| May’s Hand of the Month
Last month's column featured an interesting hand from the 2000 National Collegiate Championships, which were held in Orlando, FL. The score was tied at 9-9 in a ten point Match. The up card was the Jack of Spades. West held a powerful hand, and told South to pick up the Right Bower. South discarded the Club ten in order to do so. This was the position prior to the opening lead. | |
| He had a "warm and fuzzy" feeling, and made a comment about "going to the Show." West was on lead. This was the semi-final table, and the winning team would advance to the final round, where $40,000 in Scholarship Prizes was at stake!
The West player opened with the Ace of Hearts, as North and East followed, and South trumped with the Queen. South thought for three seconds, and reached for the master trump. The Right Bower was then played, as West dropped the Ten, North let go of his lonely Nine, and East tossed the Heart Ten. The walls of South's castle now shook, and came tumbling down! Now he exited with the Ace of Clubs and waited for his game fulfilling trick. As of this writing, he is still waiting! (The North and East hands were immaterial at this point). West gleefully trumped with the King, and the Left Bower dropped South's Spade Ace. The King of Hearts brought the game home, as the two points put East and West over the top. Did you spot South's error?
Yes -- you are right -- if you said that the lead of the Right Bower was a blunder of colossal magnitude! All South has to do after he wins the first trick with the trump Queen is to lead either of his minor (Club or Diamond) suit Aces. West must trump with the Ten, and is thoroughly endplayed! If he leads the Left, South wins the Right, and will now take four tricks after dropping the trump King under the Ace. If he leads the Spade King, South takes the Ace, and the Right guarantees the bid. Finally, if he plays his last Heart, South comfortably trumps with his Ace, and the Right will bring home the bacon!
This hand drew a lot of analysis, as the crestfallen South player realized his error. Here are the answers to the questions from the Euchre Variations and Hand of the Month article.
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| 1. What is West's best opening lead?
The King (or Ace) of Hearts is the strongest line, as it "punches" a trump from the South hand. Any trump lead is useless, as South will win, and exit with a minor suit Ace. West is forced to trump, and South takes the rest -- regardless of the return.
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