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Merlin – The Ace of Clubs

Everyone is familiar with Merlin of Arthurian legend, so little original can be said of his life story. Literary tradition identifies him as a cambion; that is a child of a woman and incubus, and it is held that his extraordinary powers spring from this unconventional parentage.

For those who know where to look, it is possible, even today, to observe the movements of Merlin, King Arthur and Guinevere*.

Like his renowned counterpart, the Pack's Merlin is something of a solitary person. In appearance he is appropriately tall and slender, with a long white beard that he strokes in moments of deep concentration.

North-South Game, Dealer West.

		Arthur
		♠ 654
		♥ A875
		♦ A4
		♣ J952
	Hippo		Freud
		Merlin
		♠ AJ2
		♥ K962
		♦ Q983
		♣ AQ

	West	North	East	South
	Hippo	Arthur	Freud	Merlin
	1♦	Pass	Pass	Dbl1
	1♠	Dbl2	Pass	2♥
	Pass	3♥	Pass	4♥
	All Pass

1. 1NT would have been protective – showing 10 to 14 points.
2. Showing hearts and clubs.

Hippo led the king of spades to the four, three and two. At trick two he switched to the jack of hearts which Merlin took with the king.

Take a moment to see if you can foretell Merlin's magic on the hand…

What do I know about the unseen hands? Well I've sixteen points; dummy has nine, which leaves fifteen for east-west. The jack of hearts at trick two places the queen with east. So, unless Hippo opened on an aceless ten count, the club finesse will fail.

What of east/west's hand patterns? Hippo bid diamonds and spades, he'll also need two or three trumps if I'm to have a chance of making. At worst he will have four spades, two hearts, five diamonds and a doubleton, or better still, a singleton king of clubs. Thus a little foresight means I'll not take the club finesse, but play for the drop.

Now let's count losers. I've lost a spade, there's a sure trump loser, even I cannot make diamond loser vanish and, as I've already calculated, the club finesse isn't working. That's four losers; can anything be done?

In a situation like this the Arthurian Merlin would call a fog of dragon's breath to sow confusion and consternation amongst his adversaries. But sadly there's a strict "no pets" rule within the cupboard.

I can't see a way to make if west has a doubleton club, but, and this is important, perhaps he can. Since he cannot know about his side's trump winner, his plan of defence will be to win a second spade trick, and a trick in both the minors.

But what if I play the ace of clubs now? Hippo will ponder why I'm not drawing trumps. He may suspect that I intend to draw a second round of trumps then throw him in with a club. There's a chance he'll conclude one of his defensive tricks will disappear when he's forced to lead diamonds or spades.

	♠ Qxx
	♥ x
	♦ Kxxxx
	♣ Kx

If the spirits of the old ways favour me, Hippo will try to create an entry to east's hand by throwing the king under the ace.

After a little beard stroking, Merlin played the Ace of clubs and smiled as Hippo went into a huddle. Sure enough, a few seconds later west 'unblocked' the king. Declarer continued with the diamond queen and ducked as west covered. He won club return, drew a second round of trumps and claimed ten tricks.

The full Deal:

		Arthur
		♠ 654
		♥ A875
		♦ A4
		♣ J952
	Hippo		Freud
	♠ KQ109		♠ 873
	♥ J10		♥ Q43
	♦ KJ1062		♦ 75
	♣ K6		♣ 108743
		Merlin
		♠ AJ2
		♥ K962
		♦ Q983
		♣ AQ

Hippo, to whom we're yet to be introduced, congratulated declarer on his fine deceptive play. "Verily Merlin, an effulgent act of sortilege as I have ever beheld – for had you in your possession…

	♠ AJ2	instead of	♠ AJ2
	♥ KQ62		♥ K962
	♦ Q983		♦ Q983
	♣ A8		♣ AQ

failure to sacrifice the king of clubs would surely have led to an ignominious denouement for our side. But there are plenty more hands to play, and as I always say, 'anabasis comes before retreat in our lexicon'."

* Merlin, Arthur and Guinevere are main belt asteroids which orbit the sun between Mars and Jupiter.