Friday, October 29, 2010
bridge
Both vulnerable. South deals.
NORTH
x9 8 7
u7 2
v7 5 4 3 2
wJ 10 5
WEST EAST
x5 2 x10 4 3
uJ 9 5 4 3 u10 6
vA J v10 9 8 6
wQ 8 6 4 w9 7 3 2
SOUTH
xA K Q J 6
uA K Q 8
vK Q
wA K
The bidding:
SOUTH WEST NORTH EAST
2w Pass 2v Pass
2x Pass 3w Pass
3u Pass 3x Pass
6x Pass Pass Pass
Opening lead: Five of x
We welcome back Eddie Kantar and his “Thinking Bridge” series, published in the Daily Bulletins at the recent ACBL Summer North American Championships held in New Orleans.
“North’s two diamonds is a ‘waiting bid’, not necessarily a bad hand, but three clubs is the ’second negative, showing a very bad hand.
All roads lead to Rome after North shows a very weak hand, presumably with three spades. After all, South does not have many losers with that dream hand.
“A trump lead is not clear, but it is reasonable. You are East, and you may not realize it but the fate of this slam depends on your playing low at trick one! If you turn your neck a quarter turn to the right, you will see that dummy has a doubleton heart, as do you. You should also see that, if you keep your ten of spades, you will be able to overruff dummy if declarer has to ruff a heart (he does).
“This is yet another case where third hand does not always play high. When partner leads a trump and you hold a trump that can overruff dummy, it is almost always right to play low, keeping that trump for a useful purpose.”
To find out more about Kantar’s “Thinking Bridge” series and other writings, go to www.kantarbridge.com.
2010 Tribune Media Services