Source:
September 1, 1982
Half a century ago the structure of the scoring table was a matter of frequent controversy. The size of penalties and the bonuses for slams changed every year or so, and there was constant confusion.
The lawmakers eventually reached agreement, and the bridge public did not have to learn a new scoring table every year. But it may be doubted whether they got it right, for the arrangement we have lived with for 50 years encourages extravagant sacrifices.
If the vulnerability is favorable, a player can afford to go down 11 tricks to save an opposing grand slam. The penalty would 2,100, and the grand slam would be worth 2,140 or more at duplicate scoring. At rubber bridge a player suffering a 10-trick defeat would show a small profit. An Important Assumption
All this, of course, assumes that the opponents will make their grand slam. A player who sacrifices and goes down a bundle will not be popular with his partner if it proves that the grand slam would have failed.
A lot will depend on the rank of the suits. If the vulnerable partnership has the spade suit, they will almost invariably score their grand slam, for few will dare to save in seven no-trump. But there are some subtle possibilities, and one of them is illustrated by the diagramed deal, from a national team championship at the 1982 Summer Nationals in Albuquerque, N.M.
Dealer: South, East and West were vulnerable
|
 10
 A 9 8 5 2
 Q 6 5 3
 7 6 2 |
|
| A J 9 8 4 3
K J
A 10 8 7
K |
|
K Q 7 6 5 2
K J 9 4
A 9 3 |
|
Q 10 7 6 4 3
2
Q J 10 8 5 4 |
| West |
North |
East |
South |
|
|
|
Pass |
| 1 |
Pass |
2 |
2 |
| 3 |
4 |
5 |
6 |
| Pass |
Pass |
6 |
7 |
| Dbl |
All Pass |
|
|
Opening lead:
K
It can be seen that East-West can make seven spades provided the declarer places North with the diamond queen. When the diagramed auction occurred, they were probably on the way to seven.
But the South player, Joel Hoersch of San Diego, Calif., introduced a highly original deflective move. He was rightly afraid that his opponents would bid seven spades, so he found a way to scare them. Once he knew about the partnership heart fit, he bid six diamonds.
On the face of it this was a lead-directing cue-bid, instructing his partner to lead a diamond holding a void in diamonds. So when he later bid seven hearts, East decided he could not venture a grand slam. It seemed to him, quite naturally, that Hoersch would ruff the opening diamond lead.
In seven hearts doubled, South had to lose two club tricks and a trick in each red suit. That was a penalty of 700, a great deal better for North-South than the 2,210 available to East-West and duly scored in the replay.
