Hypatia – The Ten of Spades
The Ten of Spades chose her name in honour of her heroine, Hypatia of Alexandria, Egypt (370-415AD).
The corporeal Hypatia was a noted mathematician, philosopher and inventor of scientific equipment. Reputedly she possessed two other extraordinary qualities. Firstly, she was able to convey complicated ideas in a simple and readily understandable manner – a trait not often found in minds of great intellect. Secondly, an image of her shows her to be strikingly beautiful. It's rumoured that in the dark reaches of the night, when thoughts of mathematicians turn from formulae to matters less intellectual, it's Hypatia who haunts their dreams.
At one point she is recorded as having made the following statement which, though appropriate to the game of Bridge, also has relevance to everyday life. "Reserve your right to think, for even to think wrongly is better than not to think at all." Sadly, some zealots of a different religious persuasion disagreed with this sentiment and her tragic end came when she was dragged into a temple by a mob and brutally murdered.
The Ten of Spades brought these qualities of thoughtfulness and nobility to the Pack as demonstrated in this hand in the Spade-Diamond match.
| Love all, Dealer South | Aristotle | ||
| ♠ A103 | |||
| ♥ 10962 | |||
| ♦ 865 | |||
| ♣ 952 | |||
| Noor | Boudicca | ||
| Hypatia | |||
| ♠ KQ6 | |||
| ♥ K8753 | |||
| ♦ A | |||
| ♣ AQ43 | |||
| West | North | East | South | |
| Noor | Aristotle | Boudicca | Hypatia | |
| 1♥ | ||||
| Dbl | 3♥1 | Pass | 4♥ | |
| Pass | Pass | Pass |
1. Pre-emptive raise.
Noor led the queen of diamonds to the five, nine and ace.
Before attempting this complex hand remember Hypatia's advice, "Reserve your right to think".
Points first – I've eighteen; partner has four - that leaves eighteen for east-west. As Noor doubled she should have most of those. The lead places the diamond king with East. I can place one of the heart honours with Boudicca too, by the simple but irrefutable logic that - should West have the AQJ of hearts the contract is hopeless.
How about winners and losers? Well, unless the ace of hearts is on my right, I've two trump losers. But I don't think Noor would have doubled with eleven points and the QJ doubleton of hearts. So I'm inclined to place the ace of trumps with West.
I've no losing spades or diamonds, so success of the contract depends on the club suit. I guess Boudicca could have the club king. That would give her seven points with the diamond king, and heart jack, which is just about feasible - though once again the chances are that Noor has that card for her double. In which case I've two trump and two club losers.
Since there's nothing to be done about the trumps I need to address the problem in the club suit, and the only hope is that Noor will lead clubs when she gets the lead. But she's never going to do that unless she's no alternative.
Now that's an idea. If I eliminate the side suits before giving West her trump tricks she'll have to concede a ruff and discard or lead a club round to my king. There's no difficulty in eliminating the spades, but with only one entry to dummy I can't ruff out the diamonds. What I need is a second entry to table.
Ah, I see it! The chances are that Noor holds the jack of spades, and that she won't play it when I lead small towards dummy. So I can win the first spade with my name card, that's the ten of spades. Then ruff a diamond, cross to the ace of spades, ruff a second diamond and finally cash the last spade. With spades and diamonds removed I can exit with a trump. As Confucius is fond of saying, "Make your opponents to play into your hands."
Since I'm playing for West to have the singleton, or doubleton ace of trumps, perforce she'll have to take the first or second trump trick, or even both. And one way or another she'll have to concede the contract. East may be able to win the first heart and play a club through, but if that happens I'll win with the ace and throw Noor in with a second trump.
I'll look pretty silly if the ten loses, but it won't be the first time, or indeed the last. So here goes…
The play went as declarer had anticipated. The spade to the ten held so Hypatia was able to eliminate the diamonds and spades. Noor held the singleton ace of trumps so she had to try a club when she gained the lead.
The full deal:
| Aristotle | |||
| ♠ A103 | |||
| ♥ 10962 | |||
| ♦ 865 | |||
| ♣ 952 | |||
| Noor | Boudicca | ||
| ♠ J985 | ♠ 742 | ||
| ♥ A | ♥ QJ4 | ||
| ♦ QJ1074 | ♦ K932 | ||
| ♣ KJ8 | ♣ 1076 | ||
| Hypatia | |||
| ♠ KQ6 | |||
| ♥ K8753 | |||
| ♦ A | |||
| ♣ AQ43 | |||
"I hear", said Confucius, "that the Quadrule committee have acquired a consolation prize for the team that comes last in the event".
"What's that", asked Hypatia?
"It's similar to the Ashes prize that the English and Australians compete for in their game of locus or grasshopper, whatever it's called".
"Cricket", Srinivasa said with a grin.
"Oh yes, cricket. I knew it was some kind of insect. However, instead of the charred remnants of sports equipment they will be presenting a vase containing the cremated remains of a much loved and much lamented feline."
Hypatia looked shocked, "I don't believe it, why ever would anyone do that?"
"Well", replied Confucius, with a pause for dramatic effect… "Whichever Suit comes last in the Quadrule, it will be a cat ash trophy"!
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.