bridge

bridge

Neither vulnerable. South deals.

NORTH

xA J 9 6 3

uJ 4

v9 5

wJ 6 5 4

WEST EAST

xK 5 2 xQ 8 7 4

uK 9 7 2 uQ 10

vJ 8 6 vQ 10 7 3

wQ 8 2 wK 10 7

SOUTH

x10

uA 8 6 5 3

vA K 4 2

wA 9 3

The bidding:

SOUTH WEST NORTH EAST

1u Pass 1x Pass

2v Pass 2u Pass

Pass Pass

Opening lead: Two of w

Here’s another deal from Eddie Kantar’s award-winning series “Thinking Bridge,” designed for players desirous of improving their play.

North’s bidding describes a hand with a doubleton heart and 6-9 high-card points. Give North three hearts with similar strength, and he does best to raise to two hearts directly and not mention the spades. With this in mind, South is not strong enough to bid on. With a weak heart suit (hard to set up facing a doubleton), South needs 17-18 HCP to bid on. Give South A Q 9 of clubs instead the A 9 3 and South can try two no trump. Whatever, South should not persist in hearts — a death wish if ever there was one.

With no standout lead available, the unbid suit is a reasonable shot. Assuming dummy plays low, East plays the ten, not the king. East plays similarly if dummy has Q x x (x). When third-hand has a higher and a lower honor than dummy, the lower honor is inserted if dummy plays low. Very important.

After winning the ace of clubs, South plays on crossruff lines trying to make as many low trumps as possible. A good start is the ace of spades, spade ruff, ace of diamonds, king of diamonds, diamond ruff, spade ruff and a fourth diamond. West does best to ruff with the king of hearts. If he does, eight tricks for declarer; if he doesn’t, nine tricks for declarer.

To remember forever and ever: After 1u-1x, 2v-2u or 1u-1 NT, 2w-2u responder figures to have a doubleton heart. Amen.

2012 Tribune Media Services