Cassandra – The Two of Diamonds
The Cassandra of Greek mythology was the beautiful daughter of the king and queen of Troy. One version of her story relates that she learnt to hear the future after some snakes licked her ears clean.
Though a more popular tale has it that Apollo, who was enamoured of her beauty, offered her the gift of prophecy in return for her sexual favours. Cassandra accepted the gift but then reneged on her side of the bargain. In retribution Apollo cast a spell that caused no one to give credence to her predictions.
Author's note… Since she already had the gift, why didn't she see that coming?
Inside the cupboard Cassandra was known as an aficionado of "New Age" thinking. Metaphorically speaking, she wore a caftan with sandals, strings of brightly coloured beads, and a disconcerting look of manic contentment.
She once suggested that crystals placed strategically around the shelf would improve the tribe's aptitude for reasoning and bolster their quest for the Quadrule. When Pandora asked if it would also help their rivals, she had to admit that her plan wasn't perfect.
| Pandora | |||
| ♠ A952 | |||
| ♥ 765 | |||
| ♦ J | |||
| ♣ Q10752 | |||
| Sophie | Hypatia | ||
| Cassandra | |||
| ♠ KQJ1064 | |||
| ♥ A983 | |||
| ♦ AK2 | |||
| ♣ --- | |||
North-South Game, Dealer East.
| West | North | East | South | |
| Sophie | Pandora | Hypatia | Cassandra | |
| 2NT1 | 3♠2 | |||
| Pass | 4♦3 | Pass | 5♣4 | |
| Pass | 5♥5 | Pass | 6♠ |
1. At least 5-5 in the minors, 5-9 HCP
2. Game forcing
3. Agreeing spades and showing first or second round control of diamonds
4. Exclusion Blackwood, asking for aces outside of the club suit
5. One ace or possibly the king of spades.
For once the diamond suit's love of conventions paid off and Cassandra found herself in a reasonable slam. Sophie led the spade seven and South reviewed her chances. Instinctively she played low on the opening lead and took the trick in hand – noting that east discarded a diamond.
If Cassandra warned you of the problems ahead, would you listen?
Prophesy, that is what it's all about. Once in a while I'm able to enter the minds of our human counterparts and warn them of impending doom. I tell them, "there's a bad trump break on this hand, or all three finesses are wrong, or east will ruff the ace if you play it". Do they listen? No of course not - they stumble from one disaster to the next. Sometimes I wonder why I bother.
Looking at my hand I've a loser in diamonds and three losing hearts. I can discard a heart from dummy on the second high diamond. Then play ace and another heart. After I regain the lead I can ruff a heart in dummy to establish the suit if they break 3-3. The small diamond can also be ruffed before I draw trumps.
Sadly my predictive powers can't tell me if the hearts are breaking. Hypatia's bid promised ten cards in the minors and as she's void in spades so she aught to have three hearts – but what if she's 6-5 in the minors? Can anything be done?
If that's the position, I'll have another heart loser and the natural solution is to ruff it in dummy. I'll need all three of dummy's trumps, one to ruff the diamond and two to ruff hearts, in effect I'll cross-ruff the hand. Now I understand that feeling of uneasiness which has been lurking in the back of my mind. Could it be that the fates have a nasty surprise in store? When I concede a heart trick Sophie will win and play a second spade, leaving me two trumps to ruff three losers!
The key, if there is one, must be to arrange for east to win the heart, as she's no trumps to play. Except there is no apparent way of doing that.
The thought occurs that, "From time to time it's possible to exchange a loser in one suit for one in another". Is that the case on this hand?
Bridge is a strange game, here I'm searching for a way to lose a trick. Obviously it would be pointless to lose a spade or club, so all that remains is diamonds. What if I play a small diamond to the jack? It's almost guaranteed that Sophie will win, as she holds most of the missing diamonds. If she returns a heart I can win and cash the ace and king of diamonds discarding hearts from dummy. A heart ruff, club ruff, heart ruff, club ruff and final heart ruff will see me home.
Maybe the fates can be vanquished after all! Time to play myself, the two of diamonds, to see what they hold in store.
By heeding her premonition Cassandra quickly wrapped up twelve tricks.
The full hand;
| Pandora | |||
| ♠ A952 | |||
| ♥ 765 | |||
| ♦ J | |||
| ♣ Q10752 | |||
| Sophie | Hypatia | ||
| ♠ 873 | ♠ --- | ||
| ♥ KJ104 | ♥ Q2 | ||
| ♦ 953 | ♦ Q108764 | ||
| ♣ KJ8 | ♣ A9643 | ||
| Cassandra | |||
| ♠ KQJ1064 | |||
| ♥ A983 | |||
| ♦ AK2 | |||
| ♣ --- | |||
The contract was the same at the other Diamond-Spade table. Santa sat west and like Sophie he led a trump. The ace and king of diamonds were cashed, dummy discarding a heart. Next came the ace and a small heart. Santa needed to be on his toes to defeat the contact – but he was up to the challenge. He rose with the king of hearts dropping Putto's queen and played a second round of trumps.
In the Heart-Club match Mary also found the killing spade lead. Declarer also cashed the diamond Ace-King before playing the ace and a second heart. But this time, Florence who sat east, was careful to play the queen of hearts under the ace. So Mary couldn't fail but to win the second heart trick.
Mike Chanter
This sequence of articles was written and conceived by Mike Chanter.
Mike has been a member of Suffolk for a long time despite no longer living in the county and retaining his connection by being an associate. He still has many friends in Suffolk and returns from time to time to play in local events. He would be delighted to hear your impressions of Bridge in the Cupboard.