Frieda and Gordon were sitting together on Frieda’s comfortable sofa. They had just enjoyed the results of Frieda’s excellent cooking, Gordon had insisted on washing up, and they were sharing a rather good brandy.
Frieda was wondering hopefully if Gordon would possibly edge a little closer when he uttered, in rather dramatic tone “Frieda, I want to ask you something”.
Frieda’s immediate thought was quickly rejected; she and Gordon had only known each other for a few weeks and, well, they were of mature age and certainly not hasty. “Please ask, then, Gordon” she answered, hoping that her voice was steady.
“Frieda, would you,…, would you be my …. He paused in confusion while Frieda waited expectantly. “Frieda, would you be my partner in the tournament, next month?”. He finally got the words out.
Frieda felt a small sense of anticlimax and asked artlessly “But why do you want to play with little old me, Gordon?”.
Gordon went a rather fetching shade of pink. “I particularly admired your defence in last Wednesday’s game” he said. This is the hand that Gordon was referring to (with Frieda in South’s seat, East-West vulnerable, and West the dealer). West opened 1NT (12-14 HCP) and Gordon sitting North doubled.
| ♠KQ9 ♥AQJT974 ♦2 ♣A6 | ||
| ♠J65 ♥K8 ♦AJT4 ♣KT95 | ♠432 ♥653 ♦Q93 ♣8732 | |
| ♠AT87 ♥2 ♦K8765 ♣QJ4 |
East passed (no doubt with trepidation) and Frieda passed too (after all she knew Gordon’s double was for penalty). West, with a stoic sigh, also passed and Gordon led ♠K. Frieda signalled with the ♠T, Gordon continued with ♠Q and the defence took the first four tricks in spades. Frieda was now on lead and hesitantly advanced the ♣Q. Declarer covered with the ♣K, Gordon won the ♣A and returned a club to Frieda’s ♣J.
The excitement was proving too much for Frieda who, having a senior moment, thought they were defending a diamond contract. Hoping for a heart ruff, she led her singleton ♥2. To her surprise, Gordon now took the remainder of the tricks with his long hearts. Down 7 in a doubled contract was of course a top board.
Recalling the hand over their brandy was, naturally, very pleasant but Frieda did feel a twinge of guilt. She admitted to her mental aberration over her heart return hoping that she would not lose Gordon’s good opinion.
Impressed by her transparent honesty Gordon smiled broadly. “Frieda, I’ve had more than my fair share of cows flying by during bridge” he chuckled. “You kindly did not remark on my lapse last week when holding T 8 3 in clubs and declarer played a small club towards dummy’s club holding of Q 9 6 3. I had the ‘sagacity’ to realise that it would be useful to give count. They had just agreed to play reverse count so Gordon prepared to play ♣8 expecting declarer to play ♣Q. And he carried out his sagacious plan even though declarer played ♣9!
This confession very much reassured Frieda who was aware that Gordon’s experience exceeded hers. She smiled warmly at him and squeezed his hand. “I think we shall make a good partnership, Gordon”. And the ambiguity hung in the air.
Bridge Romances 
Leave a comment