| At the Bridge
The standard game of Partnership Euchre has a ten-point limit; the first Team to score ten points is the winner. When a Team reaches nine points, it is said to be "At The Bridge." If the opponents are not dealing, and are losing 6-9 or 7-9, they can steal the game with a successful loner. Another scenario occurs when the dealer's Team has six or seven points, and your side has nine points. Once again, you are threatened with the loner bid. In the latter situation, you must order up whatever the top card indicates, unless you have a natural trump trick. If you are the dealer with a 9-6 or 9-7 lead, you must take up the trump if three passes come to you. If you pass in fourth seat, a foxy opponent may be waiting to spring a loner on you! This hand was observed in a Tournament. | |
| UPCARD - ACE OF SPADES
The Score is 9-7 in favor of North/South. West, North and East pass. If South lazily passes, he is at risk to a desperation loner bid by West. The Ace of hearts is not a sure trick. And the Ace of Spades is sure side trick winner if East or West names a trump. As the cards lie, West rolls for a 4 point gain (and the game) if Diamonds are trump. (West would lead the right bower dropping his partner's loan Jack.) Instead, South takes up the Spade Ace, and ditches the nine of Clubs. West leads his Diamond Ace, as North and East drop their singletons, and South trumps with his lone Ace. Now he tries the normal lead of the heart Ace, and West ruffs with his ten spot, as North East play the Jack and ten respectively. (If playing with "mirrors," South can lead a Club to his Partner's Ace, and the trump Queen will extract all of the Spades!) Another high Diamond (by West) is trumped by North's Queen, as East dumps a low Club, and South sheds his Club Queen. The Ace of Clubs is now led, and it walks for North/South's third (and game fulfilling trick.) East's nine of Spades wins the last trick - a remarkable feat for such a low trump! Everyone expresses amazement that both Bowers and the King of Spades were buried in the deck! Did you also notice that all four trump were scored separately? In "The Columbus Book of Euchre" (Natty Bumppo, Borf Press, 1999), the intentional ordering of trump when "At The Bridge" in order to prevent a possible loner is called "The Columbus Coup." The "Rushville Stroke" is the successful completion of the same hand (without suffering a Euchre). Natty's Book is very informative, and written in a down-to-Earth style.
QUIZ - (Dec. 2000).
The answer for last month's History Challenge will be posted in February. So far no one has come up with the correct answer. (Please refer to the Dec. column) | |
