Toing and Froing

The above phrase is one of the most frequently searched in the Macmillan Online Dictionary and non-native speakers wonder why neither word is pronounced in the same way as the most frequent word used by Zebidee of Magic Roundabout fame, which was "Boing".

There were chances aplenty for both sides on the above complex hand from this week's Woodberry Online Pairs, but the defence had the last word, as happened at most tables. The declarers who made the contract had considerable help. One was when Gerry Weston led a small diamond (on a different auction) and that gave declarer his ninth trick. Ken Barnett benefited from East going in with the ace of clubs on the first round, while Anne Catchpole made the contract after a misdefence by East who had a setting diamond to cash.

In theory, the only defence is an initial club lead, which is never going to happen. When Doug Dunn was declarer, West led a normal five of spades and declarer won with the seven and led a club to the king. Now, in theory, declarer has to play a second spade, to the jack, which squeezes East in three suits. If he discards a heart, declarer has time to develop two tricks in hearts. If he discards a diamond, declarer makes three diamond tricks and if he discards a club then declarer has four clubs tricks. However Doug continued with a second club, ducked by David Burn, East and a third club which in theory David has to duck again. However, he won and now Doug discarded a small heart but as we will see he needs that and has to throw a spade. East now switched to the nine of diamonds, and Doug thought he could make it by winning and playing a heart, but East can win and play a second diamond, and now if declarer finesses the jack of spades, East has to pitch a small heart. And if Doug cashes the ace of spades, only then can East pitch a diamond. The defcnce always prevails. 

The beautiful winning line was for South to throw a spade on the ace of clubs while West discards a small diamond. Now East still plays the nine of diamonds which South has to win, but now he leads a heart, and if West plays low has to put in the eight. Now East plays another diamond and South wins, West unblocking the queen. while dummy parts with a heart. Now declarer must lead the queen of spades, not low to the jack. East can discard a small heart but then a spade to the ace squeezes him out of a red winner. South needs all three small hearts in a strange way as otherwise West can discard a heart and keep four diamonds.