BRIDGE

BRIDGE

Both vulnerable. North deals.

NORTH

xA

uA 5 2

vK Q 4 3

wA K 7 6 2

WEST EAST

xQ 9 8 3 xK 5

uJ 8 4 uK Q 9 7 6 3

vJ 10 9 8 v6 5

wJ 9 wQ 10 4

SOUTH

xJ 10 7 6 4 2

u10

vA 7 2

w8 5 3

The bidding:

NORTH EAST SOUTH WEST

1w 1u 1x 2u

3v Pass 3x Pass

4x Pass Pass Pass

Opening lead: Four of u

There is one simple ”rule” about the play of the cards that will make anyone a better player. It is to be wary of ”wasting” your honor cards. Here is a simple example of what we mean.

You arrive in four spades on a reasonable auction. West leads the four of hearts and you win in dummy with the ace and cash the ace of spades. You have one minor-suit loser so, to get home, you must hold your trump losers to two.

If trumps break 3-3, there is no problem, so you must protect against a 4-2 split — the percentage distribution. If either defender holds K Q 9 x, that is impossible, so you must find one defender with a doubleton honor. If you realize that in time, the problem vanishes.

If you come to hand with the ace of diamonds and lead the jack of trumps, you are going down in a cold contract! The defender with the doubleton honor wins and, no matter what you do, the other defender will, sooner or later, win two trump tricks to defeat you.

All you have to do is play a low trump! The defender with the doubleton honor wins, but you still have the J 10 of trumps against Q 9 and you have accomplished your task. When you get in you play one of your carefully preserved honors, and the other honor will draw the outstanding trump.

Don’t sacrifice your high cards unnecessarily!

2012 Tribune Media Services