Friday, October 19, 2012
bridge
Both vulnerable. East deals.
NORTH
x9 7 3
u9 8 6 5
vQ 10 4 2
w10 8
WEST EAST
xK Q 6 5 xA 10 8 4 2
uVoid uA 4
v9 8 7 5 v6 3
wJ 6 5 4 3 wK Q 7 2
SOUTH
xJ
uK Q J 10 7 3 2
vA K J
wA 9
The bidding:
EAST SOUTH WEST NORTH
1x Dbl 4x Pass
Pass 5u Pass Pass
Pass
Opening lead: King of x
We continue our series of deals from Eddie Kantar’s “Thinking Bridge” series, designed for players desirous of improving their bridge.
“South is too strong to overcall two hearts, opting instead to double, planning to jump to four hearts to show a monster hand. However, things seldom work out as planned. West’s jump to four spades, the fly in the ointment, is pre-emptive. A jump raise by responder after a takeout double is weak and pre-emptive. With strong responding hands (11-plus high-card points) responder redoubles first. Also a jump to two no trump over a double shows a limit raise or better in partner’s suit — it is not natural. With a normal two no trump response, responder redoubles first.
“Once a player pre-empts, he is not supposed to bid on in a competitive auction unless he wants to make a penalty double, which is rather rare. In so many words, West should not bid five spades when South bids five hearts. It is a bridge no-no for the weak hand to become the general. The strong hand has a much better idea of what to do.
“When a defender can see what needs to be done to defeat a contract, he does it! East knows that South has at most one spade and there is some danger of losing a club trick on dummy’s fourth diamond once the ace of hearts is dislodged. East must smartly overtake the king of spades and shift to his own black king. When in with the ace of hearts, East cashes the queen of clubs, the setting trick. Ole! Do not ask partner to do for you what you can do for yourself — even if it means overtaking partner’s trick. It hurts for only a little while.”
For more information about “Thinking Bridge” and other Kantar writings, go to www.kantarbridge.com.
2012 Tribune Media Services