To paraphrase a popular game show, Name things we count:
A. Count our blessings
B. Count our money
c. Count at bridge
The No. 1 answer is ‘Count at bridge.’ As players, we know counting comes into play with each hand. Defensive conventions and signals help us draw accurate conclusions. East on defense did not have any artificial help to defeat this month’s hand.
The Bidding:
| North | East | South | West |
| 1N | Pass | ||
| 3N | Pass | Pass | Pass |
Opening Lead: Heart J
Cover the South/West hands and see if you can defeat the contract.
| NORTH | |
| S | 7 6 5 |
| H | 5 4 |
| D | A Q J 9 7 6 |
| C | A Q |
| WEST | EAST |
| S A 8 4 3 | S Q J 10 9 |
| H J 10 9 8 2 |
H A 6 3 |
| D 8 4 |
D 3 2 |
| C 3 2 |
C 9 8 6 5 |
| SOUTH | |
| S | K 2 |
| H | K Q 7 |
| D | K 10 5 |
| C | K J 10 7 4 |
West led the ♥ J, 5 from North, A from East, and declarer the 7. East did not woodenly return his partner’s suit. He paused for thought.
1. Should he continue ♥s, playing partnerfor K J 10 9x and taking five heart tricks to defeat the contract?
2. Was it right to make a potential damaging spade shift?
3. East avoided disaster by counting the high card points available in declarer’s hand.
4. If declarer held the ♠ A, the ♥ Q, and ♣ K J (13 total points), he would not have opened 1 NT.
5. Declarer could have the ♠ K, ♥s K Q, ♦ K, and ♣ K J (15 points and 1 NT).
6. Realizing a heart continuation would not defeat the contract, East shifted to the ♠ Q.
7. One heart four spades, down one! Well counted! Yes, South could have held the ♠
A instead of the ♠ K (17 points), but then the contract could not have been defeated.
[tip of the day]
Q. Kenny, when on defense, counting can be daunting. We don’t seem to have time to count all possibilities with each hand. Is there any way to help us with this conundrum?
A. Yes. Using defensive conventions and carding agreements will alleviate these issues. Present count, the rule of 11, and Journalist Leads are a good start.
By Kenneth Bland
Do you have a good bridge tip? Email kennethmbland@yahoo.com
