BRIDGE

BRIDGE

East-West vulnerable. West deals.

NORTH

xQ 10 3 2

uK J 10

vQ J 10

w6 5 4

WEST EAST

xJ 7 6 5 xA 9 8

u6 u7 5 4

vA 8 4 3 vK 9 5 2

wQ 10 7 2 wJ 9 3

SOUTH

xK 4

uA Q 9 8 3 2

v7 6

wA K 8

The bidding:

WEST NORTH EAST SOUTH

Pass Pass Pass 1u

Pass 2u Pass 4u

Pass Pass Pass

Opening lead: Two of w

Here’s another deal from Eddie Kantar’s award-winning series “Thinking Bridge,” designed for players eager to improve their game.

West, a passed hand, has the ideal distribution for a passed-hand takeout double, but lacks the necessary minimum strength, 8-9 high-card points. North is better placed to raise hearts immediately as opposed to responding one spade. If North responds one spade and then prefers hearts at the two-level, he shows a doubleton heart. A good rule of thumb is to support partner’s major-suit opening bid immediately with three-card support and 7-10 support points.

Singleton trump leads as well as unsupported aces (excluding A x with trump control) can be costly leads. Look elsewhere, like a spade or a club. With a choice of two unbid suits, tend to lead from the stronger, but not one headed by an unsupported ace. Here, clubs are headed by two honors and spades by only one.

South has four losers: one club, two diamonds and one spade. The spade and diamond losers are “fast” losers that can be taken anytime the opponents get in. The club loser is “slow,” a loser that cannot be taken immediately. Declarer does not have time to work with diamonds which means letting the opponents in twice. Before declarer can set up a diamond winner, the opponents can set up a club winner. However, with a trump lead, declarer has time to set up a diamond winner for a club discard. After a club lead, declarer must work with spades to try for a club discard. Cross to dummy at trick two and lead a spade to the king. If it holds, lead back to the ten and hope it drives out the ace. That will give you time to get rid of a club on the queen of spades. Try it.

2012 Tribune Media Services