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Arthur, King of Camelot – The King of Clubs

The hero of today's tale needs no introduction. Some historians are convinced there once existed a warlord called Arthur who battled Anglo-Saxon invaders during the fifth century. Others argue just as vehemently he is purely a figure of legend. The Pack's Arthur belonged to the camp that liked to think he was real. While researching into the subject he came across a poem, "The Gododdin", written by Aneirin around the year 600. Within this epic tale is the following passage in which the poet relates the deeds of a king called Gwawrddur.

He thrust beyond three hundred, most bold,
He cut down the centre and far wing.
He proved worthy, leading noble men;
He gave from his herd steeds for winter.
He brought black crows to a fort's
Wall, though he was not Arthur.
He made his strength a refuge,
The front line's bulwark, Gwawrddur.

So there was once a warrior of great prowess called Gwawrddur, but even his abilities were eclipsed by Arthur's.

On green baize battlefield the Club King, like the real Arthur, was a skilled general and master of deception; at the table he created feints and diversions which left opponents in a state of confusion. This, coupled with his boundless reserves of courage, made him a formidable opponent.

During the match he played many outstanding hands but he ranked the one that follows as his finest. Doubtless the pleasure of besting his arch enemies, the Ace and King of spades, added an extra touch of piquancy to the victory.

Love-all, Dealer East.		Dedi
		♠ AKQ3
		♥ AQ95
		♦ AKQ42
		♣ ---
	Socrates		Euclid
		Arthur
		♠ 42
		♥ KJ2
		♦ J63
		♣ K10652

	West	North	East	South
	Socrates	Dedi	Euclid	Arthur
			Pass	Pass
	3♣	4♣	Pass	4NT
	Pass	6♣	Pass	6NT
	End

West opened three clubs after which the bidding became a trifle confused. Arthur's bid of 4NT was intended to play but Dedi wanted Arthur to choose a slam. Arthur judged North had three aces and a very strong hand so, to protect his king of clubs, he went to 6NT.

Socrates led the jack of spades, to dummy's queen, while Euclid followed with the five and declarer the four, an automatic false card.

With the first trick over, this is how Arthur reasoned…

Authors recommend that players should stop and think before playing to trick one, though personally I prefer to play quickly if the correct action is obvious. That way you may force your right hand opponent into a hasty decision. For instance, Euclid would have given a count signal at trick one and since the five must be his lowest card, it looks as if the suit is breaking 4-3.

So, what about the contract? Well I have three top spades, four hearts and four diamonds and provided the diamonds break 4-1 or better, the contract is safe.

Can anything be done if diamonds break 5-0? With no tenaces and no late entry to my hand there's no chance of a squeeze or endplay. The only legitimate line is to hope that East holds the singleton ace of clubs, but given Socrates' preference for sound pre-empts, that's an extremely remote possibility.

So some chicanery will be called for - after all, our suit's motto is "mischief prepense". Well the only suit that offers a chance of misdirection is clubs. Say, for instance, that East holds the queen, could I convince West to duck the king? That might work – if Socrates believes I hold the king-queen of clubs and I'm trying to establish my eleventh trick while at the same time creating the timing for a squeeze, he may duck in order not to rectify the count. It's a tiny chance, but a tiny chance is a kingdom better than no chance at all.

At trick two, Arthur called for a small diamond to East's ten and his jack and when, prophetically, Socrates discarded a club, Arthur confidently continued with the king of clubs.

Now it was Socrates' turn to stop and think. This was the situation viewed from his seat:

		Dedi
		♠ KQ3
		♥ AQ95
		♦ AKQ4
		♣ ---
	Socrates		Euclid
	♠ 1098
	♥ 43
	♦ ---
	♣ AJ9874
		Arthur
		♣ K

If declarer is simply establishing his twelfth trick, there is nothing I can do, so I must assume he only has eleven tricks. Arthur must surely hold the king of hearts for his 4NT bid, which means he has three certain spade winners, three hearts and four diamonds together with presumably one club - making eleven in total. So logically, to stand any chance, I must assume partner has four hearts to the jack and five diamonds. Is there any danger in taking this trick? Yes I think there might be - Arthur will win my spade return, cash the diamonds, then the hearts, finishing in hand leaving these cards as the last heart is played:

		Dedi
		♠ A3
		♥ 95
		♦ ---
		♣ ---
	Socrates		Euclid
	♠ 98		♠ ---
	♥ ---		♥ J10
	♦ ---		♦ 9
	♣ J9		♣ 10
		Arthur
		♠ 7
		♥ K
		♦ ---
		♣ Q5

No matter what I discard on the king of hearts, Arthur will make his contract. Is there any defence? What if I refuse to take this trick? Yes that might work. Let's see - Arthur can play his six remaining red suit winners leaving everyone with four cards. I will come down to the singleton ace of clubs and three spades, leaving declarer with no chance of twelve tricks.

		Dedi
		♠ AK3
		♥ 9
		♦ ---
		♣ -
	Socrates		Euclid
	♠ 1098		♠ 2
	♥ ---		♥ J
	♦ ---		♦ 9
	♣ A		♣ 10
		Arthur
		♠ 76
		♥ ---
		♦ ---
		♣ Q5

For once Arthur's magic seems to have deserted him.

So Socrates ducked the trick. And a second later, almost fell off the shelf as Euclid followed with the queen. With a wry smile Arthur claimed twelve tricks and his contract.

Socrates instantly realised what had happened and congratulated Arthur on his fine deceptive play. Arthur, chivalrous as always, commiserated with Socrates – after all if his hand had been:

	♠ 764	Instead of	♠ 42
	♥ K72		♥ KJ2
	♦ J63		♦ J63
	♣ KQ52		♣ K10652

The duck by Socrates would have been the only defence to defeat the contract.

The full deal:

		Dedi
		♠ AKQ3
		♥ AQ95
		♦ AKQ42
		♣ -
	Socrates		Euclid
	♠ J1098		♠ 765
	♥ 43		♥ 10876
	♦ -		♦ 109875
	♣ AJ98743		♣ Q
		Arthur
		♠ 42
		♥ KJ2
		♦ J63
		♣ K10652

At the other table the not unreasonable contract of seven diamonds was reached and defeated by the unlucky 5-0 trump break.

As the Clubs edged towards taking the lead in the Quadrule for the first time, rumours of forbidden sorcery were heard within the pack. Though most of these were started by Dedi, who was selling lucky charms to ward off the demons of bad breaks.