Bridge is going through a renaissance and experiencing a youth revival. These young players are knowledgeable, fearless and very good. They even make part scores exciting. Exhibit A: This month’s hand.
« The bidding:
W
2C
Pass
Pass
Pass
N
2D
Pass
Pass
E
2S
3S
Double
S
1D
3D
Pass
Pass
« North/South: Vul
« Opening lead: ♦ Ace
NORTH
♠ 6
♥ K 8 6 5
♦ Q 5 3
♣ A 10 8 6 5
WEST
♠ 7 3
♥ A Q J 9
♦ A J 10 9 4 2
♣ J
EAST
♠ K 10 4
♥ 10 2
♦ K 7 6
♣ K 9 4 3 2
SOUTH
♠ A Q J 9 8 5 2
♥ 7 4 3
♦ 8
♣ Q 7
[the play]
1. West on lead measured his options: (A.) A trump lead is not good against a doubled partscore. (B.) Leading a ♥ from Ace/Q could give up a trick. (C.) Leading the opponent’s side suit singleton is usually not a good bet. (D.) Since partner raised ♦s, leading the ♦ Ace to look at the dummy would be logical.
2. West led the ♦ Ace, 3 from dummy, 6 from East, and South the 8.
3. Counting tricks for the defense, West came to possibly one ♠, two ♥s, one ♦, and one ♣, five tricks.
4. Looking at dummy, West knew a ♥ play was needed.
5. West realized that playing the Ace and Queen of ♥s would produce only one trick if partner had a doubleton, so West found the key play of the Queen of ♥s. Declarer played the King from dummy, 10 from East, and 3 from South.
6. Declarer led a ♠ from dummy, finessed the Jack, cashed the Ace and then gave East their King.
7. North-South were going set because West had maintained ♥ communication. East was able to lead back the ♥ 2, South played the 4, West won the 9 and cashed the Ace.
8. Declarer then had to lose a ♣ for down one.
9. Plus 200 for the defense and a big score.
[tip of the day]
Q| Kenny, while playing against a very good local player, my partner and I arrived in two hearts via a transfer auction. After two passes, my left-hand opponent bid two spades with only four spades! We bid three hearts and went down. How did he know?
A| The first thing I learned from Ted Browne (Beth Percich’s grandfather) was at duplicate, don’t let the opponents play two hearts or less. The idea is to have the opponents play at an uncomfortable level. Not letting you play two hearts must have been your opponent’s strategy.
[Do you have a good bridge tip? Email kennethmbland@yahoo.com ]
Photo: Colin Miller of Strauss Peyton