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Freud – The Nine of Hearts

The Heart Nine chose as his alter ego the psychoanalyst Sigismund Schlomo Freud (1856 – 1939). He was a popular personality in the cupboard. Though some Pack members felt self conscious in his presence, others, like Ma, would deliberately choose two profiteroles and a chocolate éclair from the sweet trolley, just for the fun of provoking a raised eyebrow.

The human Freud was a complicated character. His likes included animals, (he is quoted as saying, "Time spent with cats is never wasted."), he enjoyed a weekly game of cards with his friends and, it must be admitted, he was partial to a little spot of cocaine.

Listed amongst his dislikes was a morbid fear of the number 62, to the extent that he avoided hotels with a room 62, and he also suffered from Pteridophobia(¹⁾.

Love all, Dealer North.

		Hippo
	Diotima		Aristotle
	♠ Q743
	♥ 10
	♦ A109432
	♣ Q8
		Freud
		♠ 105
		♥ QJ952
		♦ 76
		♣ 6542

	West	North	East	South
	Diotima	Hippo	Aristotle	Freud
		1♠	2♥	Pass
	Pass	Dbl	Pass	Pass1
	Pass

1. Not a confident penalty pass.

Freud led the ten of spades which held the trick as the West, North and East played low. A second spade was ruffed by Aristotle who continued with a club, the queen and Hippo's ace. North cashed the ace of trumps before reverting to spades which East ruffed with the eight of hearts.

This was the position with South to play. North-South having won three tricks.

		Hippo
		♠ A
	Diotima		Aristotle
	♠ Q7
	♥ ---		♥ 8
	♦ A109432
	♣ 8
		Freud
		♠ ---
		♥ QJ95
		♦ 76
		♣ 642

Here are Freud's thoughts on the hand…

This looks easy. I overruff with my name card, the Nine of Hearts, exit in a minor, and with the QJ5 of hearts behind the king I have the two tricks needed to defeat the contact. Only one off, but on this board I'll settle for a plus score.

Though something is niggling at my subconscious. Ah, I have it; it's the way Aristotle looks. A moment ago he looked glum, but that's all changed. Now his shoulders are held higher, his breathing is quicker and there's a trace of a smile.

My namesake, the real life Freud, had something to say about this…

"He that has eyes to see and ears to hear may convince himself that no mortal can keep a secret. If his lips are silent, he chatters with his fingertips; betrayal oozes out of him at every pore."

So what's Aristotle's secret, I wonder? Let's think; he's sure to know the heart distribution, and if he has a loser in clubs or diamonds he'll know there's no hope.

Now I see it… if he has three clubs and two diamonds left, all of which are winners, he'll cash his minor suit cards to leave both of us with three trumps - he with A76, me with QJ5. When he exits with the six of hearts at trick eleven I'll be endplayed. Oy Gevalt, what's to do?

What if I discard on this trick? That'll leave me with QJ95 in trumps while declarer has K76. Now I look at it, that's 100% sure three tricks. The QJ9 will make two tricks by force and I can ruff one of declarer's winners with the five.

So, overruffing with my name card, the Nine of Hearts, will work on some hands, but discarding leads to a certain victory.

At the other table, North scored 110 by making two-spades so Freud's excellent play simply drew the board.

The full deal:

		Hippo
		♠ AKJ962
		♥ A
		♦ Q85
		♣ A95
	Diotima		Aristotle
	♠ Q743		♠ 8
	♥ 10		♥ K87643
	♦ A109432		♦ KJ
	♣ Q8		♣ KJ107
		Freud
		♠ 105
		♥ QJ952
		♦ 76
		♣ 6542

"Well played Siggy," said Confucius, who'd been watching the action. "Say, have you heard about the guy who collapsed and died after losing over £1,000 to his friends playing rubber bridge?"

"No."

"For a while his friends debated who should phone his wife. Until one of them volunteered to handle the situation.

He made the call; which went something like this…"

"Hello Mrs Finkleburger, I've some good news and some bad news."

"Oh?"

"The bad news is your husband has lost over a thousand pounds playing cards."

"What! Tell the schmuck I hope he drops dead."

……

1. A gold star to those who knew 'Pteridophobia' is a fear of ferns.