Bridge by Frank Stewart
Bridge has never been much of a spectator sport, and attempts to capture it on television have failed. The pace of play can be snail-like, the thought processes of the players - especially in matters of bidding systems - are hard to grasp, and some deals may have no real point of interest.
Bridge has never been much of a spectator sport, and attempts to capture it on television have failed. The pace of play can be snail-like, the thought processes of the players - especially in matters of bidding systems - are hard to grasp, and some deals may have no real point of interest.
It's hard to imagine a commentator trying to explain today's deal to an audience of mostly casual players. He might make it through the auction - a "Standard" auction such as today's would be comprehensible - but if North-South were a pair from, say, Poland, the bidding might bristle with artificiality.
Against 6NT, West leads the jack of hearts to South's king. Can South make his slam?
South leads the king of diamonds and next the jack. East wins the third diamond (ducking again won't help), as West discards a club, and returns a heart to dummy.
South has only 11 tricks, but when he cashes dummy's high diamond and discards a club, West is snared in a rare type of ending: a "clash squeeze." Clearly, West can't pitch a heart or a spade, so he lets go another club. South can then take the ace of clubs, dropping West's last honor, and dummy's nine is high. Only a spade opening lead, an expert commentator might note, would beat the slam.
I suspect we'll see bridge on TV eventually. The key factor will be the availability of big money prizes.