BRIDGE

East-West vulnerable. North deals.

NORTH

x2

uJ 6 3 2

vK Q 10 3

wA K J 4

WESTEAST

xA J 8x10 4 3

uQ 10 8 5uA K 9

vA 7 2vJ 9 8 4

w10 9 5w8 7 6

SOUTH

xK Q 9 7 6 5

u7 4

v6 5

wQ 3 2

The bidding:

NORTHEASTSOUTHWEST

1vPass1xPass

2wPass2xPass

PassPass

Opening lead: Five of u

Here’s another deal from Eddie Kantar’s award-winning series “Thinking Bridge,” published in the Daily Bulletins at the recent ACBL Spring North American Championships in Houston.

“The proper opening bid with North’s distribution is one diamond. Also, it is better to rebid two clubs over the expected one-spade response with a low singleton in spades as opposed to one no trump.

“Rebidding one no trump with a low singleton in partner’s suit is misleading. A singleton ace or king is fine, but partner expects at least two spades. South’s rebid shows six, not five, spades along with 6-9 HCP. North should subtract a point [or two!] for a singleton in partner’s main suit [it only hurts for a little while] and pass two spades like flash.

“A two-no-trump rebid in this sequence with a singleton in partner’s suit and no long suit of one’s own shows 16-17 HCP, minimum.

“The unbid suit is usually a wise choice of opening leads. Don’t even think of leading a trump when the auction indicates a misfit by the opponents.

“East does best to win with the heart king at trick one, following with the ace and another heart, South ruffing. Declarer will probably enter dummy with a club and lead a spade to the king. At this point, the contract can be beaten.

“If West cashes the ace of diamonds and plays a fourth heart, East has to come through and uppercut with the ten [key play]. Now declarer loses three spade tricks [check it out].”

2009 Tribune Media Services