BRIDGE

Both vulnerable. South deals.

NORTH

xJ

uA K Q 3 2

v9 8 5 4

wA Q 4

WEST EAST

x9 4 x10 8 6 3

u9 8 uJ 10 7 5

vA Q 3 v7 6 2

wJ 10 9 7 3 2 w8 6

SOUTH

xA K Q 7 5 2

u6 4

vK J 10

wK 5

The bidding:

SOUTH WEST NORTH EAST

1x Pass 2u Pass

3NT Pass 6NT Pass

Pass Pass

Opening lead: Jack of w

With this deal, we will end our series of hands from Eddie Kantar’s “Thinking Bridge,” designed for players looking to improve their game.

“South, with stoppers in the unbid suits, decides that three no trump is a more descriptive rebid than three spades. After all, how can partner be expected to rebid three no trump lacking a minor-suit stopper? North clearly has enough to raise to six no trump facing a likely 17-18 high-card points. The six near-solid spades make up for the lack of high-card points. In any case, that is what South is planning to tell North if anything goes wrong!

“As South, count your tricks! You have six likely spades, at least three hearts and three clubs for a grand total of 12. Am I good to you or what? Any problems? Yes, spades are blocked! A good declarer [you!] notices blocked suits. [A suit is considered blocked if it cannot be run uninterruptedly.] In this case spades cannot be run uninterruptedly unless the jack of spades is overtaken and the suit breaks 3-3 [36 percent].

“Don’t hold your breath. What South needs is an outside entry to the spades. That entry is the king of clubs. The first club must be won in dummy [key play]. The jack of spades is cashed, the closed hand entered via the king of clubs and the spades, hearts and remaining clubs are all high for at least 12 tricks.

“When a suit is blocked, conserving an outside entry to that suit is critical. If no side-suit entry exists, a risky overtake is the default solution.”

2009 Tribune Media Services