Finals: Jack versus
WBridge5
|
|
WEST |
NORTH |
EAST |
SOUTH |
|
Jack |
WBridge5 |
Jack |
WBridge5 |
|
Pass |
1 |
Pass |
1 |
|
Pass |
1 |
Pass |
1 |
|
Pass |
2 |
All Pass |
|
Opening lead: 
7
WBridge5 did well to stop in 2
and had to make 9 tricks to tie
the match. While the programs had no
idea of the state of the match, Hans Kuijf, developer of Jack, and Yves Costel,
developer of WBridge5, along with their supporters and other spectators,
watched to see if the match would end in a tie. At the "other" table Jack had gone down one in 4 when North took a more aggressive view. West led the 7. There are four obvious losers, 2 clubs, one heart and one
diamond. If declarer could time the
play correctly 9 tricks were possible on a crossruff. However, when Jack returned the 10 at trick two declarer could not
make more than eight tricks without risking the contract. In actual play WBridge5 played hearts first
and diamonds second. Each defender,
after winning their Ace, returned a trump and declarer was held to 8
tricks...and Jack was crowned the 2002 World Computer-Bridge Champion.
Note
the interesting position when declarer leads the 
10. East did not cover in this position:
NORTH
A Q
K Q 3
10
K 6 4
WEST EAST
K -
8 7 6 10 9
A 9 6 J 8 5 4
10 8 A Q 9
SOUTH
8 7
5
K Q 7 3 2
5
Was
that a mistake? No! In 2
the surest way to make 8 tricks is to go up with a diamond honor. Otherwise, if West wins the J
and return a trump declarer can go down if West started with the A
J x (x) or East started with the A
and four hearts. However, if East plays
the J
South may duck knowing that East cannot return a trump and therefore 8 tricks
are still safe and 9 tricks are possible.
Let’s say East returns a heart.
Declarer cashes the K
Q pitching a club, ruffs a club and leads the K. If West
covers, declarer ruffs, ruffs a club, cashes the Q,
ruffs a diamond, and ruffs whichever suit West keeps, making 9 tricks. If West doesn’t cover the A
declarer ruffs, ruffs a club, ruffs a diamond and ruffs a heart or club, still
making 8 tricks.