bridge

bridge

North-South vulnerable. South deals.

NORTH

x8 6 5 4

u9 4 2

v4 3 2

w9 3 2

WEST EAST

x7 3 2 xJ 10 9

u10 8 7 uK J 6 3

vK Q 8 6 5 vA 10 9 7

w6 5 w8 7

SOUTH

xA K Q

uA Q 5

vJ

wA K Q J 10 4

The bidding:

SOUTH WEST NORTH EAST

2w Pass 2v Pass

3w Pass 3v Pass

5w Pass Pass Pass

Opening lead: King of v

Here’s another deal from Eddie Kantar’s instructive series “Thinking Bridge” published in the Daily Bulletins at the recent ACBL Fall North American Championships held in Seattle:

“How should one respond to a two club opening bid with a bust [no ace no king, no two queens]? One method is to respond two hearts directly. Another is to start with two diamonds, denying a strong suit. If opener rebids two hearts or two spades, a rebid of three clubs [artificial] shows a bust. If opener bids three clubs, a three diamond rebid by responder, artificial, shows a bust. Another possibility is to show high-card points at once by steps. A fourth method is show controls [aces and kings] by steps. Each method has its pluses and minuses. What’s important is partnership agreement. Even a bad agreement is better than no agreement. Here two diamonds followed by three diamonds over three clubs was used to show a bust.

“East plays the ten of diamonds at trick one, higher equal when encouraging. Given the looks of this dummy, a passive defense [avoid breaking new suits] is in order. As West, continue with a low diamond at trick two as requested.

“As South, trump the second diamond high! If clubs divide 2-2, the nine of clubs becomes a dummy entry — if you saved the precious four of clubs, it can’t cost to play the ace, king and queen of spades in case they break 3-3. It’s your lucky day — they do! Now it is easy enough to cross to the nine of clubs, discard a heart on dummy’s nine of spades and take the heart finesse for an overtrick...

“If you are holding a powerful trump suit facing a bleak dummy, and are forced to trump early, consider trumping high rather than low. That low trump may be your salvation — it may be your only entry to dummy!”

For more on “Thinking Bridge” and other Kantar writings go to www.kantarbridge.com.

2012 Tribune Media Services