The Tale of the Six of Clubs

By Ray Adams

frankandarchie@yahoo.com

The Sevens and Under Public House was a very happy place just the other night. The Six of Clubs and his special guest were celebrating due to their success on the following hand:

“My Master, Mr. South, arrived in 4♠ on the bidding shown,” the Six of Clubs said excitedly. “West led a small heart, East cashed the ace and Mr. South ruffed the continuation.” The Six of Clubs was quite proud of himself for having used a word as ambitious as “continuation.” He had learned it when he had been chosen to wait tables at the Royal Honors Club and had listened to the Aces, Kings, Queens, and Jacks analyzing bridge hands.

“My Master then played the ace of spades, led the jack to dummy’s king, picking up all the lurkers, and ruffed dummy’s last heart. He was now set to endplay the opponents.” The Six of Clubs had also learned the term “endplay” while working at the Royal Honors Club. He hoped he was making a good impression on his spotcard companions. He must have been, for a cry of “Hear! Hear!” filled the room.

“He cashed the ace of diamonds, crossed to dummy’s king, then led the ten. East had to play the jack, but West chose to win with the queen. I think West thought it was better for the lead to come from his hand. I was certainly glad he did, for it allowed me to better serve my Master.”

The little pasteboard took a sip of his ale and continued, “West now exited with the ten of clubs. Dummy covered with the jack, East played the queen, and Mr. South won the ace. What do you think my Master did then?”

“He played you!” the Two of Diamonds, one of the more outspoken of the little deuces, yelled.

“No,” he led the two of spades to dummy’s four. And now he led the Two of Clubs.” Both the Two of Spades and the Two of Clubs puffed up when they heard their names mentioned in this intriguing story. “When East followed with the four, he put me to work!”

A cheer went up for the little Six.

“West won his king, it is true, but because of me, my good friend,” and here, the Six of Clubs put his arm around the Nine of Clubs, “took the game-going trick.”

Cheers sounded until late in the night as the other tiny pasteboards bought ale and beer for the Six and Nine of Clubs. Finally, the two happy spotcards could hardly stand anymore and had to be carried back to their home deck. The next day they woke up feeling fine and ready to go out and win more battles for their Master.

The Six and Nine of Clubs thank Ralph Jungwirth of Modesto, California, for this fine hand.