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Win at Spades is Copyright 1998 Bonus Books of Chicago, IL, and Joe Andrews
By Joe Andrews
Hi! My name is Joe Andrews, and I am the author of Win at Spades, which will be published and released in late February of 1999. The book is chock full of strategy, technique, and useful conventions. Several illustrative hands are featured: Here is one of the more interesting deals, which actually occurred in a recent tournament:
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North
K 10 8
10 7 6 5
Q 10
Q 8 7 3
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West
J 9 6 2
K 9 4 2
9 4 3 2
5
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East
A Q
A J 3
7 6 5
K J 6 4 2
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South (Dealer)
7 5 4 3
Q 8
A K J 8
A 10 9
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The Bidding:
West
3
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North
3
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East
4
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South
4
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Opening Lead: Five of Clubs (by West)
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It was a very close game (500-point limit), and the score was tied at 432 apiece. Bags, obviously, were not a problem. With both sides just 70 points short of game, the bidding was going to be aggressive, to say the least! West had a reasonable 3-bid, thanks to the singleton Club. North really stretched for his 3, as he counted on two shaky trump tricks, and a very long shot with his minor suit Queens. There is no argument with the East and South bids, although the latter appeared to be a "stretch" to avoid a loss by 10 points! However, this created the peculiar situation of both sides bidding a total of 14 tricks! This doomed someone to failure -- and the hand became a ferocious dogfight.
West got off to a good start with his singleton Club lead, and North played low. East inserted the Jack -- a truly wonderful finesse and display of serendipity! South took the Ace, and started the Diamond suit with the Ace and then the King. Remember, unless specified, the lowest card of a suit is always played. The fall of the Queen was very pleasing, and now the Diamond Jack was led, and it, too, won a trick (North discarding a low Heart). A fourth round of Diamonds was ruffed with North's 8, as East scored his Spade Queen via an overruff.
The Ace of Spades was immediately cashed, with everyone following low. West was very happy to see North's 10 drop. East now grabbed the King of Clubs as West discarded a low Heart. East, still on lead, cashed the Ace of Hearts, as more low cards were played, and led his Heart 3 to his partner's King. A low Spade was taken by North's King. The critical junction had been reached. Each side had five tricks and needed two more. Only three tricks were left -- and something had to give!
North now tried a Heart. East's Jack was ruffed by South. The last two tricks were guaranteed for West, as he had Master trumps. The final result was East/West seven tricks and North/South six tricks (and defeat). It was a hard-fought hand. We really have to appreciate the play of the Club Jack on trick one. It made all of the difference in the world. How could East have divined the importance of this play? It was a truly memorable hand....
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