Suffolk Bridge

• Home
• Events
• Results
• Committee
• SCBA & You

Boudicca – The Queen of Diamonds

Boudicca (30?-60AD) took her name from the fearsome warrior who led the Celtic tribes of Britain in revolt against the Roman Empire. Some historians believe her real name was "Boudiga" – the ancient goddess of Victory.

"She was huge of frame, terrifying of aspect, and with a harsh voice. A great mass of bright red hair fell to her knees: she wore a twisted torc, and a tunic of many colours, over which was a thick mantle, fastened by a brooch. Now she grasped a spear, to strike fear into all who watched her." Dio Cassius

While the Pack's Boudicca had forsaken spear carrying, she possessed the determination and iron will of her patron, and was categorically not someone to be argued with.

		Noor
		♠ J6
		♥ 872
		♦ AKJ8
		♣ 8532
	Arthur		Merlin
		Boudicca
		♠ K8
		♥ A543
		♦ Q43
		♣ KQJ6

	West	North	East	South
	Arthur	Noor	Merlin	Boudicca
	2♥1	Pass	Pass	2NT
	Pass	3NT	End

1. 5/5 Hearts and a minor, 6-10 points

Arthur and Merlin where playing a version of the Diamond Enigma System. The two heart opening indicated 5-5 in hearts and a minor and 6-10 points. By agreement, Boudicca's two no-trump bid showed a balanced 15-17 count which Noor raised to game.

The king of hearts was led and as Boudicca surveyed dummy she knew she had a hard task ahead.

A quick count shows I've five top tricks in the red suit and once the ace of hearts has gone east-west will have six winners to cash, so prospects don't look good. To stand the slimmest of chances I must hope east holds both black aces.

West has promised a five card minor, which must be diamonds if East has the ace of clubs. What of the foe on my other flank? If my hopes of Arthur holding five-five in the reds come true, Merlin must have two red singletons and eleven black cards. If the clubs are breaking 3-2, Merlin will have eight or more spades, which makes no sense, as with eight spades and two aces he would surely have bid. So I must expect the clubs to break 4-1 or 50.

Consequently, I need to lead clubs from dummy three times to be sure of three tricks in the suit. Merlin is far too good a player to help by taking the ace at an early stage. There are only two obvious entries to dummy but I can see a less obvious third. I can play the queen of diamonds, that is myself, and overtake with the ace. When I play a second diamond from hand I can take the double finesse against Arthur's nine and ten because by then Merlin will be void in the suit.

That will bring my haul up to eight tricks, four diamonds, one heart and three clubs. If I could find another entry to Noor's hand I could lead towards the king of spades and scramble home! It's a shame I cannot throw Merlin in to lead spades after the clubs have been eliminated. And as Merlin is restricted to seven spades Arthur cannot hold the singleton queen, so that's not a viable tactic either.

If Merlin holds the queen of spades I can see no solution, but what if Arthur holds that card? She will be a thorn in his side, just as I was to the Romans. As the clubs are played west will need to keep a small spade to prevent me from laying down the king.

The position I am anticipating should look like this;

		♠ J6
		♥ 87
		♦ ---
		♣ 8
	♠ Q9		♠ Axxx
	♥ QJ		♥ ---
	♦ 10		♦ ---
	♣ ---		♣ x
		♠ K8
		♥ 43
		♦ ---
		♣ K

Merlin will be on play after taking the ace of clubs and doubtless he'll lead a club to my king. Arthur cannot afford to discard a spade so he'll throw a red suit winner. Now I exit with a heart and await my ninth trick in spades.

As battle-plans go this one involves a lot of wishful thinking but faintheartedness is not one of my traits. All I'm asking for is for west to hold precisely, two spades, five hearts, five diamonds and one club, with the queen of spades and no black ace.

When rousing my troops for battle I often remind them, "Grasp any and every chance of victory, no matter how slight."

The full deal.

		Noor
		♠ J6
		♥ 872
		♦ AKJ8
		♣ 8532
	Arthur		Merlin
	♠ Q9		♠ A1075432
	♥ KQJ109		♥ 6
	♦ 109752		♦ 6
	♣ 4		♣ A1097
		Boudicca
		♠ K8
		♥ A543
		♦ Q43
		♣ KQJ6

Boudicca was the only declarer to bring this contract home. She took the first heart and played the queen of diamonds to the ace. A club to the jack held and she returned to dummy by playing a diamond to the eight. A second club to the queen was followed by the king and jack of diamonds, south discarding a heart.

On the third round of clubs Merlin took his ace and cleared the suit. Boudicca had been keeping watch on west's discards and knew he had two spades left so she exited with a heart. The spade lead at trick twelve secured the contract and a useful 12 IMP gain for the diamond clan.