East-West vulnerable. West deals.

East-West vulnerable. West deals.

NORTH

xA Q 9 4

uA J 10 5

vA J

w10 9 2

WEST EAST

x8 6 3 x2

u7 4 3 2 uQ 6

vK Q 5 v9 8 7 6 4 3 2

wA K Q w7 6 4

SOUTH

xK J 10 7 5

uK 9 8

v10

wJ 8 5 3

The bidding:

WEST NORTH EAST SOUTH

1w Dbl Pass 2x

Pass 4x Pass Pass

Pass

Opening lead: King of x

As our readers have come to expect, the Daily Bulletins at the ACBL Summer North American Championships carry Eddie Kantar’s “Thinking Bridge” series for players anxious to improve their game. We will continue to feature them every Friday for a while.

“As South, you can revalue your hand facing a takeout double. An unbid five-card major is worth at least one extra point. On the other hand, don’t count anything for the jack of clubs, a lonesome secondary honor in a suit bid by the opponents. The king of hearts facing likely length and strength is worth an extra point as well. All in all, your hand is worth at least 9 points, closer to 10 because of the strength of your spades. In any case you have enough to jump to two spades, showing 9-11 revalued points, an important number to remember. As North, with 17 support points [one for the doubleton], you have enough to bid four spades.

“West starts with three high clubs, then shifts to the king of diamonds. As South, you must find the queen of hearts to make your contract. You know that West started with three clubs, so West must have a balanced hand. When an opponent doesn’t open one no trump or two no trump, that opponent must hold 12-14 or 18-19 points. With 18-19, opener usually bids again. Assume 12-14 if opener remains silent. West has turned up with 9 points in clubs and presumably king-queen of diamonds for 14 points. Ergo, West doesn’t hold the queen of hearts or he would have opened one no trump. After drawing trumps, lead a heart to the ace and lead the jack, intending to finesse the jack if the queen doesn’t appear.”

2008 Tribune Media Services