled, partner leads the  K to the ace (South plays the four). At trick two declarer leads the  4; three, 10, jack. Partner leads the  J. Do you ruff it? If not, what do you discard?

Answer

	A 10 8 A 3 A 8 6 4 A 7 6 2
— K Q J 9 8 7 K J 9 2 Q 10 8		K Q 9 6 5 3 2 Q 7 3 9 4 3
	J 7 4 2 10 6 5 4 10 5 K J 5

When I led the good  J at trick three, Bill pitched a diamond. I continued with the  Q, ruffed with the  10, and Bill pitched his last diamond. Declarer had to go down one. This deal seemed trivial at the time — after all, how could we not beat 2  when Bill had K-Q-9 sixth in trumps. It wasn’t until later that I realized how thoughtful his defense was. Had he pitched a club (which looks normal), declarer can succeed. I’ll leave it to you as a declarer-play exercise.

Problem 6

		You
West Pass Pass All Pass	North 2 2 NT*	East Pass Pass	South 1 NT 2 3 NT

*does not imply hearts

	9 2 J 9 7 K 6 4 A 10 8 7 3
		J 10 8 6 6 5 4 3 A 7 9 4 2

Against 3 NT, partner leads the  3 (fourth best), and it goes four, ace, two. You return the  7; eight, nine, king. Declarer next leads the  9; 10, king, ace. Partner returns the  7, which you overtake with the eight, and South plays the three. What next?

Answer

	9 2 J 9 7 K 6 4 A 10 8 7 3
A 7 5 Q 10 8 J 9 5 3 Q J 5		J 10 8 6 6 5 4 3 A 7 9 4 2
	K Q 4 3 A K 2 Q 10 8 2 K 6

After a diamond to the ace, diamond to the king,  9 (10, king, ace) and a spade back to the eight (ducked by declarer), Bill wisely shifted to the  2. A beautiful play, as I was about to be crunched in three suits. With any other defense, declarer can give up another spade and squeeze me repeatedly. Declarer could have succeeded, of course, by winning the  Q at trick two and establishing clubs (perhaps superior, though not clear-cut).