Ben Franklin Plays 4♠ Doubled

 

By an astonishing coincidence, Board 11 of our July 4^th 2007 set of hands was also played in the court of King George III of England back on July 4^th, 1787.  Relations between England and the United States had improved considerably since that unfortunate business with the tea.  So much so, in fact, that Thomas Jefferson and Benjamin Franklin, on their way to Paris, thought nothing of popping into the palace for a quick game of bridge with George and his Queen Sophia.  A full account of this historic match is regrettably unavailable, but the story of that remarkable Board 11 has survived.  It was recorded as follows by a kibitzing versifier (we hesitate to call him a poet).  Here it is:

 

                                King

                                ♠ K32                                                  Neither side vulnerable

                                ♥ A63                                                  Dealer South

                                ♦ KJT7

                                ♣ Q82

        Jefferson                                 Franklin

        ♠ JT84                                     ♠ AQ975

        ♥ KJ4                                      ♥

        ♦ 86                                         ♦ 95432

        ♣ K754                                   ♣ A63                           Queen       Thomas      King        Benjamin

                                Queen                                                   Sophia      Jefferson    George    Franklin

                                ♠ 6                                                        1♥             Pass           2♦            2♠

                                ♥ QT98752                                          3♥             4♠               Dbl          Pass

                                ♦ AQ                                                     Pass         Pass

                                ♣ JT9

 

I.  THE BIDDING The Queen decided that One Heart Was how she would the auction start, Although it failed the Rule of Twenty She deemed her 9-count to be plenty.   Two Diamonds by the King did not Deter old Ben, he had not got To where he was by feeble Passes, “Two Spades!” he told the ruling classes!   When Jefferson raised Ben to four George doubled with a mighty roar, For penalties, there was no doubt, The Queen would not take this one out.   II.  THE PLAY “Don’t lead a trump” Ben Franklin prayed, Alas, the Queen produced a Spade. Now the going would be tough For him to get two Diamond ruffs.   Winning the lead with Dummy’s Ten Ben played a Diamond, that was when King George the Third rose with his King, Indeed a most surprising thing.   The King’s King won the trick and then His Majesty led trumps again, On which Sophia tossed away Her Diamond Ace, a brilliant play!   Ben Franklin, on the board again, Led Diamond Eight to George’s Ten, Which won the trick, and his last Spade Was the next card that he played.

III. PRAISE FOR THE ROYAL DEFENSE The court now buzzed, for all had heard, Sophia and King George the Third Had stopped the Philadelphia man From ruffing twice, as was his plan.   Ben praised the King “What a fine play, To jump up with the King that way, A clever Crocodile-like Coup, Your trump leads put my scheme askew”   Then the man from Monticello, Being a most gallant fellow, Praised the pitching of the Ace, “The Queen’s not just a pretty face”.   IV.  THE KING'S FALSE CLAIM  The King said “Down one is the score, You only have nine tricks, no more, A triumph for the monarchy, A setback for democracy”   Ben said, “Down one is not quite right, I have not yet begun to fight. Allow me to play out the hand, Because an end-play I have planned”   V. THE END-PLAY The King’s shape was 3-3-4-3, That much Ben could clearly see, A Club throw-in was on the way When the third Club Ben would play.   "We're bested by a mere Yankee, This day will live in infamy, Enjoy your Insurrection Day” Was all that King George had to say.

 

 

Yes, indeed, poor old George was end-played, these were the remaining cards after the third round of Clubs:

                                    George

                                    ♠

                                    ♥ A63

                                    ♦ J7

                                    ♣

            Jefferson                                 Franklin

            ♠ 7                                          ♠ A9

            ♥ KJ4                                     ♥

            ♦                                              ♦ 954

            ♣ 7                                          ♣

                                    Sophia

                                    ♠

                                    ♥ QT987

                                    ♦

                                    ♣

All those heroic ruff-preventing Diamond plays had only served to set up an end-play in the suit.  Of course, old George could have arranged for Queen Sophia to win that Club trick, but that would not have helped, the mere act of unblocking the Clubs would give away the whereabouts of the A♥ and force Declarer into the winning guess.

                                                     

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